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Hosting a BBQ event isn’t only about ensuring your guests love the food and have an unforgettable experience. You need to be stress-free and enjoy it yourself too! After all, it’s your event!
One of the best ways to do this is by mastering the art of BBQ hosting. Preparing everything ahead of time helps you relax, have fun, and spend quality time as much as you can with your guests.
Here are the best BBQ tips and tricks from one of the top BBQ catering companies on the East Coast.
Ensure your BBQ is clean
The very first step to throwing a successful BBQ party is to have a quality barbeque. Moreover, if you already have a barbeque at home, ensure it is in good condition. You can ensure this by heating it and removing all the stuck-on food.
Select the right day
Rainy weather might be pleasant to look at, but it can create some challenges when hosting a barbeque event. For example, you will have to invest in portable shelters and umbrellas, set up a designated grilling area, provide drying stations, and more. Therefore, it’s best to host your event in sunny weather. Pay attention to weather forecasts and take your time when deciding on a particular date and time.
Send invitations to guests
Along with sending invitations to your guests, you need to be sure they are coming. We’ve all experienced those guests that say they will definitely come but on the day of fail to show up. As a result, it can impact your arrangement, including the amount of food and drinks. So make sure you add an RSVP to your invites and follow up with guests before the actual day.
Decoration of the event
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To avoid any stress on the day of the event, you need to plan in advance the equipment and other decoration materials you want. For instance, you can decorate your backyard with string lights, colorful tablecloths, balloons, and more. The best tip for hosting a backyard BBQ is to begin by choosing a color theme. It will save you time in choosing the colors for decoration items.
Plan where to set your BBQ
Usually, a BBQ is set up in the backyard. You can set the cooking area in a place where people don’t have to walk around it all the time. Make sure it’s a suitable distance from where your guests will be seated, as you don’t want them inhaling smoke as they enjoy your delicious food!
Choose the menu carefully
If you try and prepare a lot of dishes without any professional help, chances are something might go wrong. Therefore, don’t go for too much variety of dishes. Add salads, side dishes, and desserts. You can also ask your guests about their preferences or if are on a plant-based diet.
Use only quality equipment/utensils
Having a quality barbeque isn’t enough! You need to have appropriate BBQ equipment for a successful event. This includes charcoal or propane, a grill or smoker, and other important utensils you may need. One of the best tips for hosting a BBQ is to have a barbecue with multiple features to help you save time and money.
Don’t forget the drinks menu
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Do you want to make a great impression on your guest’s arrival? Serve an aperitif, such as Italian Aperol Spritz, or more. Offer a wide range of beverages to keep your guests refreshed. In addition, you should also have a selection of non-alcoholic drinks, such as lemonade, soda, iced tea, and water.
Don’t forget to bring ice and an ice chest or a big tub to put the drinks in. However, if you are hosting a small event, you can use the ice from your freezer and put that in a bucket or pot.
Have interesting games/activities
Your event might become a bit stale if you don’t keep your guests entertained. So, you can set up some lawn games, play music, and have a special area for kids to play as well. You can even organize a friendly BBQ competition.
Ask someone to look after the BBQ
How will you enjoy or look after your guests if you are on BBQ duty all by yourself? You can hire someone to look after your BBQ. Or you can prepare all your side dishes in advance, either in the morning or the night before. Even if something goes wrong, don’t stress too much! The most vital tip of all is to enjoy the food, drinks, and conversation with your guests.
Wrapping Up
Don’t let the hassle of hosting a perfect backyard BBQ event dull your spirits. You can take professional catering services from East Coast Clambake and create memories with your guests that will last a lifetime.