ENTERTAINING HOLIDAY entertaining

Canada Day Menu Ideas

canada day party menu :: anita stewart\'s Canada :: whitewater cooks :: picinic dishing :: red gingham themeThis story is born of two needs. I wanted to showcase the best from the Boating Party and Picnic board by Snippet & Ink on {frolic!}. The second need was to help you plan your Canada Day party.

Let’s start with the latest cookbook by Anita Stewart. I bought my copy at Costco a few weeks ago. Anita Stewart’s Canada is a culinary experience that mixes the traditional cooking of our grandmothers with the modern Canadian cuisine. It also celebrates the regional differences from coast to coast.

Whitewater Cooks by Shelley Adams is another Canadian cookbook. Reading the reviews, convinced me. I just bought online my copy. Everyone says that the recipes are really tasty and simple to make.

Family Celebrations

If you plan a sit down dinner or anything else than a barbecue this Canada Day, you will find tones of great recipes in Anita Stewart’s Canada to compose your menu.

I prefer, like most Canadians, a relaxed outdoor event on Canada Day. After all, it is a family celebration. I am partial to a picnic celebration because it feels more old-fashioned than a BBQ.

Whatever is your choice, make sure to put attention to details. You do not necessary need a lot; a few well-designed details can transform a picnic into an outstanding party.

Vintage Sandwich Wrapping

Wrap your sandwich in waxed or parchment paper tied with a string or red raffia ribbon. Attach an ornament, like a paper made maple leaf or artificial green foliage, before tying the bow.

A red gingham waxed liner fashions the ultimate sandwich wrapper. I want to buy some. I dug a pack of red gingham waxed tissues at Fancy Flours in the United States but none in Canada. If you know a source, I really want to know.

An easiest to find option is to wrap your sandwiches in a red gingham tea towel first. Then, put a plastic wrap sheet to preserve the freshness. Take some clues from the way Domino magazine served their sandwiches for a dressed-up picnic.

Table Sets

Get wood cutlery instead of plastic ones.Pier1 Imports now sells Birchwood utensils in packs of 10 utensils. Get inspired by the lovely presentation of the table set created by Hélène Fromen of exclusive choses. Each set includes a red gingham tablecloth plus 2 forks and 2 spoons.

A green gingham cloth smoothes out the red and white theme. And green is a hot color this year. You will recognize Martha’s style in this composition taken from an old Martha Stewart Weddings issue.

What To Serve For Dessert?

A refreshing dessert works best. Apples, strawberries and blueberries feel Canadian. Or get inspired by maple syrup. A light option is to serve blueberries with yogurt and maple-blueberry syrup.

The vivid colors of the Terrine of Summer Fruits by Delia Smith will finish in style your meal.

SOURCING:
+ Anita Stewart’s Canada $22.02 CAD at Amazon.ca
+ Whitewater Cooks: Pure, Simple and Real Creations from the Fresh Tracks Café by Shelley Adams $18.87 CAD at Amazon.ca
+ Red Gingham Waxed Tissues at Fancy Flours $5 for a pack of 50 sheets
+ Birchwood Utensils at Piers1 Imports $2 USD for a set of 10
+: A Terrine of Summer Fruits recipe by Delia online
+ Set de table at exclusive choses 10 ? for 2 table sets
Photo credit: Dressed-up picnic sandwiches photographed by Marcus Nilsson for Domino – rights reserved
Photo credit: Martha Stewart Weddings, summer 2006 issue
Via: Boating Party and Picnic [{frolic!}]
Via: Goodbye Summer [Lucky Me!]

  • Nathalie Rivard
    June 23, 2008 at 11:36

    I also ordered the Whitewater cookbook. It seems that people who love this also love the Rebar cookbook. One of my favourite that I strongly recommend. Rebar is a café in Victoria B.C.
    It is vegetarian but with such tasty recipes that even the most carnivorous person do not mind it at all.

    I also recommend books by Ted Reader, if you want to make the best BBQs in town. The originality of his recipes are sure to make your guests do “wow and Ahs!”
    He is also the king of plank bbqs.

    Plank BBQ could be an interesting idea fo a post, as it is getting more and more popular these days!

  • Nathalie Rivard
    June 30, 2008 at 15:05

    I have received Whitewater Cooks from Amazon. All the recipes look really greaty and tasty. Can’t wait to try some!

  • At Home with Kim Vallee
    June 30, 2008 at 15:13

    Nathalie: I feel more impatient to receive my copy now.