When the warm summer months arrive, it's natural to see people fire up their barbecues and plan get-togethers. If you're planning an outdoor barbecue for your loved ones and don't have the time to plan the food on your own because you're busy at work all day, then hiring a catering services company to prepare the food is a great way to go. Follow these no-effort strategies to plan the food for a great outdoor barbecue.
Don't Blow Dollars On Expensive Meats
You don't have to dent your wallet when you're thinking of meats for your barbecue. For instance, boneless chicken breasts are typically more expensive and cost anywhere between $6 and $15 per kg. You can easily relinquish them for deliciously flavoured but cheaper chicken legs and wings. Sirloin steak in Australia ranges from $30 to $50 per kg. You could probably choose something like beef chuck steak, which is significantly cheaper. Similarly, lamb loins tend to be more expensive, so you could probably forego them for cheaper lamb legs. Don't hesitate to ask your catering services company for advice on choosing cheaper meats to avoid going over your desired budget.
Plan Your Food Proportions Appropriately When Ordering
When placing your order for marinated meats and veggies with the catering services company, it's usually a good idea to have your guest list properly planned to ensure that you don't over or under order. The last thing you want to do is to run out of food mid-party. But you also don't want to end up with more leftovers than you can eat in a lifetime. Once you have a specific number of guests in mind, your catering services company will be able to advise you on quantities since they are experienced at planning food for multiple parties.
Don't Forget The Delicious Sides
Many people get so busy planning the meats for a barbecue that they often forget the importance of veggies and other side dishes as delicious accompaniments to the mains. Pan-roasted veggies, oven-baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, summer salads, bean salads, corn salsa, marinated zucchini and cabbage slaw are great side dishes to go with your meats. Your catering services company should be able to provide the sides too, so you don't have to worry about doing the hard work of preparing them on your own.
When you're busy at work, planning an outdoor barbecue can be difficult on your own. These no-effort strategies will help a working professional plan food for an outdoor barbecue with a catering services company.