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Original poster

Please critique my first ever bbq menu

283 replies

Liud · 14/04/2025 11:58

Hosting my first bbq this weekend in my first home.
Sadly the weather looks a little iffy but we’ll have a laugh regardless.

This is my menu. We have a few vegetarians. I think it’s a very easy menu as I can give dh the skewers I’ve premarinated. And the rest can be prepared in advance.

The only thing that really requires effort is the focaccia (I don’t love making bread but I love the recipe).

Its probably a bit carb heavy but I’ve done it that way with the vegetarians in mind.

Pasta salad
Homemade focaccia
Greek salad
Bombay new potatoes (dishoom recipe)
Butter herb new potatoes (for ppl who don’t like coriander)
Halloumi skewers
Veg skewers
Tandoori style chicken skewers (tastes better than takeaways imo)
Mint lamb kofte
Corn on the cob

Homemade mint chutney
tamarind sauce
Mango chutney

Crisps and shop bought dips
Nuts

Key lime pie
Profiteroles

Wine
Beer

OP posts:
Headingtowardsdivorce · 15/04/2025 17:27

I love the sound of it, loads of side dishes to choose from is great!

But... my favourite thing at a BBQ is a big juicy homemade burger with cheese, coleslaw and chilli sauce, in a decent bun (not brioche). I also tend to stay away from chicken cooked on the barbie, just in case.

LongDistanceClara44 · 15/04/2025 17:26

Where is the meat...

DoraDont · 15/04/2025 17:23

Sounds absolutely delicious.

You could always marinade some courgette/peppers in oo, lemon and garlic, and bung them on the grill too for the veggies.

To the pp who is 'bemused by fish on a barbeque', you've clearly never been to Australia, or literally any Mediterranean country. They love a bit of fish or seafood cooked over the coals!

User838960 · 15/04/2025 17:19

It sounds absolutely divine!

I don't think those flavours will clash at all. It sounds so lovely and very similar to what I would cater.

diddl · 15/04/2025 17:13

Sounds great to me also!

People don't have to have all of the carbs on offer.

Coriander tastes like soap to me also.

Also to my son.

Not to husband & daughter though.

threenaancurrywhore · 15/04/2025 17:11

Hoppinggreen · 14/04/2025 18:13

Seriously?
Buffet maybe at a pinch but not a BBQ

Show quote history

Mumsnet barbecue threads always seem to stretch the definition of barbecue further than Hubba Bubba – frozen sausage rolls, jacket potatoes with cheese (?!), hummus, dirty wedges – as some sort of culinary counterweight to the basic Wot No Sossidges crowd.

Heylittlesongbird · 15/04/2025 17:09

I think your bbq looks wonderful.

I wish I was invited.

IsItAllRubbish · 15/04/2025 17:07

I think this looks fab. 2 kinds of potato!! Yum!! and pasta salad! I would include some standard burgers/hot dogs too. Bit bemused by fish on a bbq!!

Freyer · 15/04/2025 17:01

@Liud i would be very happy with your menu! Sounds all delicious! Have a wonderful BBQ

JandamiHash · 15/04/2025 16:53

Are we talking burgers and sausage in a long-life bun, or are you taking it serious?

I'm talking chicken breast, seafood, rib-eye steaks, spare ribs, lamb kebabs.

What about side orders? Potato salad, coleslaw. What you going to marinate?

You haven't thought this through Gwen.

whippy1981 · 15/04/2025 16:50

Noglitterallowed · 15/04/2025 16:24

Sounds lovely menu and great variety.
what is peoples obsession with sausages and burgers on a bbq??? We bbq several times a week even Christmas Day and I can’t remember the last time a sausage or burger was on there and never once has anyone complained. People seem to have this idea that that is what a bbq is and it really isn’t. If I was a guest I would love all of that and the effort you’ve clearly put in! Enjoy your day xx

This is what I think too! A bbq is not just about burger and sausage.

Soontobesingles · 15/04/2025 16:48

Sounds nice. Agree 2 potato dishes is too many. I’d do a plain salad too - like
baby gem and cucumber dressed in a little salt and olive oil, maybe a squeeze of lemon juice. Just to add some freshness.x

unevenwalls · 15/04/2025 16:35

Moveoverdarlin · 14/04/2025 16:44

A lot of men will prefer burgers in buns, hotdogs, onions etc. So will children. There’s not many people that would turn up to a BBQ and be excited about focaccia or flat bread.

I don't quite know what to make of this - why is just men and children who want to eat burgers?

AprilBunny · 15/04/2025 16:33

GreenFields07 · 15/04/2025 16:31

Sorry OP id be pretty disappointed as a meat eater to only get 2 meat options at a bbq. Yes there are 'other ways to do a bbq' but surely bbq usually means grilled meats? By all means cater to your vegetarian guests, but 18 people and only 2 meat options seems abit unfair and skewed.

Literally skewed judging by the menu!

EasterParadeHats · 15/04/2025 16:32

@Liud sounds absolutely wonderful to me, what is your tandoori recipe please

unevenwalls · 15/04/2025 16:31

Sounds great, OP. I'd be very happy if I turned up and all of that was on the menu.

MN can be so weird about group gathering food - I once posted about my strictly veggie DH's birthday party menu and someone commented that they would leave if there wasn't meat on the menu and asked if I had thought about adding some sort of chicken for any meat eaters. 🙄

GreenFields07 · 15/04/2025 16:31

Sorry OP id be pretty disappointed as a meat eater to only get 2 meat options at a bbq. Yes there are 'other ways to do a bbq' but surely bbq usually means grilled meats? By all means cater to your vegetarian guests, but 18 people and only 2 meat options seems abit unfair and skewed.

Droplet789 · 15/04/2025 16:30

Sounds like a delicious menu, a bean salad or cous cous salad could also work instead of two potatoes but it sounds delicious.

Noglitterallowed · 15/04/2025 16:24

Sounds lovely menu and great variety.
what is peoples obsession with sausages and burgers on a bbq??? We bbq several times a week even Christmas Day and I can’t remember the last time a sausage or burger was on there and never once has anyone complained. People seem to have this idea that that is what a bbq is and it really isn’t. If I was a guest I would love all of that and the effort you’ve clearly put in! Enjoy your day xx

CannotWaitForSummervibes · 15/04/2025 16:16

Drop one of the potatoe salads and the pasta salad and add a more veg or bean based salad. Eg tomato mozarella salad or watermelon feta salad. I wouldn’t appreciate so many carbs.

pinkyredrose · 15/04/2025 14:10

That sounds fabulous Op! Do you have a separate bbq for the veggie stuff so that it's not cooked with meat juices?

godmum56 · 15/04/2025 10:36

Hoppinggreen · 15/04/2025 10:02

My sense of smell is INSANE!!!
Unfortunately there is a link between that and Morning Sickness apparently, certainly was in my case.

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mine is affected by sinusitis. I either smell cigarette smoke or, really weirdly, the pipe tobacco my late husband used some 50 years ago. The first time it happened I genuinely thought I was being visited by his ghost.

EveryOtherNameTaken · 15/04/2025 10:24

I'd ditch the pasta salad. It's not in keeping with the theme. Also swap the focaccia for mini nan bread (or cut large one into 4).

Add bbqd pineapple.

Hoppinggreen · 15/04/2025 10:02

godmum56 · 15/04/2025 09:46

Its a good thing I think that its being recognised that people do taste things differently...also smell things differetly as the two are linked....that there are reasons for so called "fussy eating.

Show quote history

My sense of smell is INSANE!!!
Unfortunately there is a link between that and Morning Sickness apparently, certainly was in my case.

godmum56 · 15/04/2025 09:46

Hoppinggreen · 15/04/2025 09:43

Same here, although I actually do like Coriander
Pine Nuts taste very burnt to me and DH grew some Lions Mane Mushrooms he was really excited about but after 1 taste I had to swill my mouth out with water
Speaking of which you can do slices of Lions Mane on a BBQ apparently. I wouldn't because of the above but I do usually do garlic mushrooms and sometimes a whole Camenbert wrapped in foil with bread sticks and crudites as a sort of starter while waiting for the rest to cook.

Show quote history

Its a good thing I think that its being recognised that people do taste things differently...also smell things differetly as the two are linked....that there are reasons for so called "fussy eating.