Summer screams the need to be outside, and if you’re like us, you’ll love any excuse to have a party. Here’s our list of 10 things you’ll want in (and out) of the kitchen to throw a wicked party on your patio.
We can’t think of a more important tool in any food preparation than the knife. With a solid companion you can power through your prep work in minutes. A good chef’s knife can keep an edge and stay sharper for longer periods of time. There are lots of options when it comes to picking the perfect Chef’s knife for you, including whether you prefer a stamped or forged knife. Stamped knives are literally stamped out of a single piece of metal while forged knives are heated and pounded individually. Common lengths include 8 inches and 10 inches, but it really depends on personal preference. Help keep your blade in good shape by using a good cutting board and hone it once or twice a week to keep the edge straight.
Help guests keep track of their beverages with this clever take on a beer can. We love these Chalk Chat Beer Can glasses from Cardinal. Perfect for patio weather and backyard BBQs, these fun glasses are literal talking points at any party. Identify brews, names and much more! Don’t forget keeping a handy chalkpen nearby so guests can personalize their own cups.
Kebabs are a perennial favorite at most outdoor parties. Easy to customize and quick to cook on the grill, these 8 inch bamboo skewers from Winco are the perfect grilling accessory at any outdoor party. Just the right length to fill with meat and veggies, you can even let guests mix and match by creating their own skewers!
Keep guests cool on a hot day by mixing up large batches of frozen cocktails. A good blender is all you need to quickly (and easily) create tasty drinks in bulk. And consider this—a good blender, like this one from Vitamix, can also be used for preparing sauces and other marinades for meat like ribs, chicken and more!
A true master of the grill understands the importance of basting meat during the cooking process. After whipping up a killer sauce, keep that meat moist and flavorful by regularly basting it during grilling. We love the durability of this silicone basting brush by Carlisle, which can withstand temperatures up to 500° F and is both stain and odor resistant.
Creative serving accessories add flair to any party and get guests talking. Galvanized serving pails from American Metalcraft are the perfect size for serving chips, fries or other munchies. Small porcelain bowls are perfect for self-serve toppings like cheese for main course, or sprinkles to top ice cream at dessert!
We also love the versatility of a cast iron server. Great for cheese dips, stuffed peppers and more, these grill-to-table servers are on-trend, practical and make food taste great. Every. Single. Time.
Lastly, for the ultimate in durability go melamine. These virtually indestructible pieces are perfect for the unpredictability of the outdoors; unexpected gusts of wind or uneven tabletops are no match for the quality of today’s melamine. Nowadays melamine convincingly passes for slate, wood and even glassware. Spare yourself the cost of broken serveware and shop the durability of melamine.
Serve up smaller bites in an easy way with these small bamboo knot picks. Perfect for tiny caprese bites, bowls of olives or cheese plates, bamboo knot picks keep strange (and potentially dirty) hands out of your food.
Identify offerings for guests with these fun clothespin sign holders! Featured in both red and white, these clothespins can hold chalk signs, paper signs and more in a trendy and inviting way. Signs are a must for large parties, particularly when you want to identify nut-free, gluten-free or other allergens to keep guests safe!
When you’re hosting a large, outdoor event, disposable products make life much easier. Disposable products used to be big culprits when it came to waste—but now you can lessen that impact by going full compostable. At Tundra Restaurant Supply, we carry a full line of 100% compostable products that, when composted in a commercial composting facility, will turn back into soil! If commercial composting isn’t available in your area, try opting for recyclable products or those made from recycled products which lessens the impact on virgin resources. Going eco-friendly is something you can always feel good about.
Go big or go home right? End the party on a sweet note by giving guests a little ice cream to finish off their meal. A small countertop ice cream maker like this one from Waring makes it easy to create 2 quarters of ice cream, frozen yogurt or gelato in as little as 30 minutes! There’s no need to pre-freeze with the built-in compressor and the special “Keep Cool” feature will hold ice cream at the optimal temperature for serving.