Food brings people together, and what better way to socialise than with a summer barbecue. Every once in a while though, it’s good to do something unique with the food you produce. So, here’s a few ideas for this year’s summer barbecue, where you can use food and drink to make your party stand out.
Create a theme
Themes are not only the perfect way to express your creativity, but they also add that instant wow-factor for guests. It could be a beach or seaside theme, a tropical theme or a classic summer garden party, but they offer tonnes of ways for you to theme your food, right down to the seating. For example, if you’re trying to create a traditional summer picnic, lay out lots of gingham cloths with placemats for seating, string up bunting and have Pimms on the lawn. Then, make miniature versions of classics like Victoria sponge, sausage rolls and jam tarts, which can easily be prepped and baked in advance.
Hire out something unique
Another way of grabbing your guests’ attention is by creating a feature in your garden. For example, why not hire out a chocolate or cocktail fountain pourer to take centre stage, surrounded by plenty of fresh fruit? Or for something truly spectacular, swap out the family barbecue set for a whole hog roast machine – simple to use, easily affordable and the perfect way of feeding your many guests in one, this is the perfect solution for summer party hosts who are worried about catering to a large number of people. You can check out hogroast-machine.co.uk if you’d like to find out more about them.
Think outside the box
If you don’t want a theme but you’re tired of the same old food, it’s time to let your imagine run wild. Think of some classic barbecue recipes and then try to re-invent them – for example, have you ever tried a popcorn-dog or a taco bite served on a stick? Have you ever made a Nutella smores tray bake where people can dig in with their biscuits and not wait for them to roast? Think about your favourite flavour combinations, and try to think how you could simplify them into something that’s unique but still easy to prepare. Another great example is pizza-style samosas, or mac and cheese muffins – you can check out more ideas here.
Give ‘In-a-Jar’ gifts
This is one of the best foodie gifts that any party host could give. There are hundreds of ‘In-a-Jar’ ideas out there, from the ingredients for a batch of cookies to arts and craft kits. So, for your barbecue, why not let them leave with a cocktail-in-a-jar gift, such as a rum punch of a fruit-filled sangria? Or instead, they could take home a batch of your own freshly-made strawberry jam, pesto, or any other preserve you’ve whipped up this season.
Do you have any other unique ideas for making sure your party stands out? Leave them below…
