Fresh and colourful menu for the first day of summer

This weekend, don your shades, rub on some sunscreen and fire up the barbecue.

Updated January 21, 2025

Fresh and colourful menu for the first day of summer

Summer is officially here this weekend, and we've planned a summer kickoff menu with everything fresh, grilled and colourful. So, hit the produce department for local veg, fire up the barbecue and raise a glass to all the warm and balmy weather on the horizon. Cheers!

Lager and lime slushes. (Photo, Roberto Caruso.)

Cocktails
Lager and lime slush
Barbecues and hot summer afternoons call for icy-cold patio drinks, and we’ve got a new favourite! This lovely take on lager is chilled perfection.

Watermelon limeade
A refreshing mocktail (or cocktail – just add limoncello), this rosy limeade is perfect for any and all party-goers.

Salads
Grilled potato salad

A white bowl rimmed with red filled with warm grilled potato salad topped with green onions on a picnic table

(Photo: Erik Putz)

A great barbecue demands unforgettable sides – starting with a classic.

Grilled Zucchini and Bosc Pear Salad on a white serving platter topped with goat cheese and arugula next to a pitcher of honey and lemon juice to drizzle over it for a post on the best grilled zucchini pear salad recipe

(Photo: Erik Putz)

Grilled zucchini-pear salad
Peppery arugula and warm grilled fruit are topped with creamy cheese and a zesty vinaigrette.

Lemon-garlic grilled chicken with lovely criss-crossed char marks and slices of grilled mean on a grill for a post on an easy Lemon-garlic grilled chicken recipe

(Photo: Erik Putz)

Main
Lemon-garlic grilled chicken
This recipe originally ran in Chatelaine more than 10 years ago. We’ve subbed fresh rosemary for dried, but otherwise it’s still our all-time favourite grilled chicken recipe.

A strawberry galette—strawberries topping a rustic free-form pie crust—on a cooling rack next to a vintage cake server. The galette is on a marble counter, next to it are two fresh strawberries and a jar of strawberry jam with a spoon in it

(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Dessert
Strawberry galette recipe
This free-form pie is a rustic dessert you can fill with a variety of berries.

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