Summer loving
We just love British summer time! Even the rain can’t dampen our devotion to this time of year! Afterall, what’s not to love? Here are our ten top favourites of this glorious season.
1. The weather
We all have a love hate relationship with British summer weather. Notorious for rain, the last few years seem to have been kinder with the amount of sunshine. Though that hasn’t stopped us having a good old British moan – when it’s hot it’s too hot or the wrong kind of heat. When it rains, we need it until it rains just that bit too long! But even though we can be fickle, we do love the warmer days (even when it’s raining) and chance to get our shorts on!
2. Cool desserts
Don’t get us wrong, we’re big fans of hearty winter puddings too, but there is nothing like a good summer dessert to finish off the perfect meal. Eton mess is one of our favourites with its crushed meringue and fresh strawberries. And with so much seasonal fruit on offer the world is your oyster, so mix it up with a few different berries and oodles of whipped cream.
3. Salads
It’s no secret we love a good salad. Such a versatile dish which adds so much variety and colour to any meal, whether as the main event or as a side. Keep them simple or go as wild as you like. We love experimenting with dressings and adding unusual ingredients to staple salad components. And we also LOVE our homemade coleslaw!
4. Pimms®
Everyone knows summer is here when the bottle of Pimms comes out. In fact, it’s almost always Pimms o’clock at the PTG HQ (out of work time obviously) and it is a popular serve at weddings this time of year too. It’s one of those drinks you can jazz up and down as much as you like! Serve simply with a slice of strawberry and a sprig of mint or crack out the cocktail shaker and mix it up for a Pimms with a twist. If you’re looking for a little (or lot) of inspiration, head over to their website for some great serving suggestions.
5. Al fresco dining
If the rain does hold off there is nothing better than heading outdoors to eat – food just seems to taste better when eaten on a blanket or under a parasol. We’re also a big picnic fan and that’s why we offer a bespoke hamper service providing the perfect picnic for any occasion. So, whether a day at the races or an open-air summer concert we can freshly prepare sandwiches, clotted cream and strawberry jam filled scones, slices of homemade cake and anything else you fancy. You just tell us what you want, and we do the rest.
6. Adult ice lollies
Now it’s not just the children who can enjoy a lolly in the summer months. The popularity of ice lollies for grown-ups over the last few years has been one of the best things to happen to summer. From G&T to prosecco to iced tea, the popisicle revolution has grown so popular that they are now making an appearance at summer events in place of afternoon drinks. They’ve even coined a new word – poptails! You can buy them from most supermarkets, but we like to mix up our own!
7. Ice cream
If adult lollies aren’t your thing, you may be a bigger fan of ice cream. We love ice cream (what’s not to love) on its own, as a dessert alternative or as an accompaniment to summer pudding or fresh fruit. You can be as adventurous as you like when you’re making it or keep it simple if you prefer – one of our favourite flavour combinations is Mango and coconut.
8. BBQs
BBQ & at-home eating & entertaining is now the UK’s No1 summer home leisure activity, with three out of four households now owning some type of BBQ grill! We are also finding more and more people choosing BBQ as an alternative to more traditional catering packages. But with the wide selection of food that can be offered, marinades that can be applied and side dishes that can be served up, what’s not to love about a BBQ. It also combines other things off this list too so altogether it’s a big tick in our book.
9. Fruit picking
There aren’t many things better than grabbing a cullender and heading out on a summers day with the family to find those hidden blackberry bushes. In fact, fruit picking is so popular now people head to farms to pay to do it as part of a day out. Fresh fruit like this makes the best desserts, cakes and pastries too. You know it’s as nature intended and they seem to taste better when you’ve picked them yourselves. We love fresh blackberries combined with cream and yoghurt to make a wonderful blackberry fool!
10. Festivals
Music, outdoor space, sun (hopefully) and fun. Festivals have all the things that make for a great event. Which is why we love them. And also, why many people now are replicating this winning combination for their special event. Find a field, hire a marquee and get some hay bales in. Incorporate a band and food right off the grill and you’ve got your own mini Woodstock.
