5 Tips for Hosting a Summertime BBQ

Summertime is in full swing and now is the perfect time to host your friends and family for a backyard barbecue! Here are our top 5 tips for throwing the perfect BBQ that your guests will be talking about for the rest of the summer!

Prep the Night Before

Prepping your food the day before your BBQ ensures that you’re spending less time in the kitchen and more time hanging out with your guests. Prepare your salads, side dishes and let your meat marinate to take some stress off your day. By prepping the day before, you can also take inventory of everything you have, allowing you to make a last-minute store run to gather any ingredients that you’ve missed.

Keep It Simple!

No need to try every new recipe during your barbecue! Stick to classic BBQ foods like, hamburgers, hotdogs, barbecue chicken, coleslaw and corn on the cob. Throw in a specialty salad or pulled pork tacos to spice up the menu! If you want a lot of different options, invite your guests to bring a dish. The more food the merrier!

Have a Signature Cocktail!

Summer parties call for festive cocktails! Especially when you’re entertaining at home, we suggest a cocktail that can be batched ahead of time, in a larger quantity. This Strawberry Basil Margarita could be displayed in a cute glass container and each guest could salt the rim of their own glass before pouring! It’s the perfect refresher for these hot Charleston summers.

Prepare the Perfect Playlist and Have a Few Games!

Music Keeps the party going, especially once those Strawberry Basil Margaritas kick in. We love matching the music to our food: Cuban style pulled pork and summer salsa vibes? Classic southern sides and a little home-grown Hootie? Or how about Beach Boys radio as you add the finishing touches California inspired carne asada tacos?

Save Room for Dessert!

No summer barbecue is complete without a sweet treat! South Carolina peaches hit their prime just in time to be the dessert highlight – lightly brush peach wedges with olive oil, throw them on the grill and top with ice cream for an easy and refreshing end to your meal!