The sun is shining, and the grill is smoking, indicating it’s time to host an unforgettable barbecue. There is no better way to entertain during the summer than a laid-back gathering with friends featuring burgers and stunning sunsets. Consider incorporating these helpful tips to make your backyard barbecue party truly remarkable.
Take a Seat
Planning a formal event is unnecessary, but having enough seating for your guests is important. You can even use beach chairs or camping chairs if needed. Ensure your guests don’t have to stand and balance their food while eating.
Into the Groove
Create the perfect ambiance by curating a killer playlist and ensuring the music keeps playing throughout the night (or until the neighbors complain). Opt for lively background music that sets the mood without being so loud that guests have to shout over each other to converse.
Drinks
Ensure your guests never go thirsty by keeping the cooler stocked and refilling it throughout the evening. Remember to offer a wide range of options such as iced tea, soda, and lemonade, and always provide water. Most importantly, remember to include ice!
Entertain the Masses
If your guests are looking for low-key activities, consider setting up horseshoes, bocce, or croquet to enjoy at their leisure. Provide some sidewalk chalk for the kids and let them decorate throughout the evening as they, please.
No-Bug Zone
For a wasp-free event, it’s best to wait until the right time to put out food and remove it as soon as possible. Also, keep the garbage bins far from your guests. To avoid mosquito bites, use citronella candles, creating a cozy atmosphere as the sun sets.
Simplicity
It’s best to keep things simple and casual when hosting a successful barbecue. Rather than overwhelming yourself with an extensive menu, focus on a few reliable recipes to impress your guests. Quality is more important than quantity, so consider selecting one or two meat dishes such as burgers, steaks, or sausages, and a straightforward vegetable option like roasted vegetable skewers. You can also provide fixings and a couple of salads or stick with the classic barbecue side of corn-on-the-cob.
Avoid a Condiment Catastrophe
Serving condiments can be messy, and losing the lid to the relish is easy. A solution to this problem is using an empty muffin tin to portion the condiments. Try using hollowed-out peppers instead of ramekins for a neater and more aesthetically pleasing way to serve dip with a veggie platter. This tip not only looks good but also reduces the need for cleanup.
Two Words: Ice Cream!
Ice cream is always a delicious treat, especially on a hot day, and it tastes even better when paired with savory toppings. When hosting guests, reminding them to save room for dessert is essential. A great way to impress them is by setting up the ultimate sundae bar. To ensure everyone is happy with their dessert, have a topping bar and let guests customize their sundaes to their liking. Keep the ice cream in the freezer until the sun has gone down. In that way, any melting mishaps won’t happen.