The Perfect Garden Party Menu
Spring is the ultimate time to throw the fanciest, frilliest garden party imaginable! From Easter, to the Kentucky Derby, to the sheer pleasure of the season, there are many reasons for a garden fête. This menu is built for a Derby party but can be easily adapted to suit a variety of needs.
The most important element of a good party is the food. Spring calls for light, fresh food with an array of colors. Choices should veer towards the crisp rather than the heavy, and refreshing drinks are an absolute must.
The Perfect Garden Party Menu
The best garden party is a full sit-down meal. Therefore I recommend at least 3 courses (appetizers, entrees, and dessert). Fresh, crisp flavors pair with tea party classics, and Kentucky classics round out this menu.
Drinks for Your Garden Party
The right drinks often prove crucial for a successful party. Guests should always be greeted with an offer of a drink, and an introduction to any other guests they may not know. In the spirit of hospitality, you must also have at least 2 non-alcoholic options in addition to water to serve your guests.
In the springtime, the mint julep reigns supreme. This strong, sweet drink is a staple at the Kentucky Derby, and should be made with high-quality Kentucky bourbon. For non-bourbon drinkers, my “pink drink” (comprised of gin, St. Germain, grapefruit juice, and grenadine) is a fun spring/summer cocktail.
While there are a number of delicious mocktails out there, for a larger party it can be difficult to batch fancy mocktails, and therefore I don’t recommend them. Keep your drink options classic. It’s easier on you, and it’s easier on your guests. Step up your lemonade game with a fresh fruit infusion like in my blueberry lemonade recipe. You can’t go wrong with a classic like sun tea, either. As a bonus, unsweetened sun tea can dilute mint juleps while keeping them refreshing.
When it comes to wine and beer, less is more. I find that people often gravitate towards the fun drinks, but it’s a good idea to have options. For beer, Sippin’ Pretty sour from Odell Brewery is both crisp and delicious, while Corona is a classic option that suits a wide variety of palates. You can never go wrong with a classic pinot noir for red wine, and a nice crisp sauvignon blanc or viognier for white.
The Perfect Garden Party Appetizers
When planning appetizers, I stick to a trifecta rule: 1 salty, 1 sweet, and 1 spread. In the spring a seasonal fruit platter is a low-effort way to incorporate the tastes of the season. Add some goat cheese and a lovely brie or camembert with crackers for a pseudo-charcuterie board.
Fruit in season in the spring:
Apples
Apricots
Bananas
Kiwifruit
Pineapples
Strawberries
For the salty option, what says “garden party” more than tea sandwiches? As a purist, I must recommend the classic spread from Fortnum and Mason: egg and cress, cucumber and cream cheese, and ham and mustard. To achieve that authentic taste, make sure you spread the condiments quite thin, and use traditional soft white bread.
For the sweet option, classic British scones will never fail you. They’re quite simple to make, and can be baked first thing then set aside as you prep for the rest of the party. Classic scones are lovely by themselves, but blueberry and rhubarb are lovely additions as well.
Main Course Options for Your Garden Party
Spring and summer are outdoor cooking season, but garden parties and tea parties don’t mix well with the heavy aromas and heavy flavor of grilled meats. For your main course, a meat option, 2 sides, and a vegan/vegetarian option ensure that all bases are covered in terms of your guests’ dietary needs.
Nothing says spring gathering to me like a nice cranberry pecan chicken salad. I can eat chicken salad by itself, but keep some croissants and full romaine leaves on hand for your guests to assemble a sandwich or lettuce wrap. Your vegan option should be as enticing as your meat option, and this lovely recipe for chickpea pancakes with red cabbage and mushroom salad (NYT) creates a bright and beautiful dish.
One of your sides should always be a simple salad. A simple salad of mesclun greens with olive oil and balsamic is a safe choice for most diners. For a classic Kentucky touch, make sure to include spoonbread on the menu. A mixture between cornbread and corn casserole, it’s a little bit sweet, a little bit salty, a little bit crispy, and very delicious.
Classic Desserts for a Classic Garden Party
As a southern woman, I cannot in good conscience recommend any “healthy” dessert substitutes. It’s full sugar or bust. Garden parties are the perfect time to serve delicious, sugary, frothy cakes like my signature strawberry cake. It’s delicious, is no harder than any other layer cake, and best of all, it’s bright pink.
When you need an easy vegan dessert that appeals to a wide audience, you can’t go wrong with throwing some fruit into some puff pastry. Commercial puff pastry is usually made with vegetable oils rather than butter (so it’s more stable) and it’s really quick to throw together. Use this 3 ingredient apricot strudel recipe as your template.
No party is complete without a chocolate dessert. While it’s wonderful at Thanksgiving, Kentucky Bourbon pie satisfies chocolate lovers all year long. Make sure you have some fresh whipped cream on hand as a topping!
The Perfect Garden Party Setup
How to Set the Mood for a Garden Party
Invitations
It’s old-fashioned an unnecessary, but if you want a very fancy party, send mailed invitations. Especially this day and age, people will appreciate receiving a lovely mailed invite. Canva.com is a great free graphic design resource with cute spring templates. Print it on card stock or high-quality paper and you’re in business!
Music
Good music sets the tone for your entire party and hugely influences the mood. Spring parties beget opportunities to show off your musical prowess with the right playlist.
Classical and bright: Haydn string quartets and Vivaldi instrumental works
Classical and lovely: 19th century French composers (Massenet, Delibes, and Saint-Säens)
Bright Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald (especially her Porter and Gershwin recordings)
Happy Indie: sweet female vocalists like Lenka, Feist, and Lily Allen
Decorations
As a person whose tastes trend to the quaint and quirky, I gravitate towards objects appropriate for a garden party. You can host a spring party cheaply and easily, if you know where to look.
First, thrift shops often have party basics such as trays, punch bowls, and vintage teacups. Make sure to look in sheets and bedding for possible tablecloth options, and a mix-and-match approach to tableware is both charming and cost-effective.
Secondly, if looking just after Easter, spring pastel decor is often hugely on sale at Michaels, Home Goods, and other home decor stores. Avoid carrots, eggs, and bunnies, and no one will be any the wiser.
Finally, if your party falls in tree bloom season, cut a branch or two for each table for inexpensive florals. If your tree branches aren’t in bloom, daffodils are both plentiful and cheap at grocery stores this time of year.
Conclusion
Throwing an amazing garden party needn’t be complicated. Set a table and chairs outside, Cover it with a $4 sheet from the thrift store, serve your food on real plates and cutlery, and you’re 99% of the way there! Remember, the most important ingredient to throwing a perfect party the company you keep.
What would you include on a garden party menu?
