Summer BBQ etiquette

Planning a summer filled with friends, good food and a smoking hot grill to cook everything on? Then it might be a good idea to introduce this summer BBQ etiquette into your sun fuelled festivities…   

Make it look a little like a garden

Do you just have a sad looking patio and a patch of lawn to your name? Then fill some pots with easy to care for summer plants that should look pretty all season long. Do not place these close to the fire pit. Select your new floral additions from a reputable dealer, such as bakker.com.

Furniture needs cleaning

A quick dust down isn’t going to do it. You need to give that garden dining set and the bench a thorough scrub to get your garden looking in shape for the summer. Spider webs must be removed – no one enjoys going to move their seat and pulling their hand away to discover a shudder inducing mass of web on their hands – and cushions given a good clean too before placing on seats.

Spruce up the patio

Go wild with the pressure hose and get rid of all the moss and slimy stuff on the patio before summer arrives. Don’t spray the windows. It won’t go down well with your partner/parents/housemates.

There should be only one nominated BBQ’er

Nominate the person in the group who cooks the burgers to perfection and ensure only they deal with the BBQ. ‘Dave’ who always burns the sausages but perhaps doesn’t cook them thoroughly, must not be allowed near the coals. Dave must be tackled to the ground if he goes to pick up the tongs.

The salad to meat ratio should be one-sided

Obviously in favour of as much meat as possible. You must also place a classic bowl of iceberg lettuce on the side that doesn’t get touched except by those who like some crunch in their burger. Vegetarian friends should also be catered for. This is why pasta was invented – always serve complementary pasta at a BBQ.

 Deal with the bugs

While you’re out enjoying the bbq with family and/or friends, keep in mind there’s going to be a lot of people going in and out of the house, and since it’s summer, you don’t want bugs or mosquitos getting into your home. You could consider getting yourself one of these magnetic screen doors.

As the host, it’s up to you to ensure your guests don’t get chewed to death by blood sucking fiends while enjoying the rare warm evening Britain has to offer. Apparently, taking a zip lock bag, filling it with water, dropping some shiny pennies inside and hanging it on a wall will keep all sorts of insects away. They see the bag as a predatory insect nest and steer clear. Science.

Alternatively, you could just attract more bats to your garden, they can eat up to 1,000 mosquitos in one sitting. Then you can dress up like Batman and stand in the middle of your lawn screaming ‘I AM THE NIGHT.’ Whatever is easiest for you – here’s a guide on how to get those winged critters attention.

So that’s it, all the etiquette you need to adhere to while hosting those legendary BBQs this summer. Carry each of them out in full and you’ll have some raucous evenings to remember filled with full bellies, laughter and not a single bug bite – okay, maybe one.

*This is a collaborative post*