I had it all planned out. And it was beautiful – it really was. A perfectly set display of savory s’more accompaniments all ready for the evening’s festivities. With Adirondack chairs carefully positioned around the crackling campfire, warm bistro lights twinkling overhead and the sun slowly setting in the distance, I would capture the most Pinterest-worthy photos of all time to be able to share with the world our latest (and perhaps greatest) monthly dinner party happenings.
But then I didn’t. I completely forgot to take my phone out and maybe that was the point.
I was simply present, enjoying good conversations with good friends around the campfire. No photo ops. No distractions. No content created, which either makes me a terrible blogger or is proof that the evening was exactly what I had hoped it would be.
For our final monthly dinner party before summer, my co-host and I wanted the evening to feel relaxed and celebratory – the kind of gathering that gently ushers in a new season. Though Alberta is still holding onto traces of spring, we were craving the warmth and ease of summer evenings: campfires, lingering conversations and food shared outdoors. So when we began planning this month’s menu, we knew it had to involve a campfire and, naturally, s’mores.
But as with all of our dinner parties, we wanted the evening to still feel elegant and elevated – a special something for this incredible group of ladies who have come to mean so much to us. Then somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered seeing “savory s’mores” on Instagram last summer and I couldn’t stop thinking about how fun (and delicious) they would be.
What are savory s’mores you may ask? Think: charcuterie cooked over a campfire. Now, I personally love me some charcuterie of all kinds, but charcuterie roasted over a fire sounded amazing. So for the month of May, our dinner party’s menu centered around savory s’mores and it was so delicious and so incredibly fun.
We set up a table next to our fire pit and prepared a spread of savory s’more options and accompaniments for everyone to mix and match as they please. We wanted to have a mix of classic combinations as well as some more unique flavors, so we opted for the following menu:
Crackers:
- Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers
- Mary’s Original Crackers
- Apricot & Rosemary Artisan Crackers
- Naan bread, pita chips or baguette slices would work well too!
Cheeses:
- Babybel Mini Variety Cheeses
- Brie Cheese
- Bothwell Spicy Dill Pickle Monterey Jack Cheese
- Mozzarella or Havarti cheeses could be great here too!
Savory Fillings:
- A variety of salami and prosciutto
- Mango Jalapeno Chicken Sausages
- Pickles
- Olives
- Bell Peppers
- Zucchini
Sauces & Spreads:
- Black olive tapenade
- Pomegranate & red pepper jelly
- Fig jam
- Pesto, hot honey or a balsamic glaze would be amazing here too!
For the beverages we kept things pretty simple and offered a selection of sparkling waters, ginger beer and lemon water. We also brought out the coffee machine and tea kettle for some warm and cozy sips around the fire.
Last, but certainly not least, we had s’mores for dessert. But they weren’t just any s’mores. They were made with both Homemade Graham Crackers and Homemade Marshmallows – a delightful treat that we all greatly enjoyed.
While I don’t have photos to share from this month’s dinner party, it was truly a night to remember and these precious memories will live on in my mind and heart for a lifetime. And in a world longing for belonging, my hope is that this post inspires you to be the friend. Send the invites. Light the campfire. And enjoy some savory s’mores with those you love.
This Darling Adventure 