bbq - is it just me?

On Sunday, to celebrate Fathers' Day I invited the family (6 adults and 4 children) round for Afternoon Tea - sandwiches, scones (homemade with jam & cream) and cake (Mr Kipling) instead of the traditional 'it's a hot day let's have a BBQ).

Far less work for me AND I got the recognition.

Didn't eat much myself as I'm low carb, but I was able to sit and enjoy the company once it was all set out.

POGS, your comment about social get togethers made me think, and actually I feel more relaxed at a BBQ gathering than sat round the dining table. I think it's because you can choose your own food more and not feel anyone is watching how much or how little you take!

MawBroon Spot on!!

A few years ago we went to a 60th birthday garden party. The birthday girl's daughter had obviously worked very hard preparing some lovely canapés and was in evidence topping up everyone's glasses/plates etc.

There was no shortage of food and it was obvious from a quick glimpse in the kitchen - en route to the loo that she'd also made some lovely puds.

After a couple of hours the SIL appeared in full barbecuing gear. Burgers and sausages were cooked while his dearly beloved (see above) produced all the salads.

She then made sure the drivers were OK re soft drinks, tea coffee etc.

Guess who got the round of applause, back slapping etc.?

Not from us, I hasten to add.

I just enjoy being invited to any social get together , BBQ or not.

Fun is fun and I don't go for the food but if it is done well and of a good quality, whether it be only burgers and sausages etc , BBQ food can be really tasty.

It's all about the company really.

Spot on Maw, the voice of experience!

???. Yes indeed Maw

Maw Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

When a man volunteers to do the barbecue, the following chain of events is put into motion:

1. The woman buys the food.
2. The woman makes a salad, prepares vegetables, and makes dessert.
3. The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill - beer in hand.
4. THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.
5. The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
6. The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. He thanks her and asks if she will bring another beer while he deals with the situation.
7. THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.
8. The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces and brings them to the table.
9. After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
10. Everyone PRAISES THE MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.
11. The man asks the woman how she enjoyed her night off and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing her.

Last year I bought myself a pizza oven for my 70th Birthday. Now if we have people round I knock up some dough for the bases and everyone puts their own toppings on. It's a good way of getting rid of bits and pieces left over in the fridge.

As a veggie I've never been given anything I'd want to eat at a BBQ. It smells horrible and takes hours then you get given a breadcrumb burger in a doughy white roll. No butter either. And you sit out in a stiff cold wind as night falls and the gnats come out.
I used to have neighbours who barbecued their dinner every night from May to September, three feet from my sitting room window. They found burnt food such fun that the children would be up screaming with excitement until 11 o'clock at night.
No thanks.

Oops! Last sentence gone a bit do-lally. Blame the heat

We've stopped having barbecues as my husband didn't want to do the cooking so I did it all. So much work and so inconvenient as nothing's in the right place!
I'm a veggie too which complicates matters. Though I'm still very partial to a barbecued banana!

When we built our annexe I designed the kitchen so it would lead straight on to the patio through a stable door. That way I can bolt shut the bottom bit and hand stuff through the top. I don't venture outside until someone else has put it all on the tables and DH has got all his ironmongery which he should have organised in the first place.

I got well and truly sick of running backwards and forwards and then I'd hear his familiar refrain,

'Are you going to actually going to sit down and eat this now I've cooked it?'

When my husband was alive he regularly cooked the meat or fish on the BBQ even if too cold to eat outside and I cooked the veg indoors. That was great. We also regularly cooked for the rest of the family which was a lot of work. My kitchen's not at the back of the house to endless carrying to and fro is hard work. We don't have BBQs now.

Me too! We've just eaten our evening meal in the garden - lovely - but cooking there? Not for me although Mr C does mutter about it sometimes, a look deals with that Our kitchen is at the front of the hourse, no way will salads and 'stuff' ferry themselves there on their own, so no BBQs in our corner. I'm sort of relieved it isnt just me.

Nothing to do mum! That's a joke!

Oh what a jolly grumble ? I have dogs as well as toddler grandchildren. I'm old enough now to say nope, let's not have a BBQ when the younger family members suggest 'let's BBQ at mums, we can buy and cook the meat - you'll have nothing to do mum hah!

Does anyone else dislike the smell of a BBQ ? I find the smell of the BBQ itself, and food cooking on it, really unpleasant, especially when near neighbours light theirs, leave it to smoulder for a while, then start cooking in the later part of the evening. I have to close all windows because it really does smell awful.

Yes, Luckygirl, I also worry about the children and dogs being in close proximity with the BBQ. It takes ages to cool down, so I have many hours of worry.
I also think that, in addition to the lengthy preparation, we spend far more money when we do a BBQ - meat, fish, cheese, skewed vegetables, relishes, salads, potatoes, chips etc. because everyone likes different bits.

My DS decided to have a BBQ last Bonfire Night. They live in a flat with a communal garden. Neighbours invited and all contributed BUT ... how come it was me and DDIL up and down stairs all evening with extra glasses, plates, dishes of salad and jacket spuds and the standby booze? At the end of it all we had to decamp to the local park with the fireworks anyway so what was the point? I'm definitely not a fan of BBQs - unless someone else is organising and I have my own stash of wine

I too am a BBQ party-pooper! Why not just cook something properly indoors and eat it outdoors? What is gained by watching men undercooking meat on a temperamental BBQ? And making sure the children do not get burned? Nightmare!

No, it's not just you. Please may I join the What-Is-The-Point-Of BBQs? party too? Last year DD and SIL had a party, mostly in the garden, and the food was BBQ style, but cooked in the kitchen, so it was properly cooked, nobody ended up smelling of smoke and we were all (very) well fed.

I hate them. Even when they are done well I much prefer to eat indoors.