13 Ideas From Summer Food Events

Oversize lobster claws were an on-theme presentation prop at Tasting Table's Lobster Roll Rumble in New York in June.

At the Eat (RED) Drink (RED) Save Lives benefit in New York, the food stayed true to the red theme. One of the inventive dishes was a red pepper brodetto served with olive-oil-poached squid. The event took place at Birreria at Eataly.

Thomas Keller's French Laundry feted its 20th anniversary with an event in July at its famed Napa Valley home. The celebration included a cake with the roman numeral XX, for 20, speared by the restaurant's clothespin logo.

Staff at the French Laundry anniversary event wore matching straw hats and overalls over their chef's whites, reflecting the fine-dining restaurant's bucolic farmhouse setting.

The 29th annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals-on-Wheels in New York this June had a theme of “Summer by the Sea,” which was reflected in signage that identified the chef and the dish at each tasting station.

The Sea Grill kept its frozen pineapple, coconut, mango, and strawberry ice pops from melting by serving them atop marble slap surrounded by ice.

To promote the opening of the restaurant Yardbird Southern Table in Las Vegas—on schedule to debut in winter 2015 at the Venetian Las Vegas—restaurant group 50 Eggs held a kickoff event at its flagship Miami location. On the menu were perfectly piped deviled eggs topped with a luxe topping: salmon roe.

At Saveur magazine's Summer BBQ, held at New York's Boat Basin Café in June, Joey Campanaro and Mike Price of the Little Owl and the Clam served a summery clam bake.

The South African wine brand Two Oceans launched a new graphic design for its bottles at an event in Toronto in June. To help guests, vintages were paired with hors d'oeuvres in sleek displays.

At CultureMap's Tastemaker Awards in Austin, Texas, in May, participating restaurant Gardner used its food display to promote its website and Twitter feed.

The theater of cooking was part of the entertainment at CultureMap's Tastemaker Awards. Paella was cooked and served from a massive pan.

BLT Steak served deviled eggs topped with Maryland crab meat and shaved summer truffle at Washingtonian's AT&T Best Of Washington party, held in July.

Around 1,900 people attended this year's Rammy award gala, held in July by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. Food pavilions were sponsored by Chile, Peru, and Argentina and served dishes like gazpacho in cocktail glasses.