Once Upon a Midsummer’s Night
During warm evenings full of light and balmy nights under the moon, our senses are heightened. These moments in time are for savouring the sweet, sensual flavours of summer.
A simple summer party can be magical. There’s something enchanting about eating alfresco with friends and enjoying an evening under the stars, kicking off our shoes to feel the grass under our feet.
But what to serve? The beauty of summer is in celebrating the fresh and seasonal, those special things that only this season affords, that we wait all year to enjoy: lush melons, juicy peaches, spicy peppers, and fresh vegetables plucked from our garden. And herbs, lots of summer herbs. Prepared simply, we can let their flavours shine.
Kick off the evening with a fresh summer drink to bring everyone together and toast the evening with friendship, camaraderie, and enjoyment of the moment.
Read on to discover six dishes that will make your midsummer menu complete—perfect for a magical evening under the stars.
This collection was originally published in the July 2025 issue of alive magazine.
Infused with fresh summer thyme and raspberries, this refreshing spritzer is full of flavour, but won’t go to your head. Topped off with a dash of soda to give it some sparkle, this not-too-sweet soda is a sophisticated sipper perfect to kick off a summer evening. You may want to make a double batch.
Celebrate the glory of summer by showcasing some fresh garden bounty. A crudité platter always goes down a treat, especially when it’s full of the summer’s best. Radishes, carrots, garden peas, young broccoli, and even tiny gem lettuce are wonderful additions. It all gets topped off with a zesty dressing made with cilantro, orange, lime, and a hint of sherry vinegar.
Garden herbs are bountiful in summer. Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme work in harmony with garlic and paprika in this yogurt-based marinade. Slathered over a spatchcocked chicken, which shortens cooking time, the marinade helps to tenderize s and add fragrance to the meat prior to grilling or roasting. The finishing touch is fresh plum salsa, with a hit of gentle spicy heat, served slightly warmed and drizzled over the chicken before serving.
Luscious red, yellow, and orange peppers are a summer treat. Grilling intensifies their flavour, and the liquor they produce as they cool is the perfect starter for a delicious dressing. Olive oil, cumin, coriander, and smoked paprika join the party, finished off with a sprinkling of toasted hazelnuts.
