In my humble opinion, there are few things more enjoyable than a great summer BBQ with friends. Throw in the sun, good friends, good drinks, and food cooked over the BBQ, and it is hard to go wrong. And the great thing about living in California is that it is BBQ season most of the year so we get a lot of practice. But regardless of where you live or what you like to BBQ, here are a few tips to not only help everyone have a good time while they are at your BBQ, but also keep them safe. Because the last thing any of us want is for there to be an accident either at or after a great BBQ party that you have just thrown. So here are a few tips for things I always do when throwing a summer BBQ at my place.
Have music playing when your guests arrive
One of the keys I have found to throwing any great party is having a great soundtrack to go along with it. About 6 years ago I began making my own party CD's for every party I had at my house, regardless of what is was for. It is amazing how it allows people to let their guard down when they walk into a party (or a backyard) and there is fun music playing. My favorite has become a mix of 70's funk and disco music. When people show up and hear that music, they immediately start dancing which puts them in a good mood and gets them ready to have a good time. So don't forget the 70's disco mix as I highly recommend it!
Offer a vegetarian option
Summer BBQ is synonymous with great meats. But vegetarians are a growing population and chances are there are going to be people at your summer BBQ that don't like or don't eat the meat you are preparing. So I also provide some veggie burgers or something like that just so everyone has something to eat and no one feels left out. My vegetarian pick are Boca Burgers, as they are actually quite tasty and can help in a pinch if you run out of meat!
Make drinking water available
Often times the perfect BBQ drink is a margarita or a cold beer. But unfortunately, when you combine hot weather and alcohol it can be a potentially harmful situation, especially if people aren't drinking water. So make sure you have more than alcohol and sodas to offer your guests as all of those things dehydrate people and make them more susceptible to heat stroke or even worse.
Make sure there are designated drivers
This goes along with my tip above. If I am serving alcohol, I always make sure I know that there are designated drivers that aren't going to have more than 1 drink. And so for these folks I'll always have sodas and plenty of water for these people. The last thing I want is for someone to get in an accident or a DUI as they are on the way home from one of my summer BBQ parties. I wouldn't be a good host or a good friend if I only served alcohol without any other options.
So as summer BBQ season approaches, try some of these things to have a great time outside around a grill this summer!
