Now that summer is upon us, there are so many different things that you could do while the weather is nice and the sun is shining. Of course summer is the best time for many different things but one of our favourite activities is having a nice BBQ with a few friends. It is not just a great occasion to share some amazing food, but you can also prepare nice drinks, games or whatever you feel like. We want to share some of our favourite tips for your next BBQ with you.
First, you need to find a location – If you are not lucky enough to have a garden or a nice terrace to host your BBQ, there are many lovely public spots in Vienna for your perfect BBQ. While there are many to choose from, we think that Donauinsel offers the best spot for a lovely evening. It has not just a nice atmosphere for you and your guests, but you can also go for a swim before or after your dinner. We think that makes for an ideal evening (or even a whole day if you want) and might be especially enjoyable now that most days reach 30 degrees Celsius or more.
Next, what better way to start-off your evening than with a few drinks. Of course, you can have whatever you want and which drinks you like depends on your taste. But there are a few that we think are ideal for BBQ: Sangria, Aperol Spritz and Mojito. Sangria is very sweet Spanish wine that is really nice for a lovely summer evening. By now you can buy it at most supermarkets, but don’t forget to get some fruit too. Personally, we’d recommend oranges and lemons, but you can get as creative as you want. You simly chop all the fruit and add them to the sweet wine. We promise you this will make a very sweet, light and fruity drink and it is ideal to start your evening while watching the sun set over Vienna.
Next on our list: Aperol Spritz. Definitely a classic, but always great at a BBQ, especially if you like your drinks less sweet. Additionally, it is very easy to prepare. You get Aperol, Prosecco and sparkling water and depending on your taste you mix the three ingredients. If you prefer your drinks to be a bit more on the bitter side, add more Aperol and if you want to go for a light summer drink, add more water to it. Aperol Spritz always makes for a good start into a long night and we promise, it will get your guests ready for all the food you have prepared.
Last but not least on our list, another favourite of ours: Mojito. This might be something you want to serve when the night gets longer, the sun has already set and you are in the mood for a good party. How you want to prepare you Mojito depends on your taste and there are so many different recipes out there that there will be one that you like. We like to keep ours basic, especially if you have many guests or if you are doing your BBQ away from home. Simply mix sparkling water, Bacadi, lime juice, mint and brown sugar and your Mojito is ready. Again, simply adapt the quantities according to your preferences and whether you prefer it sweet, sour or simply light and fresh. We are sure all your guests will love it.
Great, now you have the perfect location and have already prepared some nice drinks for you and your friends. The only thing that is still missing is the essential bit: food. This is where it gets complicated, simply because there is so much to choose from. You definitely need some of the classics, so prepare some ribs, sausages and maybe some chicken wings. You’ll also need to cater for people who might not be that fond of meat. So best prepare some mushrooms, zucchini, corn on the cob and maybe even some aubergine. For the aubergine and the zucchini get some olive oil and salt, maybe even some lemon and marinate your vegetables with it. We think that tastes amazing and sometimes even better than the meat options. Garlic bread as a side has to be part of every good BBQ and so have to be some roasted potatoes or chips. If you have many vegetarian guests you might want to go for an all vegetarian BBQ and honestly, while it might sounds strange at first, we think that this is definitely an option you could explore. Vegetables and other vegetarian sides are normally enough anyways and if you want to serve even more, there are many meat substitute products that you can also have at your next BBQ. By now, most supermarkets offer many different ones , but by far the best are made by the Hermann brand. Honestly, their sausages taste better than „real“ ones and are made from mushrooms meaning they are fully vegetarian. And if you want some Schnitzel or Käsekrainer, they also have that in their repertoire.
If you want to impress your guests with a fancy BBQ you could get some tuna or salmon as both of them are easily prepared on the grill as well. Or you could prepare some burgers and if you want you can even make the patties yourself (simply mix minced meat, one or two eggs, salt and pepper, and form small patties out of it). Put them on the grill and add cheese and some vegetables. If you serve that at your next BBQ, your quests will definitely be impressed by your effort.
We think that now is the best time for some amazing BBQ nights and there are few things that would be better on a nice, warm summer evening. We enjoy both going to BBQs but also hosting our own (as you get to choose which amazing foods to offer) and we hope that some of our tips were useful for your next amazing night. Let us know your favourite BBQ recipes and how you plan the perfect summer BBQ night. Until then, Bon Appetit!
