End of season soirée, 3 ways

End of season soirée, 3 ways

As the California cantaloupe season winds down and we cherish those final sweet bites of California’s best, there is no better time than now to commemorate the season with an end of season soirée. Here, we have planned for you three different ways to send off our beloved season – from a casual gathering, to the full monte, to a flavor-packed fiesta!

1. The Casual, No-Fuss Gathering

Just a few friends over for drinks and apps. And maybe a little dessert. (Easy peasy.)

cantaloupe with vanilla ice cream scoop

  1. Drink options:
    1. Cantaloupe summer cocktail
    2. A favorite cocktail recipe made with cantaloupe-infused vodka
  2. Appetizer choices:
    1. Cantaloupe prosciutto cucumber bites
    2. Simple cantaloupe kebabs with toppings (or to dip)
  3. [Optional (but not really) desserts]
    1. Melon berry chocolate dessert
    2. The classic – a slice of cantaloupe with a scoop of ice cream

 

2. The Whole Shebang

Pull out all the stops for your lucky guests to squeeze every last drop out of the season. Every. Last. Drop.

  

  1. The drink of the night:
    1. A delicious cocktail, garnished with cantaloupe, of course.
  2. An appetizer (or two) to whet their palettes:
    1. Cantaloupe-topped baked brie – ideal for topping rustic bread
    2. Cantaloupe, cucumber, and goat cheese bites – sweet and savory
  3. Salad
    1. One to enjoy with dinner:
      1. Garden fresh cantaloupe salad
      2. California cantaloupe avocado salad
    2. And/or one to enjoy post-dinner, pre-dessert:
      1. Peppercorn & honey marinated melon with basil salad
      2. Dolce mint cantaloupe salad
  4. An entree (something fancy)
    1. Grilled bistro filet
    2. New York Steak (complete with risotto)
  5. The  finale, the cherry on top, the last act before the curtain closes, the perfect dessert to commemorate the season:
    1. Cantaloupe pavlova
    2. Cantaloupe cream pie

 

3. The Fiesta

Cue the sombreros, this is going to be a night to remember. (Mariachi music mandatory.)

  

  1. Drink: Cantaloupe margarita and/or cantaloupe agua fresca
  2. Appetizer: Grilled shrimp with cantaloupe salsa
  3. Salad: Ancho-lime chopped cantaloupe salad
  4. Entree: Savory grilled cantaloupe skewers
  5. Repeat step one.

•••

While relishing in the sweet season’s bounty, take a moment to meet the folks who make it all possible season after season. And enjoy those last bites of the season knowing that, thanks to the labor of love your California cantaloupe farmers invest in their crop year after year, the next California cantaloupe season will be here before we know it!

•••

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