BBQ Party in Less than 8 hours!
It's BBQ Time... Make it happen in less than 8 hours!
Father's Day, First Day of Summer, US Open Sunday... and then Canada Day Celebrations right around the corner on July 1st - all perfect barbecue party opportunities.
One need not a fancy celebration though, a BBQ party can happen anytime. It’s Saturday at noon and the weather gods are smiling……..its BBQ time!
Here are some tips to pull off that impromptu BBQ for 20 of your closest friends. A BBQ is about good friends, good food, a few beverages and few laughs under that precious summer sun...
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Go potluck – Get on the phone, text, email whatever you do and get those close friends over, but hey they have them bring a side, a beverage or a desert before you answer the door. Let them know you will provide the protein. And that all important BBQ to cook everything. If you don’t have a BBQ give your favorite rental shop Avalon Event Rentals a call and they can provide various sizes of barbecue grills to meet you party needs. From propane to charcoal grill to rotisseries they have them all.
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Rent the plates, the cutlery, the wine glasses etc. etc. it’s inexpensive and saves you cleaning as Avalon can deliver them or you can pick them up and return them “dirty” following your event as we clean them for you. You may need extra tables and chairs………..we rent those as well.
- Pick easy classic items. - Head off to your favorite meat or fish shop. Keep it simple; 4 to 6 oz. portions are great. Steak, boneless chicken breast, kabobs or salmon are easy and will please everyone.
Your friends are going to bring the salads and desserts; there will be lots of food. A classic BBQ needs “corn on the cob”. It’s is always a favorite and easy to prepare and can be done on the BBQ. Soak it husk and all water for 30 minutes, then pace the corn still in the husk on the BBQ, medium heat for about 20 minutes……….simple, easy and great……….get out that “fresh butter”, now that’s summer.
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You have to do some prep. When you get home you will have to potentially marinade the protein or season the steaks. Ice, it’s your responsibility. To give you a rule of thumb you need 1 lb per person for every 4 hours they will be there, so if it’s going to go late……….2 lbs per person to be safe.
- Provide pitcher-perfect drinks.
Lemonade or ice tea for the kids, sangria or “spiked lemonade” or punches for the adults. A simple jug of water with lemons works great. Dispenser and glasses can be provided by Avalon. Your guests will be bringing some beverages, do you have a cooler for the beer and water? ………..use your camping cooler, borrow from your neighbors or friends or again you can rent.
6. Set the mood. Yard games, croquet, horseshoes, bocce…….there great for the kids, there great for the adults. If you have a pool, test the water and throw in that extra shock as you will extra people in the pool and the odd spilled drink. Music, music is key……..certain songs just scream summer. In this digital age one of your friends might have that playlist on his phone or Ipad or your cable provider might have that station or Sirius or Songza can provide that extra special mix of summer classics. Lighting simple and easy once again…………..use teas lights, candles, white Christmas lights, simple and easy but again it makes the difference once the sun goes down and the music heats up.
7. And most important………..you want your guests to have a good time but if they have had a “real good time”………..call a cab, have a sober friend drive then home…….sleep on the coach. You may have a few extra house guests Sunday morning so make sure you have some extra coffee and few extra bagels in the fridge.
In Canada we have so few “summer” weekends but what is truly more Canadian than a summer BBQ with friends? Get Grillin!
