Caterers in Singapore
How to plan for the perfect BBQ party
by Business Listings Editor
Barbecue pit.
Barbeque parties are a pretty common and delightful way to enjoy a weekend afternoon with friends and family.
But the big question is: how do you go about in planning for a BBQ party that is guaranteed to be a sure-hit with your special guests?
Well, fear not. Many catering companies in Singapore including hotels, parks and other companies do offer barbecuing services for hire. However, in case you've caught the D-I-Y BBQ bug, here are some simple tips to guide you in holding the perfect BBQ party:
Work around a theme
Themes are diverse, and you can come up with as many as you can. You can work on your theme around a food, drinks, colours, seasons, countries, and many other ideas. It helps you to narrow down on food and décor as well as the targeted guest list to make your barbeque stand out.
Depending on the theme, you may buy party items such as party poppers, hats, decors, party favors if you wish too as well. Get these from your local party suppliers.
Plan your menu well 
It is easy to prepare for your BBQ party when you have a plan. Most barbeques serve meats as the main dish and then they have added treats to accompany the meat.
Once you’ve selected a theme, it’ll be very easy as well to determine what types of marinades to use, and what side dishes to include as well. For instance, going for mexican theme would involve including beans, corn, tortillas and tostadas on the menu, and perhaps use chipotle marinades for the meats. Drinks will definitely include margaritas, fruit punch, and mexican beers such as Sol or Corona.
As a thoughtful host, remember to include vegetarian main dishes for people who do not eat meat.
Prepare well the night before
Avoid last minute rush by preparing food in good time. Ensure that you’ve purchased all the ingredients needed for your marinade at least 2 days before the BBQ party. Marinate your meats overnight so that they will be ready to cook in the morning.
If you need to precook foods, chop fruits and vegetables, and assemble side dishes, do it ahead of time.
Clean the grill, cookware as well as serving dishes beforehand as well.
Prepare entertainment options for your guests
Depending on your guest list, come up with entertainment ideas for everybody. You can have something for the women, men, and something for children as well.
Fun simple ways to provide entertainment is to simply bring a guitar and sing along to familiar tunes. Other entertainment options are card games and BBQ-by-the-pool.
Serve unique dishes
You can offer fancy meats such as game meat or uncommon seafoods for your more food-adventurous friends. Instead of the regular breads and dinner rolls, serve baguettes and ciabatta with a selection of assorted cheeses to make it more special.
Put lemons in water pitchers to spruce it up. For side dishes, use fresh veggies such as broccoli, sweet corn, tomatoes, avocado slices, cucumbers, and capsicum – these will definitely liven up the color of your BBQ spread.
Have options for vegetarian guests as well. Use summer fruits and sweet treats for desserts, and include cool fresh juices. You can even design a special signature drink for the barbeque.
Meat cuts for a barbeque
Prime beef has good marbling.
A good barbeque begins with good meats. Go for prime meats from graded beef. If you cannot get prime meats, go for choice cuts, which are available in many food stores.
The most tender beef cuts come from tenderloins where you get Chateaubriand, tornadoes, and filet mignon. You can also get ribs since they are good for roasting and grilling. T-bone portions are also a good choice.
If you go for other options such as chicken, fish and turkey and seafood, buy prime meats that are freshly packed, rather than frozen.
All photos from (c) Can Stock Photo
Can't DIY your barbecue party? Fret not. Business Directory has over 500 caterers in our business listing where you can choos a company to help you with your BBQ party. Get quotes from caterers in Singapore through the Consumer Guide for Caterers.