BBQ party

hopefuldebtfree

Hi, slighty planning in advance here but I'd like to plan a little. We're having a bbq mid June for my dh's birthday. There'll probably be approx 30 ish people, adults and children. What I'd like to know is what things, food, games etc would everyone reccomend to have or avoid. (it's our first bbq party) Any hints, tips or advice very welcome. Thanks

Ginmonster

We have a BBQ every year for my birthday and my top tip would be to keep it simple. Don't try and do too many different types of food : most people like burgers and sausages. I'd suggest some Linda McCartney sausages for any veggies, vegans and non-pork-eaters ( they're pretty sturdy and BBQ well) and maybe something like mini corn cobs (kids tend to like those too. Make sure you've got full bottles of red and brown sauce and lots of baps/barms/bread rolls (depending on where you're from!). I usually make a big bowl of coleslaw which is really easy to make if you have a food processor with a grater attachment and put out plenty of tortilla chips and a few dips.

I usually buy a couple of packs of fruit shoot style drinks for any kids so you don't have to faff with cups but some squash would do.
Maybe look out for some cheap pots of bubbles or bubble wands to keep the kids busy. Their parents should bring them with some toys of course but bubbles and balloons keep them happy for ages.

Check if there are any allergies you don't already know about among the guests.

Have a back up plan for if it rains! If you have or can borrow a gazebo it can allow you to stay outside unless it's really hammering it down.

Kids also ( well mine does) expect there to be pudding after any meal so either have a birthday cake or make sure there are some lollies in the freezer.

Enjoy!

hopefuldebtfree

Thank you Ginmonster (cool name btw) You're right, I think I've been thinking of trying to do too many food options "just in case" iykwim. I'm hoping for a chilled afternoon and that probably won't happen if I'm too frazzled. I'll take all of your tips on board.


Anyone else have any suggestions?

buildersdaughter

Lots of good ideas, ginmoster has.
I totally agree that you should keep it simple. I'm adding my ideas so you can choose - certainly don't do loads of options.
Personally,unless teenagers are involved I stay away from burgers, but always do sausages. I have done a BBQ with nothing but sausages of different kinds.
I don't do kebabs for a crowd - difficult to handle.
I think LM sausages indifferent & expensive (but if pressed, I marinade them with garlic & paprika) My veggie options are:
Delia's glamorgan sausages, done in the oven
celeriac steak: http://annajones.co.uk/press-coverage/bonfire-night-celeriac-steaks
this has never failed to please - and the 'fiddling' is done the day before.
Halloumi cheese.
I don't usually do fish for a crowd it is fiddly to eat.

I agree that rolls are better than french sticks - which appear cheaper but dry out very quickly.

I do a lot of roast veg: onions, peppers, aubergines, fennel, big tomatoes, with plenty of oil, garlic & herbs, in the oven. Slices if to be put in buns, or served with a knife & fork; chunks for eating with a fork. No need to serve piping hot; I often serve it cold with sauces & bread in the summer - so left-overs work well. Suits the vegans, and adds oomph for the veges.

Plan your BBQ space, and if need be, ask to borrow a BBQ, and also ask someone to help, as cooking & serving can get a bit fraught. If you can have somewhere to keep food hot, that helps.

Plenty of sauces as my crowd love them, mayo, chilli, ketchup, squeezy mustard etc. and they can double as dips with crisps / chips etc.

I usually buy a bag of salad leaves to tip into a bowl, and I make a bowl of coleslaw, which I serve dressed with oil & lemon for people to add their own mayo.

I have 3 standard puddings for a summer crowd:
Big bowl of strawberries (if you can warrant the expense) + big plate of meringues + big jug of cream + squeezy sauce for kids
Ice cream tubs: easy to serve, kids love them and don't tend to waste them, oldies get nostalgic for the 1/9d seats!
Chopped up fruit (so you can stretch the strawberries) + plenty of sprinkles & sauces + some of those thin crunchy biscuits. Big tub of vanilla ice cream - set up an assembly line for all to make their own 'sundaes'.

Ask guests, where possible to bring: chairs, and ask for a few cold boxes complete with cold packs, so the drinks can be outside, easily got at and cold.
When we had a big freezer, OH would make loads of ice in advance, then tip it into a bucket and put drinks in (but do watch out, can be dangerous for toddlers)

Use kitchen roll instead of napkins, but if that's infra dig, then buy large packs of plain white.

No ball games as such unless you have masses of room, but soft frisbees or similar can work. Totally agree about bubbles. Decide in advance about water games - our family cannot have a summer party without them, and I keep old squeezy bottles, and have a pile of old towels handy.
If there are a lot of kids, have some very clear rules, especially about how near they can get to the BBQ, where they can go in the house etc.

Let the neighbours know what is going on - it may or may not be appropriate to invite them - but they might like the option of going out for the afternoon.

Ginmonster

Ooh can I come to yours for a BBQ builders daughter?. Celeriac steaks sound delicious!

I agree halloumi is delicious but I've found when catering for a crowd you need loads as everyone wants some! Sometimes I've baked a whole camembert on the BBQ and served with crusty bread. That's pretty easy and yum as well.

Mmm...Can't wait for summer now. :-)

Floss

Maybe consider part cooking your sausages or any chicken in the oven & finishing on the bbq...saves time, and is easier for freezing if there are leftovers.

We do veg kebabs and sticks of prawns too - basically king prawns threaded onto a damp kebab, take moments and you know they are cooked when pink

caronc

For that number I definitely keep it simple and if poss a) borrow another bbq and b) pre or part cook stuff in the oven beforehand so it just needs "finishing" on the bbq.
Lots of rolls, sauces, salad and crisps and everyone is happy.
Bananas stuffed with sliced mars bars and wrapped in foil make an easy pud as does bbq fresh pineapple slices. Add a some cream or ice cream and watch them disappear.
Sangria is also cheap to make and generally goes down well ....

buildersdaughter

Actually, I forgot the most important thing - a meat thermometer!
Personally I don't like cooking first then 'finishing' on the BBQ as I worry about re-heating. But I do know that it suits a lot of people, and we all sort out what works best for us. Whichever you do, a meat thermometer is invaluable for checking.
Bananas stuffed with chocolate takes me right back to campfires - and is the only way I enjoy bananas.
And sangria takes me back to teenage parties!

Thanks ginmonster for the kind comments - and yes, the celeriac steak is fantastic, and I do it lot. It is easy to steam, marinade, then freeze so there's always something for the odd wandering vege dropping by!

sooty&sweep

Hi

I once watched a programme with Gordon Ramsey on.
He poached chicken pieces in a flavoured stock to cook them through & then coated them in BBQ glaze & finished them on the BBQ.

I've done it a few times & it works brilliantly ! Poaching keeps the chicken really moist. You don't end up with dried out burnt chicken because you've over cooked it because you're worried it's not cooked properly !

Jen xxx

Spendless

The best and simplest dessert I ever did was for one of DS' birthday parties. I bought a bumper box of ice lollies/ice creams that were on offer and gave them that. Kids loved it and no dishing up/washing up to be done.

With our bbqs we also tend to do the following as accompaniments.

Bread
Salad
HM coleslaw
HM potato salad - For this I like a 'german style' recipe from my MIL. Finely cut onions and slice gherkins and put at the botton of a pyrex bowl. Cook new potatoes. When cooked put them on top of the onion/gherkin mix. The heat from the spuds slightly 'cooks' the onion and takes the rawness away. When cooked mix all together with mayo. I love it and I can't abide gherkins in anything else!

I also add different sauces for people to help themselves too, ketchup and bbq are obvious ones but we often include ones we've picked up on our travels such as Andalouse

bouicca21

i might buy a bbq this year - any recommendations about what sort to get ?