Gourmet BBQ

Summer is here! Outdoor evenings, grilled favourites and aperitif moments are officially on the menu.

For relaxed gatherings, I love preparing hot dogs on the barbecue at home. They’re easy to make, wonderfully convivial and always a crowd-pleaser! Even when the menu is simple, I like to add a little something extra to make it feel more inviting.

First, instead of using ordinary hot dog buns, I choose more gourmet breads, such as ciabatta or sesame and sunflower seed bread. You may be wondering how to serve a sausage in this kind of bread. I have a little trick I learned when I was young, watching my mother cut sausages to make them flatter. This technique allows for more even cooking and a more refined presentation. I decided to do the same, especially with these types of breads. It’s not only more elegant, but also easier to garnish.

When I’m hosting a larger group of guests, I prefer creating a buffet-style table to keep the atmosphere relaxed and convivial. However, for the service to feel pleasant and effortless, the setup should follow a certain logic, much like a seated meal: appetizer, salad, main course, sides, and so on.

For the décor, I use a large vase filled generously with flowers, paired with a pot of fresh rosemary for a beautifully summery garden touch. Even though this herb has a distinct aroma, it won’t affect the taste of the food. In fact, guests can even take a few sprigs to add to their plates. Choose the fresh herbs you love most!

To make service easier, start with the plates, followed by the raw vegetables and salad. Then come the breads, already sliced, followed by the grilled sausages served with peppers. For toppings, I chose the classics: ketchup, mustard and sweet relish. Note that I placed them in bowls instead of leaving them in their commercial packaging. It instantly makes the setup feel much more elegant. To avoid spills, place the bowls on a serving tray. These small details make all the difference! In my home country, Brazil, we say: “We also eat with our eyes!”

At the end, place the utensils and napkins, then add a beverage station with glasses.

When we think of patio evenings, we often reach for disposable items to make cleanup easier after the meal. Yet choosing melamine plates and sturdy, reusable plastic glasses makes the table feel much more welcoming and elegant. Plus, you won’t need to buy new ones every time you host.

A few etiquette tips: even in a buffet-style setup, wait for the host or hostess to give the signal before serving yourself. And since there isn’t always an assigned seat for every guest, some people may remain standing. That’s perfectly normal!

Make your BBQ evenings more gourmet and elegant, while keeping all the conviviality!

Carolina Safi

Table stylist and etiquette consultant