When the weather begins to warm up (ever the optimist) and we British venture outside reaching for the barbecue, it's often tempting to simply throw a few sausages on the grill and be done with it. But there are so many possibilities for a hot summer's day lunch that we thought it would be beneficial to offer some alternatives.

Firstly, do away with the mindset that a summer lunch has to be a barbecue and nothing else. Although it's certainly a possibility, you can prepare a salad buffet, roast a lamb shank or even a banquet of seafood with light airy desserts and of course drinks!

When it comes to drinks, wine can be the most exquisite accompaniment to a summer meal. Food in the summer needs to be light and zesty, and a mouth-watering white wine from M&S could do the trick. It will go very well with salads, cheeses and light foods, but if you're grilling red meat then wine of a similar hue will have the weight to match.

You'll also want to offer succulent dishes that aren't salads to those who are non-meat eaters; although a hearty Greek or Waldorf salad won't go amiss a vegetarian moussaka, a cool veggie curry or a quiche full of summer greens are all ways to keep the table light and flavoursome without resorting only to salads, chicken and fruit.

The dessert, however (no one can say a lunch dessert is illegal, surely!), must be the way in which the meal is tied together, and must tickle the taste buds without weighing down your guests in the hot weather. Light pastries, ice cream, fruit salad and even a mousse are all sound choices for your menu, and all can be prepared by anyone with a relatively good handle on cooking.

Summer lunches will be a tribute to the hot weather and the amazing flavours the sun brings out in the middle months of the year. Feel free to share yours with us, as well as your dining hotspots that remain the perfect fit for a seasonal visit regardless of the time of year.

Don't forget that you can always have high-quality gourmet food delivered to your home via certain caterers, and they will often specialise in seasonal fare, so even if you're not a dab hand in the kitchen there's no need to fret. Enjoy your summer lunch!