The weather outside is warm and delightful and you just had your kitchen remodeled with new countertops from A Polished Finished in Atlanta, it sounds like the perfect time to throw a barbecue party. A barbecue is a great way to enjoy the summer weather with good friends. It is also a great way to showcase your recently remodeled kitchen.
Throwing a barbecue party isn’t something you should take lightly, there are any number of ways in which yours could become a disaster. This is especially true if there is little planning on your part. So here is a handy guide to throwing your summer barbecue party.
Impressive Side Dishes
The meat you serve at your barbecue might be the main attraction, but no meal is complete without the side dishes. The side dishes you create for your barbecue should pair nicely with burgers, ribs, chicken, salmon or whatever you decide to serve. In fact, you should have side dishes that will steal the show.
Deviled eggs are a classic dish often served at barbecues. They are tasty and easy to make, making them a popular choice. Put a bit of a kick in your deviled eggs and a tear in the eyes of your guests by preparing a Cajun variation of this dish.
French fries made with white potatoes are pretty boring. Surprise your guests by preparing sweet potato fries instead. Also, a sweet apricot dip to dunk them in is a whole lot better than plain ketchup. These are sure to be a hit.
Macaroni and cheese is one of the quintessential barbecue side dishes. A true barbecue is never without it. Chiles and peppers added to the recipe will give your version of mac-n-cheese a nice kick.
Invite the Right People
Every barbecue party needs a cast of characters for it to be successful. Make sure you invite these folks.
You might still be stuck in the 1980s and still listen to Twisted Sister and Men at Work, but you have friends who keep up with trendy music. It’s a good idea to invite your friend who knows a lot about music to provide the soundtrack to your barbecue.
While four hours of the Eagles and Devo is a playlist carved in heaven for you, your guests will hate you for it. Leave the music to someone who hasn’t memorized every song from Led Zeppelin’s discography.
You will be busy grilling foods and serving guests, so you need to make sure to invite the person who loves to run errands. If an emergency arises and all of the ice has melted or you run out of beer, this person is always more than happy to run out and pick up more.
You will also want to invite the person who acts as the referee of the party. You know exactly who we are talking about; that person who makes sure nobody steps in front of the cornhole board when people are playing and makes sure everybody is playing fair.
All the Best Games
You don’t want people to get bored at your barbecue party so make sure they have plenty of cool games to keep them occupied. Cornhole is a good start, but you need more than just one game.
Giant Jenga has gained a lot of popularity. It’s just as fun as the table version, but there is a lot more pressure when you can get hurt as the blocks fall on you.
Yard Yahtzee is basically just oversized dice you throw from a bucket. Still, it is a lot of fun.
You might also want to include Twister in your game bag. Everybody loves Twister.
Greet Guests with a Surprise
True hospitality means welcoming your guests with something that is delivered to them the second they walk through your front door. This could be a meet-and-greet appetizer like an oyster or a street taco. It could also be a drink, like a margarita.
All in Good Time
The timing of your barbecue party is important as well. You don’t want to have your party right around one of the three summer holidays. So don’t plan your party near Labor Day, Independence Day or Memorial Day. People already have plans for these events.
If you want to remodel your kitchen so you can throw an epic barbecue party, give A Polished Finish a call.
