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A handy guide to hosting a brilliant barbecue

There’s more to throwing a great garden party than just firing up your grill

Having a barbecue is a wonderful excuse for bringing your nearest and dearest together. After all, few things are as joyous as spending a summer’s day in the garden with your friends and family – and when you add delicious food to the equation, you’re really onto a winner.

But how to make your barbecue a cut above the rest? Boursin® cheese has all the inspiration you need...

Get ahead

Preparation is the name of the game. Start prepping as far in advance as you can so you have less to do on the day itself, giving you more time to relax and chat with your guests.

Things like sauces, homemade patties and even chopped veg, such as onions, red peppers and mushrooms, can keep in the freezer for a few days beforehand – just remember to bring them out in good time to defrost.

The day before, make any desserts and cakes and either chill or cover, as required. Plus, season, glaze and marinate any meats, seafood or vegetarian/vegan alternatives you’re planning on serving, then refrigerate. Not only will that save work on the day, but it also gives the flavours time to fully develop.

Naturally, some things are best left until right before your party is due to start, like making salads, as you’ll want them to stay crisp, and cutting any bread and buns, so they stay fresh.

Freshly baked pizzas served on wooden serving boards

Turn up the flavour

Don’t panic if you haven’t had time to do much prep. Boursin, the nation’s favourite indulgent cheese brand*, is a quick and easy way to achieve impressive flavour. Use Boursin® Velvety as a smooth, creamy dip to accompany crunchy crudités or simply include an open pack of fragrant Boursin® Garlic & Herbs as part of a cheese platter or grazing board, so guests can simply help themselves and enjoy!

You can smother it over your corn on the cob to give it an extra kick, too, or crumble it over a classic salad to give it a herby twist. Alternatively, dollop some onto portobello mushrooms with a sprinkling of breadcrumbs – or mix it with cooked tomato rice and olives, then stuff into hollowed peppers – then grill on your barbecue.

* Value Sales, MAT 24.04.2024, IRI All Outlets.

Five glasses of brightly coloured drinks containing ice, straws and fruit

Cheers to summer!

Keep your guests refreshed with an array of seasonal tipples. A fruit punch will go down well, as will a refreshing cordial, or even jugs of water with slivered cucumber and ice. Bubbly drinks such as soda water or sparkling water pair particularly well with Boursin, too.

To welcome your guests, you could have a tray of soft drinks ready to go but let them serve themselves the rest of the day by setting up a drinks station that has plenty of ice, slices of lemon, clean glasses, and a choice of chilled beverages.

Two adults standing over a large BBQ

Elevate the experience

Of course, your focus will be on the food and drink, but don’t forget a few simple decorations and accessories can help turn an ordinary barbecue into a day to remember. Rather than buying brand new props, why not get creative and make use of what you have at home?

Drape fairy lights along your fences or handmade fabric bunting for a pop of colour. Add cushions to your garden chairs so they’re comfortable to sit in and if you have room, set up a designated chill-out area in your garden where your guests can sit back and relax. You could arrange chairs and benches into a cosy corner, then lay out an outdoor rug, some big floor cushions and bean bags. If you’re going all-out, you could even add a firepit for to gather around when the temperature cools in the evening.

Are there any children coming to your barbecue? If so, it’s worth setting up a kids’ play area with games to keep them entertained, too. Set out a giant board game, ring toss or skittles – just keep them far away from the barbecue grill for safety reasons.

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