Good Food & Easy Summer Entertaining
Long afternoons outdoors, the BBQ fired up and ready to go, and those impromptu picnics that stretch well into the evening. Summer in Aotearoa New Zealand is made for good food, great company, and making the most of every last ray of sunshine.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbie, packing a picnic for the beach, or heading away to the bach, a few well-chosen kitchen essentials can make summer entertaining that much easier. We’ve rounded up practical tools and thoughtful accessories to help you prepare, pack and serve with ease, wherever the season takes you.
The BBQ Essentials
A great BBQ is all about having the right tools within reach. From flipping burgers to checking the temperature of a roast, a few reliable essentials make cooking outdoors easier and more enjoyable.
The Joseph Joseph GrillOut range brings clever design to outdoor cooking, with practical tools and accessories made for the job. Pair them with a quality meat thermometer such as the Taylor Pro Leave-In Meat Thermometer, which lets you keep an eye on cooking temperatures without constantly lifting the lid.
For handling hot equipment, ChefTech Heat-Resistant Gloves offer extra protection around BBQs and firepits. If outdoor pizza is more your style, the new Ooni Pizza Oven Gloves are a handy addition. You can also explore our range of outdoor pizza ovens for more ways to cook outside.
And for those who love a good rack of ribs, Hunt & Gather Butcher Paper Roll and Sticky Rib BBQ Sauce make a delicious combination for your next low-and-slow smoke session.
Chef’s tip: Keep raw and cooked foods separate, and use a meat thermometer to check that food is safely cooked.
Pack a Picnic to Remember
Whether it’s lunch by the lake, a day at the beach, or a lazy afternoon in the park, a little preparation goes a long way.
For a picnic with a touch of classic charm, the Avanti 2 Person Wicker Picnic Basket is ideal for a relaxed lunch for two, while the 4 Person Wicker Picnic Basket has room for family and friends. Both offer a timeless way to pack your picnic essentials and bring a little occasion to a simple meal in nature.
For a little extra refreshment, don’t forget the ice. Ice Cube Trays are a simple kitchen essential for keeping summer drinks chilled, whether you’re filling a chilly bin for the beach or serving homemade spritzers at a backyard BBQ. Explore our Ice Buckets, Trays & Accessories for everything you need to keep drinks cool and ready to serve.
Chef’s tip: Pack perishable food in an insulated cooler with ice packs, keep it out of direct sunlight and return leftovers to the cooler promptly.
From the Coast to the Table
Fresh seafood, crisp salads and crusty bread, served with a few favourite dips, make for an easy summer spread. With the right tools for preparing and serving, it’s simple to make the most of fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Whether you’re grilling fish, preparing mussels or serving fresh pāua, our guide to The Best Chef’s Tools for NZ Seafood has practical advice to help you prepare and enjoy New Zealand’s seafood.
For dining outdoors, choose lightweight platters, bowls and durable dinnerware that are easy to pack and carry. Our range of outdoor dinnerware includes options for every kind of summer outing, from Bambooware and Melamine to Enamelware. They’re ideal for everything from beachside lunches to relaxed dinners in the garden.
Chef’s tip: Before cooking at the beach, check local rules and only use portable grills where permitted. Always pack out your rubbish and leave the spot as you found it.
Something Cold to Sip
Cold water and refreshing homemade drinks deserve a place at every summer gathering. Whether you’re heading to the beach, hosting a backyard BBQ, or enjoying a picnic by the lake, the right drinkware and cooling essentials help keep refreshments ready to enjoy. Keep bottles chilled with our range of insulated drink coolers, or browse beer and can coolers for keeping individual drinks chilled on the go.
Explore carafes and decanters, jugs and drink dispensers for easy summer beverage serving, or choose polycarbonate glassware as a practical alternative to traditional glass when entertaining outdoors.
And if you’re enjoying a glass of wine on the lawn or at the beach, Glass on the Grass is a clever finishing touch. These slip-on wine glass coasters help keep glasses steadier on grass, sand and other uneven surfaces.
Set the Scene for Summer
Some of the best summer spreads are also the simplest. A generous serving platter, a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit and a few small dishes for dips, sauces and snacks can turn an everyday meal into something worth lingering over.
Choose versatile pieces that work just as well for a casual BBQ as they do for a long lunch or drinks with friends. Serving platters and grazing boards make it easy to arrange cheeses, fresh fruit, antipasto and other easy-to-share favourites, creating a spread that feels inviting without requiring hours of preparation.
Explore our range of serving and grazing boards for versatile pieces you’ll reach for throughout the summer season, whether you’re hosting a crowd or keeping things simple with a few friends.
Here’s to a Delicious Summer
From the first BBQ of the season to lazy afternoons by the water, the right kitchen essentials make it easier to spend less time preparing and more time enjoying the moment. Keep things simple, make the most of fresh summer produce and bring your favourite people together around good food. After all, summer entertaining is less about getting everything perfect and more about making time for the moments that matter.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our Outdoors & On the Go collection, browse Just Arrived for the latest additions, or take a peek at Coming Soon to see what’s on the horizon.
