Can you smell the scrumptious smoky smell in the air? That’s because BBQ season is coming. Nothing is more satisfying than having a cosy casual get-together involving grilled meat with friends and family right in your backyard.
A barbeque doesn’t need to be fancy, it’s all about the memorable moments you spend together. One mistake that we usually make when throwing a BBQ is the over-complicated menu, which leaves us less time to hang out with the crowd.
Fear no more ‘cuz we’ve got your back with 11 tips for holding the best (and stress-free) barbeque ever!
Plan Ahead
Remember to check the weather forecast before sending out invitations if you don’t want the rain to ruin your party and disappoint your guests. Make a to-do list and a shopping list after you have decided on your menu. This also saves you from a condiment catasphophy when you can’t find anything your guests need during the party.
And triple check to make sure that you have enough propane or charcoal to accommodate the party. Believe me, you don’t want to end up like me who once went to the local shop to buy charcoal for my half-cooked burgers during a barbeque and when I came back, the burgers had already been cold and tasteless and half of the guests had left.
If you haven’t got a grill yet, charcoal grills are always a good choice to go with because of the smoky flavor they give to the food and the cosy get-together atmosphere they create.
The Simpler, The Better
Don’t push yourself too hard impressing customers with a Michelin starred menu. The key to a fun barbeque is to keep it as casual as possible. Cook simple dishes that everyone loves.
The heart of the barbeque is meat so focus on one or two meat-oriented dishes such as steaks, burgers or sausages and a veggie option (grilled veggie skewers are a safe bet). Besides, prepare a salad as side-dish or just opt for the all-time classic, corn-on-the-cob.
In addition, if your guests have young children and they are picky eaters, the simple menu will suit them better.
Ask Your Guests To Bring Side-Dishes Or Desserts
Arrange Some Seats
No matter how casual you want your party to be, your guests can’t stand all day long. Camping chairs, beach chairs, stools... Bring out whatever you have, as long as you don’t make your guest get tired of standing while balancing their plate of food.
The more the merrier. Make your party a part of a potluck. Especially when you want to throw a large barbeque, this tip will reduce a lot of work (and stress!) for you.
Please feel free to ask your guests to bring a side-dish or a dessert. There is no burden in being asked to bring a side-dish ‘cuz everyone love showing off their prized dish. Your party will then be full of surprises and this “potluck” will reduce a lot of fee and work for you too.
Put On Some Lights
It is getting dark and your backyard has no light. Your guests eat their dinner and you grill in the dark. Children screaming, people tripping, it is the worst that can happen to your party. So make sure that you install some flood lights or string lights for your backyard so that your guests can dine more easily.
Everyone Loves Music
Nothing complements a party than a killer playlist with upbeat tunes and you should keep it going all night long or at least until your guests get tired of it. Turn the music loud enough to create a chilling atmosphere but not so loud that your guests have to shout to be heard. Include some jazz and cheesy classics to your playlist: from Duke Ellington to Frank Sinatra and so on.
Encourage Guests To Help Themselves Drink
Set up a cooler with bottles of water, milk, juice boxes and other kid-friendly drinks and another for beer and wine. Summer cocktails are a fun drink to offer. I suggest mixing them together beforehand so that you don’t burn your meat when you have to measure the ratio to make cocktails in the middle of the party.
Offer the first drink to your guests and encourage them to help themselves the next drinks. By this way, you will have time to welcome new guests and finish some last minute cooking tasks.
Create A Kid-Friendly Party With Some Yard Games
Kids can’t stay still and the weather is too perfect to stay still. Arrange any outdoor games like cornhole, ring toss, patio dominos or Twister beforehand so that the kids will be too busy having fun to interrupt adults drinking, ehem chatting.
Safety First
A safe party is a fun party. Remember to keep your grill 10 feet away from your home and clean it regularly to avoid grease and fat causing flare ups. Keep a spray bottle at reach for small flare ups and a fire extinguisher near your grill just in case.
Never leave your grill unattended and don’t overload the grill, especially with fatty meats. If too much grease and fat grip on the flame at the same time, big flare ups can happen and set everything nearby on fire.
Serve snacks far away from the grill so that people don’t gather around the grill, which increases the risks of accidents and injuries. I found for myself a small folding table to put snacks on so that everyone can enjoy without worrying about flare-ups.
Ask the children not to approach the grill and always keep an eye on them while they are playing in the yard.
Have fun!
Your guests can only enjoy the party if you, the host, is having fun! So don’t stress out, just enjoy your barbeque and have fun with your loved ones. It is the point of throwing a barbeque.
Conclusion
I hope that you find these tips helpful for your next barbeque this summer. Good luck and don’t forget to enjoy your best. Thank you for reading and see you in the next post.