Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
AtleastitsnotMonday · 14/04/2025 17:47

Speckyfourfries · 14/04/2025 16:46

Sounds lush but I'd do a mega easy massive green salad with cherry tomatoes and some sausages 😁

I think with your updates it sounds great. I don’t get the obsession with sausages and burgers, I’d probably do them if I had children coming but there are a lot more interesting options otherwise. I speak for experience when I say do loads of haloumi, meat eaters will almost certainly want some too.
Have you got a second grill for veggie things?
Also make sure you have plenty of soft drinks and ice.

Dartmoorcheffy · 14/04/2025 17:46

I think the menu sounds lovely. Something a bit different to the standard burgers and sausages. I would have kept the foccacia too as that sounds nice.

EilishMcCandlish · 14/04/2025 17:46

MaltipooMama · 14/04/2025 12:51

It really does sounds delicious, I love a bbq and always have several in the summer but I always go more meat heavy, I’m actually hosting one in a couple of weeks and this is what’s on my online order for mine (in case there’s anything on there that takes your fancy!):

Burgers and rolls
Hotdogs and buns
Chinese pork chops
BBQ chicken drumsticks
Cajun chicken fillets
Chicken/pork/pepper skewers

Mixed leaf salad with feta and tomatoes/cucumbers on the side
Jacket potatoes and grated cheese
Halloumi fries
Corn on the cob
Crusty cobs

Variety of dips
Crisps and nuts

Coke zeros, lemonade, Kopparberg, Budweisers, Pimm’s and Nozecco (for me!)

Hope it all goes well, oh I do love a BBQ!

This is far more my kind of barbecue menu. Although I would probably not have the jacket potatoes.

Ecrire · 14/04/2025 17:45

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

You’ve literally said in this post here that you do that sort of barbeque regularly! 🤣

RealEagle · 14/04/2025 17:43

What time and where ?

TryingToRecover · 14/04/2025 17:42

Keroppi · 14/04/2025 12:17

I think it's a bit random to do focaccia and Greek bits with Indian potatoes and chicken

Would prob stick to 1 or the other. But then I'm from an indo Caribbean family we do the same thing every bbq lol

You could simplify and do
Kebab/naan wraps instead of focaccia, bought from Asian shop
Or focaccia and pitta breads, just the 1 tato salad and no Indian dips just the mint yog and maybe a chilli mayo or a garlic aioli
I like a prawn skewer or jerk spiced fish if the veggies eat seafood

Vegetarians don’t eat seafood.

doodleschnoodle · 14/04/2025 17:39

MorningSunlight · 14/04/2025 17:34

I’m reminded of Nessa dissing Gwen’s menu in the bbq episode of Gavin & Stacey 😂

OP are you getting your burgers and sausages skewers from Dick Powell?

Oh, Dor, where’s the salad?

Blogswife · 14/04/2025 17:39

Looks gorgeous 😋 - can I come ?

Jennalong · 14/04/2025 17:35

It doesn't seem very bbq -ey , no sausages , no ( homemade ) burgers .
As a veggie , I'm not a great lover of bbqs , but the above are staples of one and I've never been to one that didn't offer that .
I will say though extra points to you if you could do the veggie bbq offerings on a bbq that is not used for the meaty eaters . I'd love that !

MorningSunlight · 14/04/2025 17:34

I’m reminded of Nessa dissing Gwen’s menu in the bbq episode of Gavin & Stacey 😂

OP are you getting your burgers and sausages skewers from Dick Powell?

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 14/04/2025 17:33

Liud · 14/04/2025 16:40

I’m adding salmon, cutting the pasta salad and switching the foccacia to flatbread. Thanks everyone

Edited

You need more meat. Maybe some steak if burgers and sausages aren't your thing.

Babyboomtastic · 14/04/2025 17:30

Bbq1 · 14/04/2025 17:14

Where are the burgers and sausages? They are absolutely mandatory at a Bbq!, Guests will be wondering when the burgers and bangers are going to be making an appearance.

Show quote history

Exactly!

If not burgers/sausages, then steaks, pork chops, non tandoori chicken (I'm not sure tandoori chicken works in a BBQ personally). Some slow cooked brisket?

Or fancyish burgers , homemade if you want.

Not salad, not salmon, but meat.

Original poster
Liud · 14/04/2025 17:27

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 17:15

Op did say it was her first bbq, then later changed this, maybe as a way to defensively strengthen her point. It seems she doesn't want to be 'critiqued' at all, and is very rigid on her idea of what constitutes a good bbq. Not much point in the thread.

Show quote history

I’ve never hosted a bbq. I’ve made tandoori chicken on a barbecue for dh and I before. Never had a bbq as a party

OP posts:
TheNoonBell · 14/04/2025 17:27

Needs more meat. Steak, burgers, sossies.

SpunkyRedSeal · 14/04/2025 17:26

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:59

Yes a lot of people have been wonderfully helpful with suggestions. But others have been a little overly prescriptive in what constitutes a bbq

Show quote history

Calm down Princess Eugenie and get your arse to Iceland

honeyrider · 14/04/2025 17:21

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 17:15

Op did say it was her first bbq, then later changed this, maybe as a way to defensively strengthen her point. It seems she doesn't want to be 'critiqued' at all, and is very rigid on her idea of what constitutes a good bbq. Not much point in the thread.

Show quote history

OP has taken on board some suggestions and made swaps to her menu.

Ecrire · 14/04/2025 17:19

What is the point of this thread?

First the OP says it’s her first ever BBQ
Gets progressively defensive at critique although she asked for it
then says she’s done BBQs before

Why post?!

MotherofPearl · 14/04/2025 17:16

I grew up in a country where BBQ is taken very seriously. Literally nobody cooks burgers and pork sausages.

Your menu sounds great OP. I agree with those who have suggested swapping one of the potato dishes for a bean or chickpea based salad. I love salads based on butter beans.

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 14/04/2025 17:15

Sunholidays · 14/04/2025 17:10

I thought you'd said this was your first ever BBQ!

Anyway, you know your guests better than us. I personally always do a classic BBQ with burgers and sausages because that's what we like.

In your menu, I'd leave out the focaccia and the new potatoes, and replace profiteroles with ice cream.

What drinks are you serving?

Show quote history

Op did say it was her first bbq, then later changed this, maybe as a way to defensively strengthen her point. It seems she doesn't want to be 'critiqued' at all, and is very rigid on her idea of what constitutes a good bbq. Not much point in the thread.

Bbq1 · 14/04/2025 17:14

Liud · 14/04/2025 12:12

I honestly won’t find this too much effort. I’ll be doing a lot of the prep the day before with my sis and dh to help chop.

I enjoy cooking

Where are the burgers and sausages? They are absolutely mandatory at a Bbq!, Guests will be wondering when the burgers and bangers are going to be making an appearance.

Sunholidays · 14/04/2025 17:10

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

I thought you'd said this was your first ever BBQ!

Anyway, you know your guests better than us. I personally always do a classic BBQ with burgers and sausages because that's what we like.

In your menu, I'd leave out the focaccia and the new potatoes, and replace profiteroles with ice cream.

What drinks are you serving?

fruitypancake · 14/04/2025 16:59

Sounds amazing OP

Speckyfourfries · 14/04/2025 16:46

Sounds lush but I'd do a mega easy massive green salad with cherry tomatoes and some sausages 😁

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.

Original poster
Liud · 14/04/2025 16:40

I’m adding salmon, cutting the pasta salad and switching the foccacia to flatbread. Thanks everyone

OP posts: