We’re officially in this year’s grilling season, always kicked off with that Super Bowl of BBQs, the 4th of July. You’ve boldly decided that it’s time to invite over friends and family to partake in what you plan to be the best BBQ party of the summer. What steps do you take to actually achieve that goal, especially while enjoying yourself at the same time? Is the kettle grill you bought on sale years ago up to the task of feeding a crowd? And what specifically are you going to feed the crowd? Not to overwhelm you or frighten you away from your fete, but these questions need to be answered as far in advance as possible. There are additional decisions you’ll want to make in preparation for your killer party. Here are some leads on some elements that are sure to make your gathering great.
- Make grilling the social centerpiece of your soiree with the OFYR Wood-burning outdoor grill from Weston Table. How’s this for a unique and memorable grill? A fire pit you and all your friends can cook on at the same time – genius! You certainly won’t have anyone going hungry with the sheer surface area of this big guy. Weston Table offers a variety of recipes that are custom-tailored for cooking on their grills. Or there’s nothing stopping you from going grand old school and cooking dozens of dogs or bunches or burgers all at the same time. Clean-up is a breeze as well – just push any remaining grit, oil, and food into the flames. You and your new toy will undoubtedly be the center of attention and conversation after your guests have rallied around this gorgeous grill at your memorable meal.
- While the opportunity for guests to interact, mingle, and share stories is a primary directive of having such a BBQ party, doing so without music can feel rather empty. When that soundtrack has a theme, it can be the unifying element of a party that gets everyone’s head in the same place or even time — like the 80’s, for example, which certainly brings a specific flavor to your event. Curating your own playlist from your digital library of tunes is a hobby loved by many who could tinker for hours just to get the collection, the order, and the timing right. However, if that isn’t you, services such as Spotify allow you to choose a mood, genre, and other variables and let their software play the DJ for you. Of course, you’ll need to broadcast your playlist so why not pick up from SONOS their powerful and durable Move outdoor smart speakers? Enjoy the groove you get into and let the good times roll.
- You’re wondering about the food, aren’t you? Of course you are! Your menu can be as varied as your imagination and taste buds. Yet something to keep in mind is having a selection of side dishes that can take the heat literally, as well as take the heat off you figuratively by being an element of the menu crafted well in advance of your guests arriving. While mayonnaise-based sides such as coleslaw and pasta or potato salad certainly have a place at the table, they unfortunately need to be kept chilled if you want them not to spoil during your event. Think of sides such as these Fruit Caprese Kabobs from Weelicious that are not only portable but made to be served at room, or rather backyard, temperature. Tasty and refreshing, these will be enjoyed for hours by a wide variety of your guests be they gluten-free, vegan, or even counting calories. They are sure to be part of your menu for future BBQs as well.
- Guessing you’re going to have a few various beverages available to your guests and more than likely you’ll need to be keeping them cold. No one wants to be lugging around coolers packed with potent potables so let’s look at something that facilitates your moving it from place to place. The Tundra Haul wheeled cooler from Yeti combines the portable power of two wheels and a levered handle with its legendary toughness and unmatched insulation power. Since an outdoor BBQ is a moveable feast, make sure you’re able to easily keep your beverages nearby with a little effort possible.
- You can’t really call your party a BBQ unless you have copious amounts of consumables grilling over an open flame. And if you’re going to take the time and expense to procure all those provisions, you best make it taste good. Why not get a little help from a couple of guys who have been doing so for decades? Enter the Grill Dads, and their line of brines and rubs from Spiceology. Their dry rubs are so hoity-toity they come in tuxedo-clad canisters. You know their stuff is good since they’ve got a TV show and cookbook just like all those fancy celebrity chefs, but more spicy since they rib on each other and thrive on cringe-worthy dad jokes. Might as well invite along some fun while you grill, right?
The last point is probably one of the most important – you want to make sure you’re having fun at your fantastic BBQ as well as your guests. If you’re doing that, it will undoubtedly be memorable. The OFYR will elevate the grilling to a social focus of the event more than merely a tool for getting some char on your grub. Inviting all your guests who are budding chefs to gather around and try their hand will open you up to more face time with them rather than staring at grill grates for hours. All the other suggestions hopefully add those special touches that raise your game from intramural to semi-pro!
