After I started cooking more at home, I developed a passion for looking for the right ingredients, cooking efficiently, and learning different techniques for creating delicious meals. It was really clear to me that I was able to make gourmet dishes that my entire family would really like, and I felt like it was really interesting to try new things each and every day. After months of experimenting with cooking, things really came together for me. I found a few really excellent dishes that tasted incredible, and I was happy to serve them to family members and friends. Check out this blog for great tips on preparing gourmet food each and every day at home.
Hosting an Event? Try These Modern Southern Food Ideas
if you're hosting any type of country-inspired event, work the rustic theme into every aspect of the celebration, including the menu. Get creative by planning a lunch or dinner full of southern-style cuisine with a modern twist.
A casual country theme will work well for a wide range of events, such as kids' and adults' birthday parties, holiday get-togethers and reunions, bridal and baby showers, and anniversary soirees. To keep things interesting, you can give the relaxed party a touch of class through a refined menu or decor pieces, such as chandeliers and luxe seating elements.
When it comes to choosing the perfect venue to entertain your family and friends, you can't go wrong with a country barn, which may be available for rental through a local special event company if you don't own one yourself. A large, rambling farm would also make the ideal backdrop, and you can rent a large party tent in case of inclement weather. With either option, take advantage of the open-air surroundings by grilling some of your modern southern-style cuisine.
Whether you make the food yourself or have it catered from your favorite southern restaurant, here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Caesar Salad
Full of flavor, Caesar salads make hearty appetizers or can be turned into a filling lunch or dinner with the addition of protein, such as grilled chicken. A southern menu staple, Caesar salads are typically made with romaine lettuce, a creamy dressing, and croutons.
To give the classic salad a creative, modern flair, add flavor with items such as bacon or shaved ham, homemade herb croutons, hard-boiled eggs, smoked salmon, Cajun-seasoned shrimp, or avocado. You can also substitute the croutons for other crunchy toppings, including honey-glazed pecans, sesame seeds, or slivered almonds.
2. Grilled Veggie Skewers
When you think of southern-style fare, grilled meats most likely come to mind, but you can shake things up by serving a vegetable plate instead. Start with local, seasonal produce, such as corn on the cob or cherry tomatoes in the summer, and grill them over an open flame as you would chicken or steak.
You can slice the vegetables and thread them onto metal or water-soaked wood skewers for a pleasing presentation, and brush them with any type of sauce you'd like prior to grilling. To appease the meat-eaters in the group, serve grilled chicken or pork skewers along with the veggies.
If you're looking to have a restaurant cater to your event, check out local southern-style restaurants, such as Modern Southern Food Restaurant.