If there’s one scent that signals the summer has arrived, it’s the neighbours having a barbeque. If you live in the UK, that aroma of smoldering charcoal and grilled sausages feels special because the alfresco eating season is transient, and the weather is never guaranteed.
I have fond childhood memories of mum on our disposable barbie marinating halloumi (which felt SO exotic in the early 00s) in a mixture of garlic and lime and threading onto skewers with uniform-sized peppers slices, onion cubes and mushrooms. Dad would then stoke up the tin foil enclosed coals and we’d gather in our English country garden for dinner as the sun set.
The enduring appeal of a barbeque is that it feels fuss-free – no pans to wash up, no courses, everything all served up on one plate and no crumbs to sweep up afterwards thanks to nature’s carpet.
For those days when the weather is not giving summer, the alternative is to bring that outdoors feeling in with a dinner party. Just enjoy the deliciously grilled BBQ food inside! So, when Barefoot Wine tasked us with hosting a summer gathering paired with their best-loved red and white pours, we decided not to hedge our bets with the unpredictable British weather and brought the party indoors once the tasty grilled foods were ready to be served.
Whether you’re hosting indoors or out, here are our tips to create the perfect summer dinner setup:
Style your table
Putting some thought into your tablescape will elevate a meal into an occasion. When your guests are greeted with a beautiful table, it sets the tone for the rest of the evening. This doesn’t have to come at great expense, either. Charity shops are a great place to source antique glassware for your Barefoot Wine, and colourful tableware for the food.
Adding seasonal flowers to your space will instantly evoke a summer feeling. At this time of year look for sunflowers, zinnias and dahlias, which will be cheaper as they’re in plentiful supply. And if you don’t own any bud vases, wash out old jar jams and use those instead – you’ll be surprised how impactful they can look grouped together in a table centre.
Finally, don’t forget mood lighting for when dusk draws in – you can’t go wrong with candles. After all, everyone looks better by candlelight. Colourful tapered candles are a key trend this summer and the more, the better. Invest in a plethora of rainbow coloured candles to run down the middle of your table to create a beautiful centrepiece.
Menu is everything
If you’re hosting a barbecue, remember to consider your menu as a whole. Alongside grilled meats, fish and vegetables, fresh side salads such as green leaves, dressed potatoes and fresh vegetable slaws will add lightness to a plate. And don’t forget marinades – there’s nothing worse than a bland barbie.
Take a tip from my mum’s book and mix equal parts olive oil with lime juice, lime zest and crushed garlic to create a fresh mix that works beautifully with fish, halloumi, meats and vegetables. You can bathe your halloumi and veggies in this overnight for maximum flavour payoff, just don’t apply the same rule to fish as the acid in the lime will start to ‘cook’ the delicate meat.
Consider wine pairings
It goes without saying that one wine does not complement all flavours, which is why we served up both white and red from Barefoot Wine UK at our summer dinner party.
To start, consider something light and fresh, like Barefoot’s Pinot Grigio. The refreshing peach and citrus notes of this pour paired beautifully with our burrata, pea and basil oil starter, and would work equally as well with seafood or antipasti.
If you’re serving grilled meats on your barbie, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Barefoot Zinfandel. The bold, peppery, berry notes of this wine pair with the smokey grilled meats perfectly. As Zinfandel also works really well with spice, we served up a fiery Penne alla vodka spaghetti for our main, made with plenty of fresh chilli and a glug of vodka.
Don’t forget the booze free crew, either. Grab a ripe passion fruit, and muddle in the bottom of a glass with a squeeze of lime, and one tbsp of sugar syrup. Add in plenty of ice and top up with sparkling carbonated water for a grown up non-alcoholic spritz.
Once you have your table set, your menu prepped and drinks pairings lined up, all that is left to do is enjoy the gathering with a glass of Barefoot Wine in hand. Come rain or shine, you have the ingredients for the perfect summer gathering.
