Overview
Do you change your menu from season to season? While a complete menu overhaul may be too daunting for your small business, making small changes to your appetizers, desserts or baked good offerings can make help your menu seem current and seasonal. Plus, these items will entice your customers to keep coming back to see what’s new!
Details
Spring
As the temperate gradually starts to warm up, introduce some lighter items to your menu. Seeing fresh vegetables and herbs on your menu will signify to your customers that winter is officially over!
- Asparagus – perfect steamed, grilled, pureed in a cold soup, or chopped up in a risotto
- Peas – speaking of risotto, peas are the perfect spring addition to this creamy dish.
- Lamb – this Easter favorite is delicious served as lamb chops, rack of lamb, lamb kebabs, lamb burgers, etc.
- Leeks – use leeks as a base for your spring soups, or serve them sautéed on a pizza, in pasta or grilled as a side item.
- Artichokes – serve steamed, braised or served with butter as an appetizer.
- Herbs – use fresh herbs in scones, butter, pasta and sprinkled in your salads.
- Ham – delicious on a homemade biscuit, chopped up into scones, or on a charcuterie plate.
- Cherries – they peak in late spring, so add them to your dessert menu in the form of cherry pie, cherry crisps. Or, create a signature cocktail around them.
- Rhubarb – stockpile homemade rhubarb jam for use on cheese plates and sandwiches, and cook this delicious fruit down into pie filling.
Summer
Warmer temperatures have people dreaming of dining al fresco and enjoying seasonal cocktails. Do what you can to recreate a summer/vacation vibe in your location!
- Crab Cakes – a perennial East Coast favorite. However you make ’em, make sure to use lump crab meat and double-check for shells!
- Corn – grilled corn, corn salad, cold corn chowder – the options are endless!
- Heirloom tomatoes – beautiful drizzled with olive oil and fresh basil, served in a salad or on a turkey sandwich.
- Peaches – sliced over ice cream, incorporated into cocktails (or iced tea), or served in a salad, these sweet fruits are the best when the weather is warm!
- Grilled anything – grill fruit for dessert or for cocktails, grill vegetables for a summer pasta or pizza.
- Squash – sautéed for quiche or pasta or served up as a side dish
- Strawberries – delicious over a salad with goat cheese, or baked into your favorite dessert!
Fall
As we ease away from the Summer temperatures and produce, start introducing warmer flavors and more hearty meals into your menu.
- Oysters – ’tis the season! They’re best eaten in the colder months – from September to April.
- Butternut Squash – roast it, puree it, put it on pizza or make it into a pasta sauce. The possibilities are endless!
- Pecans – delicious toasted over salads, in a wild rice medley, baked into pastries or served spiced, as an appetizer.
- Root Vegetables – roasted potatoes, carrots, turnips, and parsnips are the perfect side dish for the season.
- Pumpkin – pumpkin pancakes, muffins, cookies, pie, puree are all no-brainers. Don’t forget toasted pumpkin seeds for your salads, baked goods, or just as a snack!
- Apples (and Apple Cider)– it’s harvest season for apples and they’re great over salads, in baked goods, and blended into butternut squash soup. Apple cider makes a great braising liquid for pork, chicken and turkey.
- Stews, soups and chills – add some good “stick to your ribs” stews and soups to your fall arsenal.
- Seasonal cocktails – feature classic fall flavors such as apple cider, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, or honey. Don’t forget to update your wine and beer selections, as well!
Winter
It’s cold outside (most likely), and when your customers venture out, they’re ready for comfort food. Give them what they want!
- Pot Roast – cooked low and slow, and served with mashed potatoes – you can’t beat this winter favorite!
- Brussels Sprouts – roast or pan-sear these little cabbages for more intense flavor.
- Kale – this superfood is delicious in pasta or served as a heartier alternative to lettuce in Caesar salads.
- Baked Pasta – lasagne, penne, or good old spaghetti and meatballs are sure to warm the hearts of your customers.
- Champagne cocktails – tis the season to celebrate!
- Pot Pies – whether you make them with chicken, beef, or vegetables only, they’re cozy little bowls of goodness.
- Fancy Mac ‘n’ Cheese – make a mac ‘n’ cheese for the adult customers in your life by using various cheeses or incorporating sautéed vegetables or truffle oil.
- Decorated sugar cookies – a fun alternative to a seasonal dessert, and easy for bakeries to add to their arsenal.
