You don't have the opportunity to visit the beach this summer? That doesn't mean you have to miss out on the tropical feeling. Simply organise a tropical barbecue and bring the Caribbean into your home!
Whether it's for a birthday party or just a relaxed evening with friends: A barbecue with a South Seas vibe will definitely impress your loved ones.
In this blog post, we show you how to throw the perfect tropical barbecue in 5 easy steps.
When choosing a location, it’s important to know how many guests you would like to invite. A smaller party with 5-10 guests can be held at home on the balcony or in the garden. For a larger party with 10 or more guests, however, you might prefer to organise a public venue.
It's relatively easy to throw a small barbecue for up to 10 people at home. All you need is a balcony or terrace and a grill. The advantages: You don't have to book a place and can therefore plan relatively spontaneously. Plus, if the weather is unexpectedly bad, you can eat inside.
If you're having a party at home, it's a good idea to "warn" your neighbours in advance that it might get a bit noisy. You can do this in person or with a note in the letterbox or stairwell.
If you don't have an outdoor area at home or want to organise a party with more than 10 people, opt for a public barbecue area. A lake, for example, would be a suitable location for a party with a tropical theme.
With public barbecue areas, you should bear in mind that you may need to make a reservation in advance. Check 4-6 weeks before the party to make sure there is still a spot available. If no reservation is necessary, you should arrive at the desired location early enough. Otherwise the place may already be taken.
If your barbecue is to be held outdoors, it's best to have a plan B for rainy weather. For example, you could rent a pavilion. Make sure you organise it a few weeks before the party.
Also find out in advance whether the barbecue area has a grill. Sometimes you have to bring it yourself.
Once you have chosen a suitable location, it's time to invite your family and friends.
Especially for a larger barbecue, invite your guests 4-6 weeks in advance. This will give you plenty of time to plan and prepare. Ask your guests to send you a confirmation or cancellation so that you know approximately how many people you can expect to attend.
In addition to the number of guests, you should also know their culinary preferences. For example, does someone eat vegetarian or have a food intolerance?
Choosing the right location and inviting the guests are part of every good barbecue. The choice of food will give you more options to play with the tropical theme. In this section we will show you a few foods that will turn your barbecue into the ultimate tropical party:
Fish: To give your barbecue a tropical twist, try grilling fish instead of steak and sausages. Beginners best choose fish with firm meat. These include, for example, trout, salmon, mackerel and tuna. You can put skin-on fish fillets directly on the wire rack, but make sure to brush them with oil first. For skinless fillets it is better to use a grill tray.
Prawns: Seafood such as prawns are also great for adding some tropical vibes to your barbecue. Both frozen, not pre-cooked prawns and fresh prawns are suitable for grilling. Thaw frozen seafood slowly in the refrigerator a few hours before grilling. It is best to grill especially small prawns in a grill tray so that they don’t stick to or fall through the grid.
Fruits: Particularly exotic fruits such as watermelon, mango or pineapple should not be missing at a tropical barbecue! Not only do they bring color to the plate, they also offer more variety on the grill, especially for vegetarians and vegans.
Salad: Colorful salads can also provide some variety on the plate. How about a delicious mango and avocado salad, for example?
Drinks: There are no limits to your creativity when it comes to drinks. Colorful summer cocktails add a lot of fun to your party - with or without alcohol. If you still need a little inspiration: Here you will find the recipes to our three favorite summer drinks.
When organizing your barbecue, don’t forget the decoration! It is crucial to add a tropical touch to the occasion. Here we have put together a few decoration ideas for your tropical barbecue:
Monstera and palm leaves: Tropical leaves are probably the ultimate summer decoration! Palm leaves will imitate the lush vegetation that is so typical for tropical regions. And you can also easily make them yourself! All you need are large sheets of paper in different shades of green, a pen and a pair of scissors. Draw on the leaves, cut them out, done! You can spread the cut-out leaves loosely on the table between the plates, or hang them up as a garland.
Fruits: Whole or sliced on plates, fruits like watermelons or pineapples are a simple way to give your party a tropical look. They are even low-waste because you can snack on them after (or during) the party …
Flower chains: What says “beach holiday” better than a bright flower garland? In Hawaiian tradition they are also called lei. You can easily make them yourself by cutting flowers out of crepe paper and threading them on a string. Hang them around the chairs or give them to your guests on arrival to wear.
Flowers: Colorful flowers should not be missing on the table either. Bright, saturated colors such as red, pink or yellow are important. Choose flowers with large blooms such as roses, hibiscus or dahlias. For an extra tropical touch you can also use a hollowed out pineapple as a flower vase!
Decorated glasses: Another simple decoration option is to serve the drinks in colorful glasses, or to jazz up regular glasses with cocktail umbrellas, straws and fruits.
The guests are invited, the meal is planned and the decorations prepared? Then it’s time to go shopping! We have put together the ultimate shopping list for your tropical barbecue. Click on the link and put everything you need onto your Bring! shopping list.
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