Having guests up to the cottage can be both a blessing and a curse. We love it because it means we get to show off our little pieces of paradise, but we also know that extra people often equals extra mess and work. Thankfully, there are a few inventions out there that have your back when it comes to catering, cooking, and cleaning for a crowd.
Entertaining
10 items that take the stress out of summer entertaining
A seat for everyone
Hosting a large group means you’ll need a lot of chairs—and storage space for those chairs when they’re not in use. Keep everything tidy and out-of-sight with an ottoman that converts into four lightweight stools, perfect for adding extra seats at the dinner table. More info: www.resourcefurniture.com
Let the music play
Worried about guests splashing around your speakers? Keep the music playing with a waterproof boom box that runs off your iPod, mp3 player, or smartphone. The best part is the stereo floats, so no need to panic if it gets knocked off the dock. More info: www.ecoxgear.com
Cool your dips
One of the biggest annoyances of summer entertaining? Keeping your dishes cool when the weather is hot. Instead of stressing (or making multiple runs to the fridge), serve your dips on ice. Added bonus: it comes with a lid and is BPA-free. More info: www.prodyne.com
Robotic vacuum
With all those extra people, you’re going to have more dirt, sand, dust, and other bits trampled through your cottage. Instead of spending all your time cleaning when you could be hosting, let a Roomba do the dirty work for you. More info: www.irobot.com
Break-free glass
No more red solo cups (which, while classic, aren’t exactly classy), thanks to a pretty take on plastic glassware. Not only do these cups look and feel like glass, so there’s no more plastic taste, they’re also BPA-free, temperature resistant, dishwasher-safe and, best of all for clumsy friends on the dock, practically unbreakable. More info: www.barluxe.com
Space-saving cutting board
Dealing with a cramped kitchen? As the saying goes, too many cooks—unless you have room to put those extra cooks to work. Create valuable counter space with a stove-top cutting board. More info: www.houzz.com
Charm your meat
Cooking for a crowd? Trying to keep track of who likes it rare, who likes it well-done, and who wants extra seasoning is easier with these barbecue charms. Stick them in your meat before you grill and then cook away without worrying about forgetting which steak belongs to whom. More info: www.grillcharms.com
Grilling platter
Cut down on dishes by serving and cooking on the same platter. This grilling tray keeps an even temperature for cooking, and holds its heat even after you’ve removed it from the barbecue or oven. Alternately, stick it in the freezer the night before for serving up chilled platters. More info: www.williams-sonoma.com
Grill and go
Forget trying to play chef and host at the same time. Instead, let your smartphone do the cooking while you entertain. The iGrill app wirelessly connects your smartphone to your barbecue; just stick the probe into your meat and set your phone to monitor when it’s ready for flipping. Even if you’re not a grill master, preloaded food temperatures ensure you won’t get well-done when you really wanted medium-rare. More info: www.idevicesinc.com
Whiskey stones
Cut down on constantly refilling the ice cube tray for your guests with these whiskey stones. Throw the flavourless, non-porous cubes into the freezer for four hours, then toss them into guests’ drinks to keep them cold—without any melt to water your beverage down. More info: www.chapters.indigo.ca
