The grill has been cleaned, the Solo cups are ready, and the hamburgers and hot dogs are just waiting to be flipped to perfection—it’s officially Memorial Day! Let us help you throw the best barbeque in town on this holiday celebrating our fallen military heroes. Your guests will have a wonderful time eating, drinking, and being merry—and you’ll rest easy knowing your get-together will be a complete success by following these five tips.
Keep it Simple
Simple starters – like guacamole and tortilla chips, easy salads, or charcuterie platters — will allow bold flavors to shine. As for the main course, burgers, brats, hot dogs, and veggies are standard grill fare for a reason: they are delicious and satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Mix it up with condiments and toppings like sriracha, honey mustard, pepper jack cheese, pesto, and grilled pineapple if you want to add some unique options.
Prepare as Much as You Can Ahead of Time
Make as much food and run as many errands as you can ahead of time to ensure your guests aren’t the only ones who have time to have fun. This means making apps, buying meat, and grabbing sparkling waters the day before. For a simple salad that keeps well in the fridge, try quinoa with diced avocado, broad beans, diced tomato, red onion, and an easy lime vinaigrette.
Make it a Buffet
We’re all about self-service when it comes to casual backyard entertaining. Asking guests to bring an appetizer, drink, or dessert and having them serve themselves ensures that you have a variety of food options and don’t spend the whole barbeque playing busboy.
Rest All Meat
Allow grilled meat to sit undisturbed for five to fifteen minutes after cooking, as this will allow the juices to redistribute. Resting meat is the key to juicy results!
Don’t Forget the Ice
Trust us—you’ll need more ice than you think, both for keeping beverages cold in your coolers and for the actual drinks themselves. Stock up the day before to avoid the dreaded day-of dilemma: the grocery store runs out of ice before you’ve had a chance to get there.
