The cold and dark days of winter are finally on their way out and long sunny days are well on their way. This means that rather than being limited to eating meals inside your house or in restaurants, you can turn to fun al fresco options instead. There’s nothing like a BBQ in your backyard that makes you really feel in the summer spirit. Whether you are planning one for a birthday celebration, or just to dine outside on a random weekday, there is a fair amount of planning that goes into a BBQ. Here we have put together some top tips to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible.
Plan the food you’re going to cook
The first thing you need to do when throwing a BBQ is to think about the type of food you want to cook and what kind of gas grill to cook it on. Are you going to do the much-loved staples of hot dogs and burgers? Will you opt for something a little more gourmet like steak or ribs? Or will you do something different? As well as the main items that are going to be cooked on the BBQ, you also need to think about additional bits you will rustle up. This could include sides such as salads and fries, as well as desserts.
Do as much prep as you can ahead of time
When the day of your BBQ rolls around, you’re going to have enough to do by entertaining your guests, filling up glasses and chatting. The last thing you want is to be getting into a stress in the kitchen. To avoid this, do as much prep as you can ahead of time, meaning once your guests arrive you’re free to socialize and all that needs doing is for the food to go on the actual BBQ to be cooked. You can prepare your salads the night before and keep them in the fridge and it can be a good idea to do desserts that are summery and can be made in advantage too. Why not make your own peach ice cream? You can also marinate your meat the night before for additional flavor and be sure to put your wines, cocktail mixes and beers in the fridge so they’re nice and cold!
Think about if you’ll have any activities
As well as serving food, consider if you want to offer any activities for your guests to do. Many will be content chatting among themselves, but it can’t hurt to add in something additional to get stuck into! You could get some games for the garden such as petanque, giant snakes and ladders or giant chess. You could get a temporary movie screen put up to enjoy movies under the stars, or why not get some tennis rackets and a football for some sports?
Design your space
The space you have your BBQ in needs to have a bit of ambiance for everyone to really enjoy themselves. Consider setting up outdoor seating where people can relax and eat their food as well as socialize. You could also add in decorations such as fairy lights that can add a really nice glow to the space as well as give some light when the sun goes down later in the night. Play some music through your speakers and lay out blankets for incase it gets chilly. These are simple things that can all make a real difference.
Find out about any dietary requirements your guests might have
Before getting any food ready, it’s important to find out if your guests have any dietary requirements. There are so many types of dietary restrictions and allergies out there that you don’t want to end up giving someone something they can’t have! Be sure to make a note and cook things separately on the BBQ, or even cook more restrictive items in the oven inside to ensure there is no cross-contamination that could make people sick.
These are just a few tips that should make throwing your first (and any subsequent) BBQ parties of the year that bit easier. Remember that at the end of the day, a BBQ is about getting together with close friends and family and having fun out in the sunshine. The most important part is to enjoy yourselves and create memories that will last for years to come. Are you throwing any BBQs soon? If so, what are some top tips that you’re going to follow to ensure you have a good day? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!
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