Meet me at the Strawberry Social – a simple celebration of summer, shared with good friends, fresh seasonal flavours, and lingering moments around the table.
I recently hosted this strawberry-themed lunch party at The Lakehouse to celebrate our annual summer reunion. I rarely see my Lakehouse friends during the winter months, but when we gather again by the lake each summer, it feels as though no time has passed. Getting everyone together at the beginning of the season is one of my favourite traditions—a beautiful reminder that the best friendships always pick up right where they left off.
The Strawberry Social wasn’t just a lunch; it was a slow summer feast filled with fresh strawberries, delicious food, conversations both meaningful and silly, and every reason to linger a little longer. Follow along as I share the details of this little party, from the setting, to the menu, to the details that make a summer gathering feel extra special. The best part about a themed gathering like this is that it doesn’t have to be complicated to be memorable. In this post, I’ll share all the little details that brought our Strawberry Social to life – from the table setting and the menu to simple decorating ideas and a few thoughtful touches that made the afternoon feel extra special. My hope is that these ideas will inspire you to gather a few friends, celebrate strawberry season, and create a sweet afternoon filled with good food, great conversation and lasting memories of your own.
One of the secrets to hosting a relaxed summer lunch is making sure you’re enjoying the party too. Every recipe for this Strawberry Social was prepared in advance, with just a few final touches needed before serving, so I wasn’t stuck in the kitchen while everyone else gathered at the table. Strawberries may have been the inspiration for the theme, but the menu included so much more than just berries. With the summer heat in full swing, I kept the food light, vibrant and refreshing with fresh seasonal flavours that felt perfect for a warm afternoon.
When inviting your friends, let them know you’re planning a leisurely lunch so they arrived relaxed and ready to linger. Starting a little later, around 1pm, helps set the tone – it signals this is an afternoon affair, not a quick meal with a schedule to follow. Plan your menu in courses and allow plenty of time between each one. A slow, thoughtful progression of food encourages conversation, keeps guests comfortable, and turns a simple lunch into the kind of summer gathering everyone remembers.
Set The Scene
A memorable lunch gathering is about more than just what you serve – it’s about the atmosphere you create. Set the scene in a light-filled room or a shady outdoor spot, add a little quiet music in the background, and create a space where guests instantly feel welcome and comfortable. I love an excuse for a party that calls for a bit of thoughtful decor, whether it’s a pretty table setting, fresh flowers or simple seasonal touches that make the occasion feel special. Delicious food is always part of the celebration, but the mood around the table matters just as much. We often think of dinner parties as the classic way to entertain because evenings are usually when we gather to celebrate, but I love hosting a lunch gathering for the different energy it brings. An afternoon around the table feels relaxed and unhurried, leaving more time for stories, laughter and the kind of catching up that makes summer friendships so special.
Setting the Table for the Strawberry Social Lunch Party
Setting the table is one of my favourite parts of hosting a summer lunch because it’s where the theme really begins to come to life. For this Strawberry Social, I kept things casual and charming with a red gingham table cloth, folded and run down the centre to show the wood edges of the table. The napkins were strawberry-leaf green, and none of the linens were sharply pressed, creating an effortless, slightly rumpled and relaxed feel, rather than a perfectly polished one. White and green flowers filled mismatched vases, while glass bowls overflowing with fresh strawberries added a simple and beautiful seasonal touch. Wild strawberries grow naturally on my property at The Lakehouse, so I snipped a few leaves to tuck into the centre of each plate for a personal detail. If I were recreating this party in the city, I would pick up a strawberry plant from the garden centre, snip a few leaves for the table and enjoy the plant long after lunch is over. I arranged the flowers and set the table the day before so I could enjoy the process at a relaxed pace, and so everything was ready and set the day of the party. Just before guests arrived, I added the strawberries so everything looked fresh, vibrant and inviting.
The Menu
I planned this Strawberry Social menu around strawberries as the star ingredient, because they are in season and at their absolute best here in Ontario right now. (Also, they’re my favourite!) From there, I added other seasonal ingredients and fresh flavours that complement their natural sweetness, creating a menu that feels vibrant, summery and perfect for a warm afternoon.
When planning a menu for entertaining, one of the most important things to consider is how much time you’ll actually spend in the kitchen on the day of the event. Look for recipes that can be prepared mostly ahead of time, so you’re free to enjoy the conversation and spend time with your guests. Simple doesn’t mean sacrificing delicious food – it means choosing flavourful, seasonal ingredients that don’t need a lot of fuss or complicated techniques to shine.
Think about what feels realistic for you. What can you comfortably prepare without adding unnecessary stress? Could some parts of the menu be homemade while others are picked up from a favourite bakery or shop? If baking isn’t your thing, there’s nothing wrong with buying a beautiful dessert and focusing your energy on the parts of hosting you most enjoy. Hosting a party is for fun after all, am I right? Since the weather has been especially warm, I chose to serve a cold lunch, which fit perfectly with my goal of creating a relaxed menu filled with dishes that could be made ahead and served chilled or at room temperature. Looking for more tips on how to make sure you enjoy a party you’ve worked so hard to plan and prepare? Check out this popular post on How to Host a Party Like a Pro and Have Fun Too!
The Strawberry Social Menu
Let’s begin: A Rhubard Gin Spritz as a welcome cocktail served alongside a Whipped Brie with Fresh Strawberries and Thyme
First Course: Yellow Tomato Gazpacho with Spicy Orange Grilled Shrimp
Main Course: Strawberry and Cucumber Salad with Grilled Lemon Chicken, fresh bread with Lemon and Chive Butter
Dessert: Strawberry Tiramisu
THE DRINK PAIRINGS
THE DRINK PAIRINGS
The drinks for the Strawberry Social were chosen to complement the fresh, seasonal menu without overpowering it. Friends were welcomed with a refreshing Rhubarb Gin Spritz before we moved onto a crisp, dry rosé wine, whose bright acidity and subtle berry notes paired beautifully with the strawberry-forward menu. A chilled sparkling wine would also be a wonderful choice, adding a festive touch that’s perfect for a leisurely lunch.
Since it was such a warm day, I made sure there was plenty of refreshing water on the table too. Ice water infused with fresh strawberries and mint was a simple but beautiful addition that felt right at home with the theme. To make it, simply add sliced strawberries and a few sprigs of fresh mint to a pitcher of cold water and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow the flavours to gently infuse. Add plenty of ice just before serving for a lightly flavoured refresher that’s as pretty as it is refreshing. Looking for more ways to dress up a pitcher of water? Click here for my favourite infused water combinations!
Making the dishes ahead of time
One of the best ways to host a relaxed lunch party is to do as much as you can before your guests arrive. Preparing dishes ahead of time means you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time around the table enjoying good food and great conversation. For this Strawberry Social party, every recipe was chosen with make-ahead ease in mind, whether it could be fully prepared the day before or simply needed a few finishing touches just before serving. With a little planning, you can create a beautiful seasonal menu that’s as enjoyable for the host as it is for the guests. Here’s how I broke down the tasks:
Two days in advance
Made the rhubarb syrup for the Rhubarb Gin Spritz cocktails, stored it in a glass jar in the fridge.
Assembled the Lemon and Chive Butter, packed it into a serving bowl, covered the bowl and placed it in the fridge.
Made the Yellow Tomato Gazpacho, transferred it to large glass jars and stored in the fridge. Making the gazpacho in advance improves the flavour as all the ingredients have the chance to meld and blend together while it rests in the fridge.
The day before
Made the Candied Rhubarb Ribbons, then stored them at room temperature in a paper towel-lined container.
Whipped the Brie for the appetizer and placed it in the serving dish. Covered the dish well and placed it in the fridge.
Marinated and grilled the lemon chicken for the salad and the spicy orange grilled shrimp to serve with the gazpacho, chilled both in the fridge.
Made the Mediterranean Lemon Vinaigrette for the salad, stored it in a jar in the fridge
Assembled the Strawberry Tiramisu, covered and transferred to the fridge.
Set up the bar with the glassware for the cocktails, chilled the wines
Arranged the flowers and set the table
The morning of the party
Removed the Lemon and Chive Butter from the fridge and let it come to room temperature, and topped with chopped chives.
Removed the Mediterranean Lemon Vinaigrette from the fridge to bring it to room temperature (The olive oil in the dressing can solidify in a very cold fridge. Bringing it to room temperature will restore the liquid consistency.)
Threaded the chilled grilled shrimp onto skewers, placed them back in the fridge
Assembled the Strawberry and Cucumber Salads, added the grilled chicken, covered and transferred to the fridge until serving time.
Just before guests arrived
Added fresh strawberries to the tablescape
Brought the Whipped Brie to room temperature (this didn’t take long on a warm day) and added the sliced strawberries and other toppings. Set it on a serving platter along with crackers.
Assembled the cocktails
What I did during the party
Preparing the dishes ahead of time left me with little to do other than a little slicing, garnishing and serving, leaving me free to enjoy the party!
Ladled the chilled Yellow Tomato Gazpacho into small serving bowls, garnished each serving, added a skewer of Spicy Orange Grilled Shrimp.
Sliced the bread just before serving for freshness, and transferred it to baskets for serving
Garnished the Strawberry Tiramisu with freshly sliced strawberries just before serving
Kept glasses full with the strawberry and mint infused ice water, and the chilled rosé
After Lunch
As it turns out, the Strawberry Social wasn’t just about the lunch – it was about the company. We lingered at the table long after the plates had been cleared, solving the world’s problems and each others (or at lease discussing them over cold drinks). When we finally decided to move, it was only as far as the screened in porch, drinks in hand, where the conversation picked back up right where it left off. I had every intention of bringing out the mahjong tiles, but we never made it that far. Between the laughter and the easy conversation, the tiles never made it out of the case. Some days, a good catch up with good friends is better than any game…even mahjong! Don’t worry though – the mahjong tiles didn’t stay packed away for long. Be sure to follow along and check back – while the tiles stayed tucked away that day, they certainly didn’t stay that way for long. Our mahjong adventures were just getting started…and trust me, they’re worth the wait.
