To think this is NOT how you do a bbq?

[CakeNinja]

Was at a bbq over the weekend where the hosts (good friends, very nice) cooked all the meat, kept stuff warm in the oven while cooking the rest then once it was all done, presented it all on the dining table like some kind of buffet.
That's not right is it?
They actually closed down the lid of the bbq and cleaned the floor around it as it had spat out grease marks, before the food was served

AIBU to think bbqs should be an informal way of eating? Throw a bit of food on, have something to eat, throw on more in a bit, have something to eat, repeat until all food is gone over the course of the day rather than all done in half an hour?

No and sounds dangerous keeping food warm like that.

You are not wrong.

What? it's surely against the law to eat BBQ food indoors??

Well, I have waited until half the food has been cooked before serving previously as it means everyone gets an equal chance at the food, rather than the greediest buggers getting their first and second helpings before politer people can muscle in. YABU, personal choice, innit? As long as everyone is appropriately fed and watered it doesn't matter.

The correct way (obviously) is to eat it as it's cooked, normally one thing at a time with a mad dash to the BBQ so whoever gets there first gets to inhale eat it.

Similar concept to pancake day really.

That's my in laws approach too. They don't even have a proper bbq. DH refer to it as an outdoor grilling. Wrong in so many ways.

How is it dangerous keeping food warm

Sleepy but you cook one thing at a time, ie kebabs and put them all out (obviously outside) and shout "kebabs are done" and everyone who wants a kebab can help themselves to that and the sides etc while the next things are cooked. Eating things when they're freshly cooked doesn't necessarily equate to being greedy! And if you have a guest who decides to eat 30 kebabs and not leave any for anyone else, don't invite them again!

Most people were eating outside it was just laid out indoors.

That's not a BBQ is it? It's an indoor buffet that has some of the food cooked outdoors. A proper BBQ has to have that element of doubt about whether it'll ever get hot enough to eat before midnight and plenty of over-cooked sausages. Usually served at midnight.

yes,. and there has to be that one sausage which "isn't quite done yet"...

and that one packet of meat/ item of food that you forget to get out fo the fridge and discover a day laer going "ohhhh yeah... we were supposed to have chicken legs!"

and there's normally a cat/dog (depending on your preference) hanging about waiting to snag anything that drops on the floor.

Did it rain?

It wasn't a proper barbecue unless it rained. And the host manfully cooked all the food under an umbrella while all the guests peeped out from the kitchen.

Then there's also the 'mystery item' which someone brings all wrapped in foil which, when cooked turns out to be some sort of fruit kebab. Which isn't improved by the careless addition of being dipped into some sort of BBQ sauce.

They might of wanted everyone to eat together

The thing is, if you are absolutely determined that everyone must eat together then you don't host a BBQ. Instead, you have a proper 'sit down in the dining room' sort of meal.

My ILs do this and it works well. They have a massive BBQ so everything is cooked together. They can do steak, burgers, sausages, quail, chops, chicken etc all at the same time. MIL stays inside and does the sides. FIL brings in the meat and put it out with salads, potatoes, couscous, different breads, veg, dips and on and on and on. You go in and get what you want and then go back outside to eat. No flies/wasps around food, the whole world and his brother isn't hovering at the BBQ. Perfect.

BBQd quail?

My mum half cooks everything in the oven then takes it to the bbq to finish...always has.

I just hate bbq's. I refuse to have them. Dh sometimes attempts it while I hide in the understairs cupboard, resulting in lots of swearing and all the food being thrown in the bin. Any bbq night is likely to turn into pizza night here!

awaits the flame!!

Baby maybe they did, but a bbq is not the place for a sit down meal Imo.
I see it as a general eat, drink and be merry. This was very stage managed! The part where he closed down the bbq and she came out with a spray bottle of something to clean the patio had a few of us a bit while we were patiently helping/waiting.
Crazy friends!

Perhaps they did it like that so everyone could eat together? Not dangerous to keep food warm

I guess it depends how hot you keep it and for how long.

My brother is a quail butcher. He dresses the quail ready for the BBQ. He does a mean range of marinades too. We always end up with quail at BBQs.

A "proper" barbecue is a whole hog cooked overnight in a pit in the ground. What y'all are talking about is a "cook-out."