Menu Planning with Purpose

When it comes to hosting, I often find myself paralyzed by choice. Especially this time of year, when markets are overflowing with fruits and vegetables at their peak, the options feel endless. Do I highlight the late-summer tomatoes? Lean into earthy mushrooms? Create something light with stone fruits?

Recently, instead of starting with the ingredients, I decided to begin with something else; the purpose of the dinner and the people at the center of it.

A Birthday Dinner, French Inspired

For a dear friend who adores French cuisine and elegant but simple dining, I wanted a menu that felt both celebratory and classic.

With leeks in season, I’ll begin with a delicate carrot, leek, and tomato consommé; clear, refined, and brimming with late-summer flavour. From there, a course of braised leeks in a browned butter sauce; a dish that’s delicate yet rich. The main course will be coq au vin, served over a smooth celeriac purée. It’s timeless, comforting, and just indulgent enough to feel like a birthday celebration.

A Casual Gathering, Mediterranean Spirit

For another evening, I’ll be hosting a group of friends who haven’t seen each other in far too long. Here, the mood is different; casual, vibrant, and meant to spark conversation as much as it delights the palate. With tomatoes in season, I’ll be serving a rustic ratatouille alongside swordfish with smoky Romesco sauce. To round out the table, a mushroom pesto pasta with whipped ricotta brings depth and comfort. It’s unfussy but abundant, the kind of food meant to be passed around and shared generously.

From Overwhelmed to Inspired

Menu planning can feel overwhelming, especially when the possibilities are endless. But when you shift your focus to the people you’re cooking for and the purpose of the gathering, the choices begin to fall into place. The menu becomes less about perfection and more about connection.

So next time you feel stuck, start not with the ingredients but with the intention. Who are you gathering? What mood do you want to create? Let the answers guide your choices; the season’s produce will always find its way to the table.

Here’s to menus with meaning, meals that reflect the moment, and the joy of cooking with purpose.