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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:
Hoppinggreen · 15/04/2025 09:43

godmum56 · 14/04/2025 22:56

yup, not sure if they are linked but i am one of those supertasters where anything at all bitter tastes massively bitter to me....can't drink beer or eat sprouts.

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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.

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 15/04/2025 00:18

godmum56 · 14/04/2025 23:25

oh ick

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Yes, I hit the jackpot when they moved in. We have a lovely high fence now, best purchase ever!

godmum56 · 14/04/2025 23:25

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 22:34

Could be from their makeshift open fire pit!

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oh ick

carly2803 · 14/04/2025 23:00

you need sausages and burgers!!!

or at least pink chicken, raw middle and steak!!! haha

godmum56 · 14/04/2025 22:56

PerfectlyNormalOwlFreeMorning · 14/04/2025 22:41

It is genetic apparently - honestly it tastes like soap for me, but worse than soap. I can taste one leaf in a plate of salad. It is horrible.

It is the only plant item that I can not stand.

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yup, not sure if they are linked but i am one of those supertasters where anything at all bitter tastes massively bitter to me....can't drink beer or eat sprouts.

brunettemic · 14/04/2025 22:55

Honestly…I’d be hugely underwhelmed if I went to that bbq. DH does a great bbq but that isn’t to say I’m right or wrong in my view of your choices, they’re just not what I’d expect. Severely lacking in meat. You can do great desserts on the bbq too.

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 22:54

PerfectlyNormalOwlFreeMorning · 14/04/2025 22:41

It is genetic apparently - honestly it tastes like soap for me, but worse than soap. I can taste one leaf in a plate of salad. It is horrible.

It is the only plant item that I can not stand.

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Oh, I didn't know that, it makes sense because both of my parents like it also. Or one did, I'll never get used to using past tense.

RampantIvy · 14/04/2025 22:52

hulahooper2 · 14/04/2025 22:26

you don’t have burgers or sausages - most folk expect them

Let me correct that for you - most mumsnetters expect them.

I'm pretty sure the OP knows her guests well enough to know that she doesn't have to just stick to the generic two items that mumsnetters will eat at barbecues. Although I do love a barbecued sausage it wouldn't bother me that there aren't any, given that what the OP is offering sounds delicious.

Unfortunately, it looks like the weather might put a damper on the occasion.

PerfectlyNormalOwlFreeMorning · 14/04/2025 22:41

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 22:38

What?? No? I love a bit of coriander. Garlic naan, boring. Garlic & coriander naan, now that's what I'm talking about. The herb just makes it better, always sprinkle it on my curries at the end as well. I think it is a bit like marmite, you love it, or you hate it. I don't understand why though, as I don't find it particularly offensive.

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It is genetic apparently - honestly it tastes like soap for me, but worse than soap. I can taste one leaf in a plate of salad. It is horrible.

It is the only plant item that I can not stand.

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 22:38

Crispynoodle · 14/04/2025 22:28

YABVU it’s the devil’s herb

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What?? No? I love a bit of coriander. Garlic naan, boring. Garlic & coriander naan, now that's what I'm talking about. The herb just makes it better, always sprinkle it on my curries at the end as well. I think it is a bit like marmite, you love it, or you hate it. I don't understand why though, as I don't find it particularly offensive.

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 22:34

godmum56 · 14/04/2025 22:33

no idea what they are using. We always used charcoal and never had an ash problem. I have got a Cobb now and use the Cobb Nuts

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Could be from their makeshift open fire pit!

godmum56 · 14/04/2025 22:33

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 22:24

It is even worse when the burnt smoke is flooding over the fence. They covered our new garden furniture cover with white ash. Honestly I'm glad we now have a higher fence! I wish they would cook on gas like the Aussies 😂
I like a good burger, but only with high quality meat. I make my own bread buns too, because the shop ones are usually dry/unpredictable.

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no idea what they are using. We always used charcoal and never had an ash problem. I have got a Cobb now and use the Cobb Nuts

Crispynoodle · 14/04/2025 22:28

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 14/04/2025 12:11

I also wouldn't invite people who don't eat coriander

Grin

YABVU it’s the devil’s herb

hulahooper2 · 14/04/2025 22:26

you don’t have burgers or sausages - most folk expect them

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 22:24

godmum56 · 14/04/2025 22:03

you obvs go to the wrong barbecues.....but I do know what you mean....some of my neighbours' barbecues stink!

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It is even worse when the burnt smoke is flooding over the fence. They covered our new garden furniture cover with white ash. Honestly I'm glad we now have a higher fence! I wish they would cook on gas like the Aussies 😂
I like a good burger, but only with high quality meat. I make my own bread buns too, because the shop ones are usually dry/unpredictable.

godmum56 · 14/04/2025 22:03

kitchenplans · 14/04/2025 19:20

In my experience, people who serve majority burgers and sausages on the bbq aren't making homemade burgers and excellent sausages. More likely to be pink Richmonds and frozen burgers shoved in a white Warburtons bun, and it tends to be quantity over quality. I'd still prefer OPs menu over burgers and sausages, however good quality they were.

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you obvs go to the wrong barbecues.....but I do know what you mean....some of my neighbours' barbecues stink!

CountryQueen · 14/04/2025 20:54

RedToothBrush · 14/04/2025 20:09

There's a really depressing - barbeques MuST be burnt sausages and cremated burgers attitude on this thread.

This absolutely NOT what you'd do for an Aussie Barbie and no one would tell an Aussie that they can't barbeque.

It's an utterly depressing reflection of British culture tbh.

Aussies wouldn’t have a Barbie without snags! Fucking hell, you’d get lynched 🤣

Nobody has said anything needs cremating. The OP has invited a large group round for her first ever bbq. People have suggested that they might be expecting the odd sausage alongside the coriander laced spuds and mint koftas.

IHateWasps · 14/04/2025 20:53

RedToothBrush · 14/04/2025 20:09

There's a really depressing - barbeques MuST be burnt sausages and cremated burgers attitude on this thread.

This absolutely NOT what you'd do for an Aussie Barbie and no one would tell an Aussie that they can't barbeque.

It's an utterly depressing reflection of British culture tbh.

One of the worst barbecues that I’ve attended was prepared by a friend’s Australian husband. Also Australians tend to use gas which is not really a proper barbecue in my opinion.

MorningSunlight · 14/04/2025 20:27

I don’t think anyone said that but she asked for a critique and then got arsey because it was suggested that most people would expect those things (burgers/sausages/plainer meats - not specifically burnt or cheap ones) as well as some of the other things she was planning.

Sunholidays · 14/04/2025 20:20

barbeques MuST be burnt sausages and cremated burgers attitude on this thread.

Who has said this? I must have missed it.

Lamb and tandoori chicken can get burnt too.

Lex345 · 14/04/2025 20:19

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:46

I think it’s strange how people think there’s only one way to do a barbecue - ie sausages, burgers, coleslaw, jackets

The world is a big place with lots of different ideas!

I'm not knocking that kind of barbecue I do that regularly

Hosting my first bbq this weekend in my first home.

I'm confused.

Menu sounds nice though

RampantIvy · 14/04/2025 20:17

RedToothBrush · 14/04/2025 20:09

There's a really depressing - barbeques MuST be burnt sausages and cremated burgers attitude on this thread.

This absolutely NOT what you'd do for an Aussie Barbie and no one would tell an Aussie that they can't barbeque.

It's an utterly depressing reflection of British culture tbh.

I agree. Most people I know enjoy a much wider variety of foods than the posters on this thread.

RedToothBrush · 14/04/2025 20:09

There's a really depressing - barbeques MuST be burnt sausages and cremated burgers attitude on this thread.

This absolutely NOT what you'd do for an Aussie Barbie and no one would tell an Aussie that they can't barbeque.

It's an utterly depressing reflection of British culture tbh.

Sunholidays · 14/04/2025 20:05

RampantIvy · 14/04/2025 19:54

Or a sausage, but, let's face it, just sausages and burgers at a barbecue are pretty boring.

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You can have salads and potatoes and veg skewers, and crisps and dips like the OP is planning to do. They go very nicely with burgers and sausages.

RampantIvy · 14/04/2025 20:03

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 19:59

I think if op knows her audience she doesn't need this thread. If she doesn't than there needs to be a middle ground. I don't care what cuisine it is, there's always somebody fussy, or maybe some intolerances. I think there's room to keep her menu while also catering for them, for example plain skewers with dips as well as the marinated etc. Some small changes could work, and will mean everybody can enjoy the delicious food.

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To be fair, when I cater for other people I always ask about preferences and dietary requirements, and if I had people coming who wouldn't eat anything other than sausages and burgers I would provide them - as well as other, more interesting foods for the other guests.

I would do sausages anyway as I love them.