Shrimp Boil
A one (big) pot dinner party! Corn, shellfish, and potatoes means you cover all the food groups, too. Serve with: Up the ante with hush puppies, Bloody Marys, and plenty of Old Bay.
Steamed Mussels
Steam your mussels in a couple of batches (they only take a few minutes), and keep in mind that you'll need about a pound per person. Serve with: The best part of eating mussels is sopping up the juice, so grilled bread is a must, and a huge pile of grilled veggies will make everybody feel virtuous. White wine spritzers pair well with shellfish, and their lower alcohol content means you can drink all night.
No Boys Allowed: Vinho Verde & Bagel Rolls
Vinho Verde is a young, fizzy, crisp, and inexpensive white wine from Portugal that pairs delightfully with all types of sushi rolls. To keep it simple, either pick up a few rolls from your favorite gourmet food shop or make it a fun, collective effort and sip Vinho Verde while making your own rolls with your best gal pals. Start with a simple six-ingredient roll that calls for smoked salmon.
Tacos Al Pastor
The greatest taco of all takes time, but it's so worth it. Serve with: Individual seven-layer dips are party-perfect, and there's never a bad time to eat Mexican grilled corn. Don't even think about using bottled "sour mix," just go for real-deal margaritas, look more here.
Grilled Pizza
Large-format summer mains are generally pretty meat-centric—because, face it, throwing a big piece of meat on the grill is just so obvious. But, vegetarians and carnivores alike always appreciate a pizza party. Serve with: Grilled broccoli rabe and antipasto chopped salad fill the vegetable quotient without filling your whole afternoon with extra prep. And, when it comes to pizza, chianti is always the answer.
Bo Ssam (Asian Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder)
Instead of turning on your oven, cook your bo ssam in a 300°F grill. Serve with: Aside from the obligatory lettuce cups, rice and ssam sauce (recipe here, serve your bo ssam with some pickled red onions and ginger-miso grilled eggplant. To drink, spicy gin and tonics bring just enough heat.
Neighborhood Block-Party: Beaujolais and Burgers
Invite your neighbors over for a casual backyard party with Beaujolais wine and grilled burgers. Beaujolais wines from France (which are much more than just that 'Nouveau' stuff) are a great match for burgers because of their lively acidity, juicy fruitiness, and soft tannins. You can even drink the more youthful Beaujolais a little bit chilled, which is perfect for outdoor summertime sipping.
