5 tips to get set for summer

A scorcher is never certain in the UK but it pays to lighten up your food and drink menu

Switch up salads

Caesar and Greek are always winners. But a special salad will really grab customers’ attention. Get inspiration from Jennifer Aniston’s take on quinoa, chickpeas and feta that went viral overnight. Bulk out greens into something substantial by adding burrata, halloumi, chicken skewers or salmon. Try carbed-up cold noodles mixed with Asian flavours to take it to another level. Remember, it’s all in the dressing. A top-notch olive oil, soy and sesame, a punch of mustard plus acidity from citrus or vinegar are your flavour powerhouses.

Get recipe for soba noodle salad.

Chilled out

Soup is a lunchtime and starter saviour. Quick to prep ahead, a great vessel for leftover veg and a fast serve during busy periods. It still deserves a place on summer menus. Bring back holiday memories with chilled soup. Go traditional with vivid red gazpacho or salmorejo topped with crispy serrano and chopped egg. Experiment with green veg and herbs or try the Scandi beetroot and dill combo. Make it a hearty meal with a bold toastie like a kimchi-cheese or chipotle quesadilla.

Get recipe for salmorejo soup.

Refresh your roasts

As the weather warms, our beloved roasts get left behind. So why not give family and friends a meal to linger over – reinvented with a lighter take? Think citrus-spiked porchetta or herby half chicken plus a trio of buttery new potatoes, spiced grains and a fresh green bean salad. It brings a barbecue feel while sides can be prepped early or served cold to save time. Plus leftovers make perfect mid-week specials like rich ragu or speedy stir-fry.

Tantalising takeaways

If the summer sun plays ball, customers will want to spend long lunches and evenings in gardens and parks with friends and family. Easy food to go options will tempt them to prolong the fun. At weekends, offer a lunchtime picnic box with slices of quiche, sausage rolls, and a selection of fruit and cakes. For evenings, entice customers in with competitive summer deals – throw in coleslaw for every two burgers and chips ordered or a mozzarella and tomato salad with every couple of pizzas. And don’t forget drinks.

Get more ideas for food to go here.

“Pushing drinks [with takeaways] remains an opportunity to…generate incremental sales that are easily added to food-based orders, while offering consumers greater choice than what they are likely to have available at home”

- Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA

Sunshine sips

There’s not much better than sipping a chilled drink in a sunny pub garden. Spritzes, rosé wine and cocktails are perfect for summer (anything with tequila is hot right now). Find cocktails time-consuming? Did you know you can get them on draught? Riviera Drinks did 18 months of development to create the perfect passionfruit and espresso martinis. Might be worth a try…