Tips For Extraordinary Summer Soirées

To wow your guests this summer, choose gourmet coffee, wine and jerky

By The LifeMinute Team

July 20, 2016

Summer entertaining means finding tips and tricks that are stylish, functional and that everyone will love, says Lifestyle Expert Robyn Moreno.

Coolest Coffee Brewer

Keurig has a new limited edition K250 Brewer, which comes in the gorgeous Pantone color of the year, Serenity. "It's a really beautiful way to update your kitchen really easily, and it's also nice and compact which I like," she says. But what the expert likes most about this brewer is that it's perfect for summer entertaining. Why? In addition to its single pods it is able to make a four cup carafe at the push of a button.

"Keurig is also known for their seasonal summer flavors. I love their Green Mountain Coffee Island Coconut. It is lightly roasted, has a tropical flavor that smells amazing in your kitchen and it's fair trade certified, so it's a coffee that tastes good but also does good as well."

For more information, go to Keurig.com.

Perfectly Paired Wines

When it comes to summer entertaining, you can never go wrong with a clever theme such as Italian night. "I often base it on my favorite Italian holiday which is called Ferragosto, an Italian holiday that dates back centuries, really all the way back to Emperor Augustus. It marks the end of the harvest season when aristocrats sat down with the field workers to break bread to celebrate all of their hard work."

It's simple to recreate this festival in your own backyard. All you need is some amazing food and wine. " I love a vineyard called Barone Fini because they hand pick all of their grapes from old vines and source them from the freshest, ripest fruit," says Moreno. Choose from two summer varietals: A crisp, light Pinot Grigio with hints of melon and apple which pairs perfectly with light summer food such as chicken, seafood or white pasta.

Another option: The red Barone Fini Merlot, a smooth and balanced option with hints of dark cherry and plum which goes perfectly with Italian flavors like garlic, sage and rosemary.

For more information go to deutschfamily.com.

Antipasto Alternative

No Italian meal would be complete without an antipasto plate. "But instead of just serving up a plate of charcuterie or salami, I am all about jerky, and Krave, a company from Sonoma wine country, is fantastic. They're really redefining the jerky category," she says. Krave is an artisanal company that produces gourmet flavors like pineapple orange beef, black cherry barbecue, and basil citrus jerky. "It's all natural and gluten free and it's really moist and tender, so there is something for everyone at your next summer soireé." For more information go to kravejerky.com.