As a kid, the first thing I would do to commemorate the start of summer was making a summer bucket list. Most of these were pulled from Tumblr and were highly unattainable, like becoming a Victoria’s Secret model with your bestie. Nonetheless, it was still a fun activity to welcome the endless possibilities of the new season and a two month long break from school.
Since starting college, summer hasn’t exactly had that same whimsical effect it once did. Your college friends have returned to their hometown miles away and everyone is busy with a job…ew.
But that child-like optimism for summer doesn’t need to dwindle with age. We just need to adjust our bucket lists to our circumstances. One of the easiest ways to make a doable summer bucket list that doesn’t require you to jet set every weekend is to base it around food. You need to eat three times a day so why not make it a checklist? Here are 35 tasty and easy foodie summer bucket list items to add to your summer itinerary.
- Grill: Your summer cooking will elevate ten fold once you learn how to properly grill. A stove top cooked steak simply cannot compare to a grilled steak.
- Make your own kombucha, coffee, or matcha: Experiment with different ingredients, flavors, and strengths. You’ll save money and find your perfect blend soon enough.
- Try a new cuisine each week: There are about 12 weeks in summer and hundreds of global cuisines; you’re bound to find a dish you will like.
- Cook a vegetarian or vegan version: Swap meat out for a plant-based option on a recipe you’re making that week. You never know, you may end up liking it sans meat.
- Create fresh smoothie bowls: Start your day off with a refreshing, nutrient-packed smoothie-bowl topped with fresh fruit, granola, seeds, and spreads.
- Make your own spice blends or marinades: Customize your meals by crafting your own spice rubs or marinade. It’s an easy way to upgrade any dish.
- Bake a summer pie or galette: Think strawberry rhubarb pie, peach cobbler, or a galette with seasonal fruit if you don’t own a pie dish.
- Make fresh lemonade and iced tea: If you’re feeling nostalgic, go all out with a lemonade stand.
- Grow your own herbs: It may be too late to start a full fledged food garden, so start with grocery store ready-to-pot herbs like basil, cilantro, mint, or parsley on a sunny windowsill.
- Make ice cream and popsicles at home: Churn your own ice cream in an at-home ice cream maker or with old reliable rock salt and a ziplock bag. Freeze fresh fruit, juice, and yogurt for a refreshing treat on hot days.
- Eat at a food truck: During the summer, it seems like food trucks fall from the sky. So, it only makes sense to get some food and enjoy the community atmosphere.
- Try a new restaurant or café: If you prefer a sit down experience, try out a new restaurant or café. If it’s close enough, walk to it to soak up the summer sun while you can.
- Visit a U-pick farm: Pick fresh produce like strawberries, zucchinis, or peaches directly from the source.
- Shop at a Farmers’ Market: Support local farmers and enjoy seasonal ingredients for your meals.
- Eat every meal outside: Whether it’s a solo breakfast or dinner with friends, enjoy your meal with a side of summer ambiance.
- Go to a vineyard and/or brewery: Despite your beverage preference, both vineyards and breweries offer good snacks to munch on while you spend time with your group outside.
- Make a movie-themed meal: Make your meal based on the film you plan to watch that night. Tiktok user @themedbites is a great resource to gather ideas from.
- Host an ice cream social: July is National Ice Cream Month, so it’s only just to host multiple ice cream socials with all of the fixings: cones, toppings, sauces, and sprinkles.
- Hold a mystery ingredient challenge night: Each person must bring a secret ingredient and together, you must make a meal using all of them.
- Have an Italian aperitivo hour: If you can’t make it to Europe this summer, bring Europe to you. Serve olives, nuts, small bites like bruschette and spritzes before dinner.
- Throw a color-themed dinner party: Create dishes and drinks that match the color theme of choice.
- Make a homemade pizza: Roll out your dough and top your pizza with anything your heart desires. Great for group hangouts or date nights.
- Cook over a campfire: Cook the campfire classics like hot dogs and s’mores or get fancy with foil wrapped nachos or a Jiffy Pop popcorn.
- “Sneak Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch” day: Celebrate this holiday on August 8. Originally, it began as a way for farmers to get rid of extra produce. Now, you can leave a zucchini at a friend’s doorstep as a yummy and harmless prank.
- Do a food crawl: Pick a category (tacos, pasta, ice cream, fries) and sample from multiple places in one outing. Take photos at each stop and rank them at the end.
- Organize a seafood feast: Host a lobster night, clambake, or seafood boil. It’s messy, delicious, and fun.
- Take a cooking class: Try a class or workshop focused on seasonal recipes or a specific culture. Some classes may be held outside during the warm weather.
- Make old-school soda floats: An American classic, combine soda with ice cream for a fizzy and creamy treat. Try black cows, root beer floats, Coke floats, or a Cheerwine float if you’re from the South.
- Pickle your own vegetables: Pickling is easy and satisfying. Customize your vegetables of choice, cucumbers, carrots, or onions with different spices for unique flavor blends
- Plan a picnic: Head to a park or beach with a large blanket and a basket full of sandwiches, drinks, snacks, and some fruit.
- Try family style restaurant ordering: When out with friends, rather than ordering individual plates, order multiple dishes for everyone to share. This gives you the chance to try multiple things from the menu and makes the experience more intimate with your group.
- Hold a summer cocktail bar: A summer cocktail bar is perfect for hosting friends. The bar can extend to mocktails as well for those who aren’t drinking, letting everyone in on the fun.
- Cook an international breakfast: Switch up your avocado toast for shakshuka, congee or pan con tomate to widen your palette.
- Write a recipe book: This can either be a solo or group project. Compile all of your summer cooking experiences, successes, and favorites into a cookbook.