Team Blake’s Guide to the Ultimate Backyard BBQ
The sun is shining, the drinks are cold, and the burgers aren’t going to grill themselves! Whether it’s to celebrate the summer, a first-time house-warming, or you just have a hankering for some tasty barbeque, Team Blake has just the guide so you know the best tips and tricks for the ultimate backyard BBQ!
Prep the Yard
While most of the fun in the sun may be limited to the patio or deck, prep your backyard to add additional space for your gathering. Prepping the yard can look different to a lot of different homeowners. If you’re the owner of a furry little friend, make sure their potty area is cleared of landmines. It’s safe to say you don’t want any party-pooper accidents! Additionally, a backyard BBQ may be the best reminder to get a little bit of yard work done. Nothing smells as good and a fresh cut lawn and some flower arrangements. If your home sits farther back from the street consider prepping your front yard with balloons or a sign to let your party-goers know they have found the right place. If you plan on having your party go late into the evening, consider your backyard lighting and add a few festive tiki torches or solar-powered lamps. Additionally, with hot summer weather comes thirsty mosquitos, make sure you have bug repellent or citronella candles on hand.
Set Up Some Yard Games
Once you’ve cut the grass and prepped the perfect party spot, spruce it up even further with some lawn games! Team Blake loves giant jenga, ladderball, and the midwest classic cornhole! Both giant jenga and cornhole require just a few materials to create, making it the perfect DIY project. If you’re expecting children at the gathering, consider adding some more kid-friendly games to make a splash. Nothing will feel as refreshing as a small kiddie pool,a run through the sprinkler, or a dive down a slip ‘n slide on a hot summer day.
Find the Best Meats
All those yard games sure will work up an appetite! Lucky for you, that’s what this whole thing is about! The best backyard BBQ is settled on and off the grill. Kansas City barbeque is a hot topic around this city, so we want to make sure you have a leg to stand on while preparing your own at home. Team Blake has a few top picks when it comes to getting the right rack of ribs or the right slice of meat.
Fareway Meat Market & McGonigle’s KC BBQ
Located just east of Prairie Village and north of Leawood family-owned Fareway Meat & Grocery, has prided itself on the best selection of fresh, hand-cut, quality meat for over 80 years. In addition to meat, the connected McGonigle’s is more than just a meat market — we also offer an assortment of farm-fresh produce and other specialty items for your next event or memorable meal.
Bichelmeyer Meats
In the same vein as family-owned and operated, Bichelmeyer Meats has been a trusted Kansas City tradition for 70 years, selling “everything from nose to tail.” Located in Kansas City, Kansas, you’ll be able to find meat bundles, individual cuts of meat, and some tasty Dad’s Comeback Sauce, the official BBQ sauce of Bichelmeyer Meats.
Broadway Butcher Shop
If you find yourself closer to the Westport area, make a stop into the Broadway Butcher Shop. Their supply of fresh, quality offerings changes often but you can almost always count on all-natural beef, pork and house-made sausage, and sustainable seafood to be on display.
Keep Your Guests Thirst Quenched
All those tasty food options are going to need to be paired with something to wash it down with. If you plan on being out in the sun for a long time you’re going to want to make sure cool, refreshing water is on hand! Consider keeping a grab-and-go cooler stocked with water for easy access.
If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous consider some of Team Blake’s best kept beverage recipes! We made sure to take inspiration from some of Kansas City’s best restaurants and bar menus!
Sea Breeze
This classic drink recipe goes back a long way but that doesn’t make it any less delicious for a backyard BBQ. To craft this cocktail, fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and pour in 1 ½ oz. of vodka, 1 ½ oz. of cranberry juice, and 4 oz. of grapefruit juice. Shake well until chilled and strain the mixture into a glass. If you’re feeling fancy, garnish the glass with a lime wedge and enjoy!
Don Lockwood Whiskey Cocktail
Did you know that bourbon cocktails help accentuate the smoky, sweet or spicy flavors found in barbecue? The Don Lockwood Whiskey Cocktail combines 1 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. scotch, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 1 dash of Angostura bitters, and 2 dashes of chocolate bitters in a rocks glass with an orange peel garnish.
Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade Mocktail
Not all drinks have to involve liquor to be delicious! This mojito-esq mocktail will satisfy your summertime craving for a tall, cold, fizzy, tart, and sweet drink, with 15 mint leaves, 1 oz. simple syrup, 2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice, 8 oz. Dasani sparkling raspberry lemonade, and frozen raspberries to keep it cold!
Make Sure You Have Ample Seating
If you’re inviting all your guests, you’re going to want to make sure they have a nice place for them to enjoy their yummy barbeque grub and refreshing drinks. If you aren’t well equipped with patio furniture, consider going full picnic mode with checkered blankets lining the backyard. If you want to stay off the ground you can always make sure the invite or e-vite includes BYOC (bring your own chair).
Add a Theme
If all the yard game fun, tasty BBQ, and delicious drinks aren’t enough, you can always add a theme to the party! If pig is your main course meal, make it a luau theme with pineapple drinks and leis for all the guests. If a seafood boil is more your speed, switch out the leis for sailor hats and lobster bibs. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the iconic nature of Kansas City BBQ just one more time. In the spirit of competition, you could have all your guests bring a different Kansas City BBQ sauce to the backyard BBQ, creating the ultimate sauce sampler!
Not that you know all the tips and tricks to throw the best backyard BBQ bash on the block, make sure to invite us too!!
