BBQ

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I'm doing a BBQ for 30+ people. We only have a normal size charcoal BBQ. I was going to keep it simple with just sausages and burgers on the BBQ with roasted vegetable couscous, tom and mozzarella, salad, mini sweetcorn cobs, and (oven cooked) chicken.
Now DH has barged in and wants kebabs, prawns, and homemade chips. He says sausages and burgers is a kids BBQ and he'd feel shortchanged if all he was offered was that.
What do you think?

We had a barbecue recently and the burgers and sausages were way more popular than any of the 'posher' options!

Also I have never seen chips at a barbecue!

I would be happy with a large jacket potato, lots of salad or maybe a vegetable kebab thing or halloumi, and equally happy with lots of salad and bread, or a veggie sausage, but have been to a BBQ where all I could eat was baked beans as there was only burned meat and lots of smoke otherwise.You may not have any vegetarian guests though.

I would not expect chips or a huge selection of things, I like it to be simple. If he wants to have lots of stuff then he should cook it.

There I should nothing wrong with your menu (including roasted veg cous cous salad, I make a similar one and always v popular, add fresh herbs and pomegranate seeds to make it look pretty!)
Just make sure they are nice burgers and sausages and that you have all the bits to accompany them (onions, cheese option, bonus points from me if it’s blue! Pickles, sliced tomatoes shredded lettuce, ketchup, mustard, relish etc)
Chips? Where did he get that from?! Never seen chips at a bbq and sound like a pain to do. If he wants spuds potato salad, sweet potatoes make a great potato salad. Although talking about weird things at barbie, I went to a bring and share the other weekend and someone took garlicky bread and the whole lot went in seconds! I’d probably add in a homemade coleslaw and if there will be kids crudités.

You could do little roast potatoes rather than chips. Cut up into cubes, toss with olive oil and salt then throw in some cloves of garlic and herbs. Take 34-40 mins.

Last BBQ we had I did burgers, sausages & pork steaks on the regular sized grill.. then made teriyaki chicken in my slow cooker & cooked brisket, chicken drummers & roasted veggies in my oven - plus bbq beans, potato & egg salad, mini quiches and green bean salad the day before ... then all the usual salad stuff .. plenty for 20ish people 👍🏻

Weird that you think garlic bread is odd. I think its pretty standard at a braai.

Just to add.. I kept it simple for desert by having scones with jam & clotted cream and fruit salad

I would do around 2 to 3 sausages per person, and 2 burgers per person. That's assuming they are normal sized sausages and decent sized burgers (e.g 1/4 lbs each). Some people will have less, some will have more, so that should balance out. I would do some roasted peppers and halloumi for the veggies.

I would normally do some chicken. Drumsticks are cheap and can be cooked in the oven. If you have time, then finish them off on the BBQ.

Weird that you think garlic bread is odd. I think its pretty standard at a braai.

Are you South African? Googling it seems very common there but I've never seen garlic bread at a barbecue in the UK.

I catered a bbq for 60 adults recently. The menu was pulled pork on buns with apple sauce and coleslaw, and bratwurst sausages. And I did a potato salad, mixed salad, and a huge cheeseboard. It wasn't too much stress and the guests were very happy.

The pork can be slow cooked the night before then served from a tray on the bbq.

Pineapple. Yes I am but been in the uk for a very long time . And we do braais the proper way. When we host one it is always a hit, with foods that compliment the occasion and make it a hit with everyone especially our non SA friends.
But I do appreciate that people interpret and adapt a 'BBQ' in different ways.

The meat

I'm sure yours are excellent but I like a simpler traditional style UK BBQ too which doesn't usually involve garlic bread. Nothing wrong with it of course. I'd happily eat garlic bread at any time of day, though hold the cheese,but it's not a normal barbecue food here hence why the other poster commented on it.

Genuine question Crispbutty. How do you keep the flies away from all of that? I've just had to evict three of the little buggers from my kitchen. Eating outside is a nightmare at this time of year.

Pineapple. Try food nets. And stick cloves into oranges and leave around the food.

Your menu sounds fine. If he desperately wants potatoes, shove a bag or two of wedges in the oven.

I’d cater on the basis that 50% of guests would have 2 burgers and 3 sausages.
Chicken in the oven is a great idea - I don’t eat bbq chicken, especially on a charcoal bbq as I’m wary of inadequate and uneven cooking 😬

Your side dishes sound great too but you’re missing coleslaw!

Thank you F2eee. I'd like to have one but the bloody flies were putting me off. I was picturing spending half of my time trying to keep them away. I might have one now, complete with garlic bread because I'll take any excuse I can to eat it.

Pineapple, we had a few citronella candles dotted around, and the smoke and heat tends to keep flies away most of the time. Wasps on the other hand are a bloody nightmare. I'm not a fan of outdoor eating purely because of winged things .. And I'm going camping by a lake next weekend (I must be mad).

Now DH has barged in and wants kebabs, prawns, and homemade chips. He says sausages and burgers is a kids BBQ and he'd feel shortchanged if all he was offered was that.

If DH is menu planning, shopping, paying for, prepping, cooking & washing up then he can have whatever he likes at his BBQ.
If he is not, he can have whatever YOU like, OP!

Thank you CrispyButty. I think I'll be going all out with the citronella candles, clove studded oranges and food nets. I can't bear flies and wasps. I'm quite looking forward to it now though I don't think it'll compare with your stunning spread. I'm very envious. I hope that you enjoy camping and that the insects leave you alone as much as possible.

BBQs are a ball ache all round IMO. So much faff.

I end up hosting quite a lot as I’m ‘the chef’ in my friendship group and I love prepping everything and laying it all out before anyone arrives, but anything that has me slaving away when I could be enjoying myself when guests arrive is a no go these days.

Plus I hate cleaning the bbq with a passion. Bloody greasy thing.

If I went to a bbq someone else was hosting I would only ever expect one burger and one sausage per person if there were other accompaniments. I can’t imagine people eating 3 sausages, 2 burgers, salad etc at a bbq at someone else’s home.

I use an old baby bath to soak the bbq grills in. Strong bio washing powder solution.

Or a strong black bag with a sponge soaked in ammonia.