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    Home » Dinner Club

    Dinner Club: A Southwestern Menu

    Published: Aug 5, 2022 · Modified: Aug 5, 2024 by Cinde LittleThis post may contain affiliate linksLeave a Comment

    This is the season for casual outdoor entertaining and my Southwestern Menu for Summer is simply amazing! Having a set menu is half the work and making the exact same menu for different groups is the best entertaining tip I have.

    Three dishes from a Southwestern Menu for Summer; grilled shrimp martinis, achiote chicken and Aztec chocolate ice cream. this gluten free recipe

    I'll serve this exact menu, or I might change one or two items to include personal preferences or seasonal produce. This makes entertaining easier and why not share your best menus with everyone you know.

    The Achiote Chicken recipe is large so I even make it once or twice for my family because I love the unique flavour and the combination of all the dishes. For a bit of a twist you could use the Spatchcock Chicken method just for fun.

    Start Your Own Dinner Club

    My friends and I refer to our Gourmet Dinner Club simply as Gourmet. We've been meeting since 1988 so have enjoyed a lot of meals together. At one time it was all about the challenge; trying new dishes and cuisines and searching for exotic ingredients we had never heard of. Now it's more about actually getting together.

    With busy schedules picking a date is now the most challenging part. We haven't kept meticulous records but some recipes and menus have become cherished favourites.

    For me both the Grilled Shrimp Martini and the Aztec Chocolate Ice Cream are standout recipes that I try to incorporate into my summer entertaining menus every year.

    If you're interested in starting your own Dinner Club you'll find all my tips for doing just that in this post, How To Start a Gluten Free Dinner Club.


    Dinner Club - A Southwestern Menu

    Start with Grilled Shrimp Martinis! Be sure to serve this starter in martini glasses for a fun, WOW presentation.

    Grilled Shrimp Martinis served on a dock.
    Grilled Shrimp Martini

    ◊◊◊

    Slices of grilled Achiote Chicken from Yucatan.
    Grilled Achiote Chicken
    A dish of fragrant Saffron Rice
    Fragrant Saffron Rice
    Grilled Balsamic Marinated Vegetables

    ◊◊◊

    Scoops of Aztec Chocolate Ice Cream with lime glaze.
    Aztec Chocolate Ice Cream

    I make this decadent chocolate ice cream in two steps. I make the glaze and the custard in advance. When the first guests arrive I ask them to turn the crank and freeze it in my Donvier ice cream maker, the perfect activity for those who want to get involved.

    ◊◊◊

    I encourage you to stretch beyond the typical backyard barbecue this season. Whether you are cooking for friends or have started a Dinner Club I hope you'll consider this Southwestern Summer Menu. Let me know if you did in the comments below.


    More Dinner Club Menus

    • How To Start a Gourmet Dinner Club
    • A Thai Menu
    • Spanish Menu
    • An East Indian Menu
    • Farm To Table Menu
    • Greek Night

    __________________________________________________________________________

    New here? I've got help to get you from overwhelmed and frustrated to confidently cooking gluten free food the whole family wants to eat. Subscribe and get your free resource, 29 Tips for GF flour.

    Send me those 29 Tips!

    🎉 I made it into the Top 100 Gluten Free Blogs for 2025 and the Top 40 Gourmet Food Blogs. To learn all the ways I can help you click here, Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet.

    _________________________________________________________________________

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    As a foodie and health educator I'm here to help you learn to cook gluten free. Every gluten free journey is unique but we all need to eat. I share recipes that work, resources to learn about GF flours and tips for success in the kitchen. Subscribe NOW to get the help you need.

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