Garden Brunch

When summer is at its height, and gardens are in full bloom, there is no better way to celebrate than a sunny afternoon brunch with your family, friends, and a smattering of butterflies, birds, and bees.

Seat guests on “stools” made of tree trunks or picnic benches clustered around a table that’s been covered with a lovely lace doily tablecloth and vases full of leafy Midwestern field flowers.  (Need inspiration? Find it in Millennium Park’s Lurie Garden.)

Our Entertaining Company chefs make their own fruit jams and marmalades and we like to present them  in glass “flowerpots” with tiny teaspoons for dolloping onto warm homemade biscuits. Also on the menu? Thick slices of herbed frittata, served at room temperature, and crostini of baked fig, goat cheese, clementine walnut and honey.  For a crisp accompaniment, we adore an asparagus and pea shoot salad with lemon vinaigrette.

As the afternoon lingers, put large bowls, toppling over with fresh strawberries for dipping into chantilly cream, and pitchers of sweet tea. Rocking chairs optional.