Thoughts on my BBQ menu?

[bbqyonce]

I’m hosting my first ever bbq for my lovely neighbours this weekend (though I’ve been doing bbqs for dinner for a few months so I’m not a complete novice although still getting the hang of it to some extent). i am a competent & keen cook more generally though! But don’t want 100 things to do on the bbq as I’ll get overwhelmed lol.

one of my neighbours & I have a little competition going on, he’s a bit of a foodie (as am I). He’s v good at burgers, sausages etc etc so I want to go in a different direction. The other 2 neighbours are elderly & have a bit more plain tastes but they love chicken & prawns, and like trying new things. 2 of the 3 don’t like fatty meats and one thinks salad is boring but I’m gonna try & convert them.

So here’s what I’m thinking:

Nibbles (will mean I don’t feel like I have to rush the bbq stuff!)
Charcuterie
Olives
Crisps
Freshly baked baguette & sea salt butter
Whipped feta
Another cheese maybe?
Grapes?

BBQ
Reverse-seared sirloin
Garlic & herb butter spatchcock chicken
Garlic parsley butter king prawns
Parmesan corn on the cob

Sides
Crispy roast baby potatoes
Heritage tomato salad?
Charred asparagus, grilled peaches, burrata & crispy prosciutto
Chimichurri
Garlic butter

Does this sound good? Any tweaks/ suggestions?

They wanna bring the drinks/ pudding, but will make a jug of pimms maybe?

Halumini?!

Sounds GREAT! Defo a jug of Pimms and maybe a sparkling elderflower for a non-alc alternative?

Sounds like my kind of BBQ.
I'd probably do the chicken spanish style with good quality smoked paprika, a touch of cumin, garlic and oregano.

I'd also watch the charcuterie in the heat, thin meat slices curl and dry out really quickly in the sun. I'd ditch the whipped feta, and have meats, spanish omelette, croquettes, olives, bread and butter and some fancy crisps. I'd do vine cherry toms rather than grapes.

I disagree with all the naysayers. Reverse searing is foolproof and you’ll get perfect beef! I always do this for a big piece of meat on the bbq

I want to be your neighbour! Sounds so good

If you are foodies and want to win at salads - have a look at the Berber & Q cookbook (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berber-Vegetables-barbecuing-grilling-slow-cooking-ebook/dp/B09BKYLFH8) expensive but can be found for only a few pounds on Kindle...

A superb book exploring Berber cuisine - and a lot of how to cook vegetables on the BBQ and turn them into salads - a bit poncy at times, but very very tasty and convert almost everyone to salads...

You might not like OP’s menu, but no need to call her a meanie.

😆😆😆

lol we are very close so I know what they like & don’t like! Both mid-80s & some of my most favourite people ever.

I think I’ll do caprese salad instead of tomato salad, and swap the whipped feta for honey halloumi as I know they like halloumi. Good shout re the similar flavourings , I’ll do paprika prawns instead. Can’t remember what other suggestions there were but will go through again, thank you all!

will have a think about the steak, i prefer lamb too but 2 of the three aren’t too keen unfortunately. And I think pork belly would be too fatty for them although I love it! I would slow cook it just before so won’t need to keep running in & out and my kitchen oven is about 5 steps from my bbq anyway lol. yes I will get some stick from the foodie about using the oven but I’d rather that than it being raw or cremated 😬

Sounds perfect! I hate BBQ's with supermarket sausages and burgers (yes, I am a snob..).
We went to a lovely BBQ a few weeks ago and they put massive slices of cauliflower on the bbq - with miso on - was better than the meat.
You can also BBQ beetroots and pineapple - defo a talking point.

Nooooo Halloumi!! Whipped feta much nicer!

maybe a fruit salad dessert rather that a watermelon (imo watermelon tastes of nothing) with some good clotted cream ice cream.

Agree with new potato salad. Or new potatoes is a lemon vinaigrette dressing, something up that street.

wish I was your neighbour OP!

It sounds delicious but a lot of food. How many are attending? I would get rid of the bread and cheese I think. 🤔
definitely swap potatoes for new potato salad!

Buy watermelon in ethinic shops not the supermarket, the taste is better Its just my view chillyputsomesockson.

I was thinking the same this sounds fabulous

A lot of garlic! If I’m coming I’d appreciate some simple sides - it’s all very heavy, cheesy and rich. Maybe just some seared asparagus rather than that weird peach thing and some plain rocket or pea shoots. Mostly sounds lovely though.

Dracula is that you?

It all sounds amazing but I think if you swap tomato salad for caprese salad there’s just too much cheese. It would be better to stick with the original plan or have some crisper and fresher. I love this: https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/french-beans-mangetout-hazelnut-orange

Quite possibly! 🤣

It sounds delicious OP

Here's the reverse sear recipe I use. I've only done it in the oven but the recipe includes BBQ instructions. It's delicious Reverse Sear Rib Roast – Andy Cooks

I had bbq cabbage which was delicious, cut a sweetheart cabbage into 4, spray with oil and put on bbq once it’s died down, I did it which truffle infused oil for added decadence

Menu sounds lovely OP. I would also do lamb instead of steak but fair enough if others don’t like it (wrong!!).

We’ve done a really delicious prawn skewer thing before - you alternate king prawns with chunks of ciabatta, which are wrapped round with smoked pancetta strips. You thread them alternately onto skewers made from stripped stems of rosemary, if you have a rosemary bush you can plunder for it.
Then you brush them all over with garlic / olive oil / salt etc using a brush of rosemary.

It’s delicious- the pancetta renders into the ciabatta croutons and the prawn and pancetta and rosemary flavours all combine beautifully.

Annoyingly the recipe is only available on this YouTube video “Australian bbq crispy prawns” but it is worth it!

pic attached of them cooking when we did them last year.

Show off.

Boke to all the garlic 🤮 sick of it being everywhere.. had chips in a retro restaurant the other.. chips were stinking, couldn't eat them. Put garlic butter on the sude and let people decide for themselves.

Is there anything left please ?

Sounds. Yummy