The unofficial start to summer is upon us...

With Memorial Day weekend just a few days away, I'm using this as a way to start a discussion regarding BBQing...I'm going to start out with some tips:

Before you hold your next barbecue party, take a look at our savvy tips to make sure you're the perfect barbecue host:

• Burning citronella candles is a great way to keep the bugs at bay and stop them biting your guests – especially if you’re serving any sweet food or drinks. You can buy garden torches which can be filled with citronella oil to repel insects - and these torches look great and give your garden a cosy glow.
  

•  Make sure you know how many guests are coming to your barbecue and ensure there’s a comfortable seat for everyone.

• When you plan your seating make sure you are seated near to the kitchen. This means you won’t be barging past your guests when going to and from the house.
  

• If you’re having an afternoon barbecue, make sure there’s plenty of shade.

• Keep jugs of iced water handy – particularly if you’re barbecuing on a hot day. If you stick with the beer or wine your guests will soon be dehydrated (and you may be too tipsy to tend the barbecue). So pour some water - it’s the healthy choice!
  

• Many agree that there’s nothing worse than a warm beer. If you don’t want to keep trekking to the fridge you can fill a couple of buckets with iced water to put drinks in – great if the fridge is full and you don’t own a cool box!

• Avoid an embarrassing barbecue faux pas by checking with your guests if they have any special dietary requirements. Imagine having nothing but lettuce for a vegetarian to munch on when there are so many delicious alternatives that everyone can enjoy. 

A friend of mine just sent me the following email...ladies, just keep this in mind :):

To refresh your memory on the BBQ etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity. When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:

Routine...

1. The woman buys the food.
2. The woman makes the salad, prepares the 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 woman remains outside the compulsory three metre exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woman.
5. Here comes the important part:
6. THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.
7. More routine...
8. The woman goes inside to organise the plates and cutlery.
9. The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will bring another beer while he flips the meat.
10. Important again:
11. THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.
12. More routine...
13. The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces, and brings them to the table.
14. After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
15. And most important of all:
16. Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts. The man asks the woman how she enjoyed ' her night off .'