Summer-proof your menu

Summer means al fresco dining and treating your customers to delicious summer dishes. You'll see that your customers’ tastes change significantly in summer. They start early with an aperitif, followed by delicious light courses, and will hang around to enjoy the very last rays of the sun in the company of friends and family. Stews are out and summer fare is in. The chefs at LLBG are here to explain how to approach the summer months in a targeted, efficient and profitable way.   

Why put together a summer-proof menu?  

The summer months are a time of change for your food business, which is why it's good to be prepared. Your customers will prefer al fresco dining in this season, flocking to restaurants with outdoor seating, summer bars and beach bars. Do you have outdoor seating? Then you've probably noticed a huge increase in foot traffic. In addition, the longer days and school holidays result in a higher number of group outings and family get-togethers, which can lead to more group reservations. In short: summer can be a much busier time for your business. That's why it's important to prepare your business and menu so you can keep your customers happy. Don't have any outdoor seating? Then it's even more important to make your business stand out with a summer-proof menu.  

How do you create a delicious summer menu?

The biggest change in this season is that customers prefer lighter meals, with barbecued or grilled foods, salads and other dishes with lots of fruit and vegetables proving popular choices. You'll also receive more orders of refreshing drinks, such as iced tea, juices, smoothies, mocktails and cocktails. Another idea to try: gazpacho with freshly baked bread on the side... 

The biggest advantage of the summer months? Many seasonal products are cheaper in this period. It's not just asparagus and strawberries, but also many types of fish, such as sole, wolffish and langoustines. By pivoting to these summery products, your food cost percentage will drop significantly and you can optimise your turnover. 

A summer-proof menu not only ensures that your customers leave happy, but it also means you save on the biggest costs — namely, the ingredients in your recipe. 

Some tips for a summer-proof menu:  

  • Use seasonal ingredients: e.g. apricots, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, aubergines, asparagus, cucumber, lettuce and kohlrabi.  

  • Offer lighter and healthier options: these can include colourful salads with smoked chicken, smoked fish or cheerful plant-based ingredients like hummus or falafel.  

  • Offer a wide range of refreshing drinks: juices, smoothies, mocktails and cocktails are always popular choices. Consider offering (free) water during hot summer days.  

  • Ice creams and frozen snacks: add different ice creams, sorbets, frozen yoghurt and other frozen desserts to your menu. Simple scoops of ice cream for anyone needing to cool down, and indulgent sundaes for those with a sweet tooth, such as a lovely strawberry sundae.  

  • Barbecue and grill dishes: attract more customers by holding a barbecue night. Don't forget to include grilled fish, chicken, beef, tofu, veggies and even fruit like pineapple and peaches. Simply delicious with a scoop of ice cream!  

  • Cold soups: a cold soup like gazpacho, salmorejo or vichyssoise makes the perfect starter on a hot summer's day. And it's the ideal way to use up leftover vegetables and bread (as croutons). Don't forget to serve some freshly baked bread on the side.  

  • Small dishes and tapas: the preference for lighter meals makes tapas and mezze popular concepts for your summer menu. Sharing dishes like schiacciata and appetizer boards are also very trendy. Ideal to serve with cocktails or mocktails!  

  • Offer to-go options: no outdoor seating? Be sure to add some to-go dishes to your menu. Then people can enjoy your delicious food at a location of their choosing.  

  • Theme nights: langoustines à volonté, asparagus nights, mussel feasts...the possibilities are endless!  


Summer menu: planning and developing

From the moment the sun comes out and the temperatures rise, you need to shine a spotlight on your summer-proof menu. If this summer is cold and rainy, bring the sun indoors by treating your customers to your colourful summer menu and drinks. Or play summer hits to create a beachy atmosphere. It's worth a shot! 

But don't forget about the classics. Some customers will be coming to you for their old favourites. Integrate summer dishes as suggestions and temporarily remove certain typically wintery dishes. You don't need to make any big investments. Just print your suggestions on an A4 page and insert it into your menu, create an online menu customers can access with a QR code, or just write them on a classic chalk board. As long as it's clear to customers that you have special summery dishes for them.  

Tip: do you distribute the delicious products from La Lorraine Bakery? Request a beach flag to highlight these products. 

La Lorraine Bakery Group: our products make your menu summer-proof

The summer months are often the busiest times for your business. To relieve your staff, try using some efficient extras that allow you to focus fully on service. La Lorraine Bakery Group offers a wide assortment of ingredients that give your menu a boost. For example, waffles that you can serve with fresh strawberries, Italian bread rolls you can fill with seasonal fillings or even patisserie and viennoiserie you can easily give a summery touch. Wondering how LLBG can help you? Talk to a representative or get our product catalogue.

Our summer products

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