The summertime months are a great excuse to get outside, enjoy the sun, and have an overdue catch-up with your friends and family.
If the skies are clear and the weather is warm, it might be worth arranging a BBQ. Everyone knows what to expect at one – plenty of food, smoky flavours, cool drinks, and plenty of chatter.
But what if you could make your BBQ even more memorable?
By adopting a creative approach and adding a bit of flair to your BBQ plans, you could end up surprising your guests and create some long-lasting, positive memories.
Read on to discover a few smart tips.
Don’t forget to consider everyone’s needs
One of the first stops on your BBQ preparation shop will likely be the meat aisle at the supermarket. You might grab some of the classics, such as burgers, hot dog sausages, chicken breasts, or maybe a few steaks.
However, in this day and age, it is likely that many of your friends or family will have special dietary considerations, such as being vegetarian, vegan, or maybe gluten-free.
A social event shouldn’t feel alienating. So, taking a little bit of time to check-in with your guests beforehand and ensure you have options to suit everyone’s needs is likely to be a welcoming touch.
For vegetarian and vegan guests, it’ll probably be worthwhile having a separate grill from the one used for meats.
You could also introduce a few fun alternatives to the grill that both meat-eaters and non-meat-eaters could enjoy together.
In many Central American and Asian countries, tropical fruit like mangoes and pineapples regularly feature on grills. Serving a few smokey, grilled fruits with a side of ice cream could make for a tasty dessert to end your festivities.
Consider spicing up the flavours you use
Taking inspiration from exotic locations might help you leave your personal mark on your summer BBQ get-together.
There is a rich culture of BBQ and grilling in many warmer countries across the Americas and Asia.
Korean BBQ
Korean culture has become more mainstream in recent years with popular television shows, films, and music filtering into the west.
There is a good chance you’ve visited a Korean BBQ restaurant at some point in your life or found yourself picking up a bottle of gochujang sauce at your local Asian supermarket.
It can be relatively simple to give your BBQ a Korean twist. You could opt to switch out your burger buns for bao buns, marinate your meats in soy sauce and sesame, and have kimchi to use as a side.
Cuban BBQ
If you want to give your BBQ a Havana-inspired twist, you’ll likely need a lot of pork and chicken. Cuban flavours rely on a healthy mix of herbs, spices, and zest. A traditional Cuban mojo sauce involves plenty of orange, garlic, and cilantro.
You might want to let your guests make their very own Cuban sandwiches with cheese, pickles, and onions on top of their tasty fillings straight off the grill.
South African BBQ
BBQ in South Africa blends a range of African, European, and Indian flavours and techniques. A typical South African braai marinade utilises curry powder, ginger, turmeric, citrus, and occasionally some rooibos tea.
You might opt to make some tasty apricot and lamb kebabs. Or you could explore a South African take on a cheese toastie using sourdough bread toasted on the grill with mozzarella cheese and chakalaka sauce (a kind of spicy tomato and bean relish).
You’ll want to help keep your guests cool on a hot summer’s day
The warm summer weather and a healthy helping of tasty BBQ food are likely to leave your guests feeling parched. So, another way you could add some “wow” factor to your party is by giving your drinks selection a little twist.
For the adults, cocktails are a fun way to add a bit of excitement to your BBQ. If you have a few cocktail shakers available, you might be able to encourage your guests to show off their best 1980s Tom Cruise impressions.
For a Cuban-style BBQ, daiquiris and piña coladas are a solid choice and relatively easy to make. If you’re going for a Korean twist, some fresh summer spritzes using soju, fresh fruit, mint, and soda could be a nice option.
Consider setting up a table with:
- Plenty of fruit
- Flavoured syrups
- Fresh juices.
You’ll be able to satisfy your guests with some fresh, tasty drinks. Additionally, it’ll help ensure the non-drinkers and children feel included too by allowing them to throw together some fun “mocktail” options.
Activities are important and a way to help everyone socialise – introverts and extroverts alike
Shaking and stirring their own drinks is just one way to add a bit of entertainment to your BBQ. At the end of the day, you’re likely hosting the event because you want to see your friends and family and give everyone an opportunity to socialise.
But everyone is built differently. You might have a wide range of people in attendance from different generations and backgrounds, such as:
- Friends from work
- Long-time pals
- Family members
- Young children.
It could leave some people feeling awkward or left out if they’re forced to simply rely on making conversation to socialise.
So, having fun “ice-breaking” activities that you can fall back on are likely to be a smart move and could be a great way to create some new happy memories.
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