Please critique my first ever bbq menu

[Liud]

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

you need sausages and burgers!!!

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

oh ick

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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. 🙄

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

Literally skewed judging by the menu!

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

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

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

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.

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