Planning the Perfect Barbecue What does the perfect barbecue look like? Seriously, what are the details of the perfect barbecue in your mind? Perhaps you’re excited to get the grill out for the first time ever, or you’re a returning veteran looking to improve. Whatever your situation, consider on the following 3 items that could make your barbecue the one people coming back to.
Identify Your Audience First up, identify your audience. Who are you inviting to this event? It’s important to know who you are catering to. The world is full of opposing opinions. The “perfect” barbecue is very much a perception of the mind. An extrovert will be turned away if there isn’t much going on in the social department. In the same way, an introvert that can’t find five minutes to himself throughout the party. You should try to identify the personalities, ages, genders, and hobbies of those coming. Once you know what they like to do, cater to those likes. If they just like hotdogs then make sure you have a few for them. Your BBQ rib recipe may be world famous, but if they don’t like ribs, then you’re not going to win the award for the perfect barbecue. If kids are coming, then prepare a smaller table for them, as well as provide toys or equipment that they can play with. The more kid friendly the place, the better relaxed the parents will be that bring them. In this way you hit two birds with one stone. Try to cater to every demographic in a simple and yet noticeable way. Your guests will come away with a great feeling about your barbecue, even if they didn’t get to try your famous BBQ rib recipe—which might have been the inspiration behind the entire event.
Provide Good, Clean Food Second, provide good, clean food. Prepare your food with the utmost care. Don’t slip into bad habits, e.g. not washing your hands or undercooking the meat. If you must insist on undercooking the meat, then let your guests know before they take it from you on the grill. Don’t be shy to give them a little warning. Feel free to promise them the blessings of the tastiest BBQ rib recipe they’ve ever tasted, but don’t try to hide the fact that it’s undercooked. Your guests will appreciate the warning and make an appropriate decision. As for the cleanliness part, even if your guests don’t see it, they’ll appreciate knowing that you took the uttermost care to cleanse everything involved in the food making process.
Finishing the Meat Third, plan for the meat to finish right as people arrive. That way it is fresh, hot, and ready right when they get there. There are few things more disappointing about showing up to a barbecue than the food not being on the grill yet. Plan to have a small batch finish right before guests are supposed to arrive and begin cooking the second batch right as people start arriving. When you identify the needs of your guests; provided good, sanitary food; and get the BBQ ribs recipe finishing up right as guests arrive, you’ll provide a more perfect experience for your guests. They’ll come hungry, leave happy, and come back again should you invite them.