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

I would get rid of the pasta salad and one of the potato dishes. BBQ space is always at a premium, so I would BBQ/grill/char the veg for the skewers (peppers, courgette, onion, mushroom, etc) the day before, and mix with some herb laden cous cous or bulghur wheat to make a salad, maybe add some grilled haloumi or chick peas.

Where's the cheese OP? You can't do a BBQ, or in fact any event, without cheese! A good cheese platter with a variety of cheese and a variety of crackers.
Fruit platter.
Some chocolates on the table.
And yes I'd probably chuck a tray of sausages on too.

Sounds great!

That’s a British type lol.

op i love the menu and very typical of what i would do. Those who know how to cook will know that’s not actually not that much effort and a lot can be done the prev
day.

I would definitely do some sausages as well, rolls, fried onions and english mustard!

OP, I think your menu sounds lovely and there’s nothing there that I wouldn’t eat. I might also just do a simple green salad. Enjoy.

Can I come yum

Looks great!
I would add some mixed green salad, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, dressing etc

I would also add soft drinks

TBH, I think you have given more than enough options, I would cut a few out, you will be preparing for hours and hours to get all that done, a BBQ can be quite casual

Too many competing flavours and too many carbs. You need more bbq things otherwise it's mainly a salad buffet. Otherwise lovely!

I would focus on the Mediterranean flavours and ditch the spicy stuff. Buy some really good quality sausages, and maybe make your own mini burgers.

Could you do fish wrapped in foil?

I feel you need more protein in there although it will bump up the cost.

how about a rice salad

And THATS why many people say they hate BBQ's
Your menu sounds lovely OP and the kind of BBQ wee have but you probably don't need so many salads. I usually do 1 green, 1 potato, 1 tomato and 1 bean or couscous
I cannot understand why people who normally eat well serve or expect to be served crap just because its being cooked on a BBQ

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!

How many people are coming?

Sounds fab, more fancy than my bbqs. I usually shop buy things like ready made potato salad and bread, so you've already outdone me there.
Have you got kids coming, if so have something plain like a burger or sausages in bun with ketchup is always good for fussy kids.

No kids. 18 people

What about king prawns in lime and coriander, lovely on a bbq.

Burgers, sausages, kebabs, few chops, jacket potatos and a salad

It’s not very cohesive - mix of Indian and Italian and, like PP, I’d be disappointed there wasn’t burgers or sausages. They make a bbq for me 🤣

I have had the tandoori chicken with the Greek salad many times (tomatoes, cucumber, olives, onion, feta and olive oil) and it’s lovely. “Indian flavours” clashing with a Greek salad which is just a salty salad imo is just a mental thing in my eyes. It’s not exactly like mixing french onion soup with sweet and sour sauce.

It’s not too dissimilar to an Indian salad - just has a bit of feta and olives on top.

Focccia with sea salt and olive oil goes with anything

I see the point/issue but I think it’s a bit overstated

It's a bit of a mishmash cuisine-wise, not saying it has to be 100% Indian but wouldn't naan or chapati make more sense than focaccia? I'd also lose the pasta salad and replace it with a chickpea one.

Thanks for the input. I think I will try to figure out how to do less carbs

Lose the pasta salad, lose one potato dish.

And a green salad will be much better than the Greek one.

I’ve never been to a BBQ without sausages and burgers

It sounds absolutely gorgeous, very thoughtful and varied. If I were your guest I’d be delighted.

It sounds fantastic and there is definitely an element of personal taste to the options.

For me I would definitely want more meat options at a BBQ but then I can happily just pile a plate with meat options and nothing else. I am a bit of a BBQ geek and would happily have the BBQ on 12 hours early to slow cook some pork or beef brisket.

Sounds great. I don't understand the British obsession with burgers and sausages at a bbq.

I would do similar, but one ess potato dish, and things like mozzarella, tomato and basil salad, brushetta, cold cuts, selection of bread/ Buns, I usually do either a slow smoked brisket or steaks for a beef option and would also offer a fish/shellfish option. Definitely more green stuff. Garlic butter steam green beans always go down super well. I char the beans on the bbq post steam for a few seconds add garlic and butter, heat through and serve, same with Steamed and charred Broccoli with chilli and evoo. Steam veg is great as you can steam and blanched the day before and then reheat in a couple of mins.

I always over cater and make sure that everyone goes home with the bits they fancy.

Oh and I always do a slaw of some kind and hard boiked eggs with paprika and chives always, always, always disappear very quickly.

Sounds fun and if you're happy with your menu. Run with it. Over time you'll adapt, add and cancel certain items as you host more