Throwing a barbecue party is a great way to bring your family and friends together. You get to relax, enjoy delicious food, listen to music and catch up with everyone while having a cold drink. And what’s not to like about all that? No wonder it has become a beloved tradition in Australia. Hosting a BBQ event might seem straightforward – all you need is a grill and some drinks, right? Wrong. There a lot of things that need to be considered before organizing such an event. A successful BBQ party requires proper planning and careful groundwork – preparing your BBQ accessories and other equipment being one of them.
BBQ Equipment
To prepare barbecue, you obviously need a grill. While they come in different sizes and shapes and every barbecue chef has their preference when it comes to choosing between gas and charcoal, the bbq accessories you need are all the same. Grill sets make for a nice gift, but they’re not very practical. Having quality BBQ accessories that are lightweight, durable and fit nicely in your hand is essential for an efficient and enjoyable cooking experience. Here is a list of some of the best tested and approved BBQ accessories you will need for your next barbecue fiesta.
- Sturdy Tongs – Giant grill tongs are stiff to use effortlessly and much larger than you actually need. For the best experience, look for light, grippy 40cm tongs. This length is just enough to keep your hands far from the heat of the grill but it still allows you to have more control than longer, heftier tongs. Aside from grilling, these tongs are also great for flipping blistered chiles and tomatillos.
- Spatula – Similar to giant grill tongs, heavy-duty grill spatulas always seem like more than you need. Get something that’s smaller but it is still lightweight and easy to maneuver. Wide angled spatulas make flipping burgers or delicate fish fillets easy.
- Metal Skewers – Metal skewers are worth the investment – they usually cost less than $1 per piece. In addition to being reusable and therefore producing less waste than wooden skewers, with metal skewers you don’t have to plan ahead and soak them in water before using. A 30cm metal skewer can hold enough meat and vegetables to serve one person.
- Cooling Rack – A cooling rack is a versatile cooking tool that you probably already have in your cupboard. Instead of investing in a single-use grill basket, you can turn your stainless-steel cooling rack upside down on your grill and arrange small vegetables directly on top of it. The cross-hatch pattern will prevent cherry tomatoes, asparagus or snap peas from falling through the grate.
- Grill Brush – A good grill brush is essential to successful grilling. With a clean grate, your food will have clear grill marks and will release easily. Invest in a grill brush that has heavy-duty stainless-steel bristles as they are less likely to bend or break off. Brushes with three rows are more effective at getting in between the grates and cleaning off any crusty melted cheese or burnt barbecue sauce.
- Grill Mitts – Don’t think that the oven mitts you use in the kitchen will do the work when dealing with a hot grill. Large grill mitts that come close to the elbow are your best bet. There are lots of choices available on the market for you to choose from including silicone mitts, mitts made from fire-retardant fabrics, leather mitts, and much more. The main goal is to find a mitt that will protect you from the heat or flames when flipping burgers, handling coals or moving food from one place to another.
BBQ Party Themes and Ideas
Once you assemble your BBQ equipment, it’s time to pick a BBQ party idea to set your party plans in motion. Your food and decorations should match to create a full-fledged experience for your friends and family. Here are some fun, memorable and easy to execute ideas to consider.
Classic Country BBQ Party
These BBQs never disappoint and you can put your own twist on this classic traditional decor. Think picnic-inspired designs such as checkered tablecloths, basket centerpieces, mason jars, daisy flowers, and lanterns. Set up small areas around your backyard or park with comfy pillows and blankets to add a warm touch. But to be honest, decor aside, the best part of a country BBQ is the delicious food. Staple BBQ foods such as steaks, sausages, chicken, kangaroo meat, lots of salads, baked potato and fried onions are a must.
Western BBQ Party
Spice things up with a Western BBQ Party theme. Here you can try cooking more slow-cooked meats, like a brisket. Give traditional meats and sausages a flair by using apple or hickory BBQ smoking chips to add some flavor to your grill. Once you’ve decided on the menu, create a special table filled with different flavours of BBQ sauces to give your food a kick. For the decor, incorporate easy Western signs, cactus plants, hay, and barn-like decor to complete your party set-up.
By the Sea Party
Trowing a BBQ party doesn’t mean that you have to stick to red meat or chicken. Throw a ‘By the Sea’ grill party featuring some of your favorite seafood, such as grilled scallops, salmon, scallops, seafood skewers, and kabobs or grilled halibut. You can also grill corn and cook different pasta dishes to compliment your off the grid theme. The decorations for this theme should include things that make your guests feel like they are at the beach. You can try adding sand and seashells to your bar area and use plenty of sea-blue tones to make an airy ambiance.
BBQ Dinner Party
For an intimate and elegant atmosphere for your guests, consider a fun backyard dinner party in the early evening. Keep the menu simple by choosing only two types of meat to grill. The main focus of your outdoor dinner party should be the tablescape and backyard decorations. A charming and coordinate tablescape combined with ambient decorations that complement one another will make your guests feel relaxed and welcomed.
