Glassware essentials for the perfect outdoor party
Special thanks to Luigi Bormioli for sponsoring this post
One of our favorite summertime traditions? Dining outdoors. A dinner on the back deck with some jazz playing in the background has the power to elevate a mid-week meal into a leisurely dining experience that’s just too good to reserve for weekends only.
Plus, with the party season upon us — starting off with Memorial Day later this month and cruising through to Labor Day — there’s plenty of reasons on the calendar to throw an outdoor party.
In preparation for the outdoor dining and party season, we’ve teamed up with glassware brand Luigi Bormioli for ideas on how to pull off the perfect backyard bash. From pitchers perfect for sangria to glasses apropos for your favorite summertime craft beer, Luigi Bormioli’s collections fuse artistry and expertise, and they’re most definitely durable enough to keep up with all of your summer shindigs.
The Italian-crafted Michelangelo Collection is made with a proprietary, unique formula called SPARKX. What that means for you, the party planner, is you’ll be serving up drinks in glasses that are sparkly and totally transparent, and also resistant to breaking because they are strengthened from the bottom of your glass to the rim. Clean-up is easy, too, because these glasses are dishwasher-safe and remain crystal clear after 2,000 washes.
Raise a glass and toast to summer! (But first, stock up your bar cart with Luigi Bormioli glasses. You’ll get free shipping when you order them from ShopAtHome.com).
Here’s how to throw the perfect outdoor parties this summer.
Memorial Day:
Michelangelo Pitcher, $30 (plus Cash Back), Luigi Bormioli
Grillmasters, start your grills. For a quintessential summer-time spread, gather up the best produce: Dress up a pasta salad with slices of summer squashes you’ve found at the local farmer’s market. Use up your bounty of tomatoes by making skewers with cherry tomatoes or tomato wedges; basil leaves; and mozzarella balls, drizzled with a balsamic vinegar. Round out the party by serving summer’s favorite drink, sangria. This family-friendly sangria recipe from Luigi Bormioli is non-alcoholic and is made with juices and fresh fruits. Serve it in the party-perfect pitcher and pour into the Crescendo Stemless Glasses. Michelangelo Pitcher, $30 (plus Cash Back), LuigiBormioli.com.
Summer Solstice:
Birrateque Seasonal Glasses, on sale $25 for box of 2 (plus Cash Back), Luigi Bormioli
Need an excuse to celebrate in between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July? Host a summer solstice party in June and invite friends and neighbors over to celebrate all things summer. Set the right tone for summer with a laid-back barbecue, complete with hot dogs and hamburgers. Impress your guests with an expert-level burger-and-beer pairing and stop by your local brewery for a summer seasonal IPA. Serve it up in one of these Birrateque Seasonal glasses from Luigi Bormioli. The larger flared glass allows aromatics to be released, such as summertime hops or notes of citrus. (You’ll want to keep these glasses at hand come fall, too, when pumpkin beers roll out for Oktoberfest). Birrateque Seasonal Glasses, on sale $25 for box of 2 (plus Cash Back), LuigiBormioli.com
Fourth of July:
Michelangelo Beverage Smaller Glasses, $30 for box of 4 (plus Cash Back), Luigi Bormioli
Do it big this Fourth of July and throw some steak and shrimp on the barbecue. Gather up the herbs in your garden to make a chimichurri sauce that pairs wonderfully with steak and shrimp, and can be tossed over potatoes for a twist on classic potato salad. Sweeten up the meal with a fruit-flavored lemonade, adding strawberry, blueberry, or mango puree to your lemonade. (You can find those in the frozen fruit section at your grocery store). Pour into a medium Luigi Bormioli glass that was perfectly engineered for the best summer mocktails and enjoy. Michelangelo Beverage Smaller Glasses, $30 for box of 4 (plus Cash Back), LuigiBormioli.com
Olympics party:
Michelangelo Beverage (Larger) Glasses, $30 for box of 4 (plus Cash Back), Luigi Bormioli
What’s that? Another reason to throw a party. Don’t mind if we do. Host an Olympics viewing party in August and take a cue from the Brazilians by making some caipirinhas, Brazil’s national cocktail, made with a sugarcane hard liquor, sugar and lime. You can also muddle in some fresh mint. (Go ahead, impress your guests by plucking it from your garden). Serve it up in a Luigi Bormioli large glass (it can take the muddling!) and enjoy. Michelangelo Beverage Larger Glasses, $30 for box of 4 (plus Cash Back), LuigiBormioli.com
