Easy Ways to Rev Up Your Memorial Day Barbecue
May 24, 2012 | At Home
For Memorial Day this weekend, it makes sense to celebrate with a party that’s equally as American—the barbecue. Here are some of my favorite fast tips for customizing a backyard barbecue.
Ambiance
Consider lining the entrance to your party with a path of tiki torches or luminary bags interspersed with plants. This will not only give your guests a cue as to where to go once they arrive, but also sets the mood from the moment they set foot on your property.
For table linens, the traditional red-and-white checkered cloths are always in good taste, but mix it up with true summertime brights. Couple colors like fuchsia and orange with monochromatic bunches of flowers placed tightly inside small vases. If it’s a simpler tablescape you’re after, feature a large hurricane vase with a candle on each table or utilize a lantern for a subtle centerpiece.
Enhance your décor by picking a great playlist. Customize tunes to your guests’ tastes or go for summer favorites like Jimmy Buffet and The Beach Boys.
Menu
Ingredients
1 green zucchini, thinly sliced brushed with olive oil, aged balsamic and salt and pepper
1 red pepper julienne raw
1 bunch of arugula or greens
5 ounces goat cheese
1 ounce sour cream
Substitute Goat cheese and sour cream for Ricotta
1/2 teaspoon of Basil Pesto
Lemon thyme or Balsamic vinaigrette
Directions
Lightly grill zucchini. On a sheet of plastic wrap, lay out zucchini strips. Mix goat cheese and sour cream with pesto and spread a thin layer on top zucchini strips. Lay the peppers and a pinch of greens on the end of the strip and roll it up in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to two hours. To serve, slice into 1/4-inch pieces and drizzle top with vinaigrette.
GRILLED VEGETABLE MARINADES:
Brown Sugar & Bourbon
Ingredients
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
Lemon & Garlic
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon oregano
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Your barbecue menu begins with the grill itself—be sure to use a charcoal BBQ, as the scent adds to the ambiance. Then, get creative with twists on the classics. Instead of your usual burgers, try stuffing the patties with cheddar, bacon, and carmelized onions, or mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, and roasted peppers. Kick the chicken up a notch by prepping it in a bourbon, brown sugar, garlic, and scallion marinade, and experiment with different vegetable marinades. Hot dogs made with Kobe beef served in mini-bite format on skewers are a stylish take on the old favorite. The same goes for potato salad prepared with a creamy Gorgonzola whip instead of mayo. Or, go completely different and serve the grilled zucchini poppers suggested above.
For dessert, let guests customize their own ice cream sundaes. Provide any array of flavors as bases, and stock your sundae bar with all the fixin’s—Oreo crumble, marachino cherries, wet walnuts, sprinkles, strawberries, hot caramel, and fudge syrups.
—ANDREA CORREALE
Andrea Correale is owner and creator of Elegant Affairs, the premiere catering & event planning company serving Manhattan, Long Island, The Hamptons, Westchester, Connecticut and New Jersey. For over 20 years Andrea and her team have been producing custom-designed events with exquisite cuisine for parties as intimate as two and as extravagant as 2,000. Elegant Affairs has coordinated events for some of the world's most elite including Mariah Carey, Russell Simmons, Jimmy Fallon, P. Diddy. and many more. Andrea has no limit to her expertise; she is the exclusive caterer for Ferrari Maserati of Long Island and Sugar Dining Den and Social Club.
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