Re-imagine the Summertime Office Celebration

When it comes to corporate entertaining, summertime presents so many options and opportunities. Wooing summer associates, entertaining clients on the boat, company picnics, and more.

With so many potential venues for your celebration, menus need to be stunning yet simple. Familiar but interesting.  Light but luxurious.

An always-appropriate menu planning solution at Entertaining Company is the Mediterranean Middle Eastern menu.  Traditionally served in warmer climes, these menus handle outdoor settings with ease while also presenting bright, fresh flavors that easily woo guests.

Mediterranean Middle Eastern menus also solve the myriad hurdles that outdoor entertaining can present. Not enough seating? We’re wrapping it up and eating out of hand…yogurt-marinated grilled chicken breast, lamb Kofta (meatballs) with tomatoes, onions, lettuce and wrapped with thin Middle Eastern bread.  Grab-and-go is suddenly so adventurous!

If you’re set on sitting, then we might remind you that dining styles in the Med/Mid are classically “communal”. Since office
celebrations in the summertime are often geared towards bonding – such a set up may be just the ticket! Gather everyone together and present platters spilling over with grilled lamb, beef, and vegetables.  Condiments break the ice as your set up encourages passing and tasting and sharing.  Make a spread of taramosalata, or try serving some spicy harissa or savory baba ghanoush. (The Spice House has the most delightful green harissa!)

Mix-and-match salads complete the scene – from a healthy freekeh to roasted cauliflower with pomegranate seeds, and saffron rice with barberries.

Wash it all down with a bar featuring pomegranate.  We recommend cocktails (and mocktail offerings too!) made with Pomegranate Syrups, (our favorites are from Sonoma Syrup Co.) One ounce of pomegranate syrup with three ounces of vodka and ice gives a zing. Repeat liberally with champagne, iced tea, or lemonade as you wish!

Suddenly, mixing business and pleasure makes sense!