Summer is in full swing, and the sunny days ahead are reason enough to celebrate – not to mention the plethora of events the season brings. Whether you will be celebrating a graduate or simply gathering with friends and family to relish in the longer days, here are 5 easy steps to host the ultimate summer soiree that is sure to be the party of the season!

Soak Up the Seasonal Flavors

Summer brings beautiful seasonal fruits and vegetables, and what better way to host a memorable seasonal celebration than with an unforgettable menu. Make sure to include seasonal produce in your dishes, such as this Thermador Fresh Linguine with Heirloom Tomato Sauce to take advantage of the extra-flavorful tomatoes that summer brings. For a seaside-inspired menu, this Thermador West Coast Spiny Lobster Boil with Fresh Corn, Potatoes and Garlic Herb Butter will make a beautiful main course. To round out your menu, a stunning Stone Fruit Galette or this Edible Viola Vanilla Berry Cake make for the perfect dessert.

Fresh ingredients require excellent refrigeration, so you’ll want to ensure your items are stored properly! Keeping your refrigerator and ingredients fresh should always be top of mind, but with Thermador, it’s something you’ll never have to worry about. When at the grocery store, use Home Connect™ to control the temperature of your Thermador Refrigerator to prep for your fresh bounty.

Pro tip: If you’re looking for ways to step up your organization game, check out these tips to master the art of refrigerator organization in your home.

Take it Outside

The ultimate summer soiree should take advantage of the beautiful outdoors that comes alive during the warmer months. Later sunsets give way to pleasantly warm nights, providing the perfect backdrop to any gathering.

Taking the party outside to your backyard or patio is a great way to admire the beauty of the season and make your gathering truly special. Amp up your outdoor space by stringing up garden lights and decorating with colorful florals to emphasize the location. Lack of outdoor space doesn’t mean you have to completely forego a natural setting – opening up windows and doors will create an indoor-outdoor entertaining space that will be sure to please your guests.

Stay Smart

It can be easy to become overwhelmed when playing both chef and host of the ultimate summer soiree. Taking advantage of smart appliance features, such as Home Connect, when planning your cooking and hosting schedule will help make your day run much smoother.

To avoid having to continually check on dishes, simply enable Home Connect notifications that will conveniently let you know once your Thermador Wall Oven has finished the cooking process. This gives you more time to relax and connect with your guests, while maintaining peace of mind that you will know once your dish is ready. Multi-tasking is easy when you can preheat your oven at a single touch of your device.

Pro tip: For more ways to conquer your day-of hosting responsibilities, check out this blog post.

The Home Connect app also provides a number of tools to help you plan your event. Take advantage of in-app Culinary Experiences to master your event-planning skills through wine pairing guides and a number of recipes from top chefs. Working smarter and using the tools available to you will reduce any stress and last-minute worries so you can focus on enjoying the festivities.

Serve it Chilled

There’s nothing better than a crisp drink on a warm summer evening. With your refrigerator stocked full of fresh ingredients for dinner and desserts, your Thermador Wine Refrigerator is a surefire way to keep your beverage and appetizers cooled and conveniently visible to your guests. Wine Refrigeration allows for various temperature zones – meaning you can keep your favorite varietals at their optimum temperatures and non-alcoholic beverages chilled to perfection. Glass door Wine Refrigeration is also perfect for storing small starters and appetizers such as this Yogurt Herb Dip with Crudité, that need to be kept cool and within quick reach.

Another fun option to keep your guests cool is popping out the popsicle molds to create delicious adult popsicles that are sure to elevate the festivities. Try out these Pomegranate Cosmo Bomb Pops or Creamy Coffee Liqueur Pops to win over guests.

Save for Later

One of the best parts of hosting an event is the leftovers you get to enjoy afterwards. To ensure the freshest taste, Steam Ovens are a must-have addition to any kitchen. Cooking with steam doesn’t sacrifice flavor and reheats faster while infusing food with moisture, preventing dry leftovers. For the most even heating and nutrient preservation, steam will become your preferred reheating method – and the ultimate post-party companion to keep the feelings of the festivities going long after guests have left.

For more entertaining inspiration, visit https://blog.thermador.com/category/culinary/.