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Throwing An Apartment Cookout
That patio that comes with your rent isn’t just a place to put some lawn chairs and occasionally relax at night. The communal grill in the courtyard isn’t just an elaborate bird perch. They’re the perfect places to throw a cookout. Here are tips for getting your friends together for a day of food and fun.
Know the rules
Before you send out the first invitation, know your apartment community’s rules and regulations. You’d better check with them first. Some apartment communities don’t allow grills on patios or balconies. Also, in some cities and counties, it is against the law to operate a grill in that close a proximity to an apartment.
If that’s prohibited where you live, that might not put the kibosh on your plans. Ask if there is a communal grilling area that you can reserve. It may even come with more seating, or be near a pool that will allow you to turn your cookout into a grilling pool party.
(If you can grill on your porch or patio, however, and need a grill, read Hot Tips For Choosing A Grill to pick the perfect grill for your place.)
Your guest list
Look around the area available to you and decide how many people can come over. How big is your apartment? Your patio? Do you have enough seating? Factor all that in when making out the guest list. Size doesn’t just affect how many people can come, however. It also dictates how much food you will need.
Feed your guests
Once you decide how many people are coming you can determine how much food and drink to buy. Start with the menu: What are you serving?
Traditional cookouts offer up burgers, hot dogs and grilled chicken. When buying meat, plan on serving up about 1/2 – 1 pound of beef or poultry per guest. If you are going with hotdogs or kebabs, plan on making up about 2 – 3 per guest.
Traditional sides ranging from chips to salads to items like baked beans or potato salad, but you can get creative if you wish. Web sites like BigGreenEgg.com and FoodNetwork.com offer up not only tips on how to grill cookout standards, but also have recipes and ideas on non-traditional cookout food to try.
If you have vegetarians in your group, you will want to make sure they have enough options. VegKitchen.com has tips on making sure they can also enjoy the festivities.
Beyond the grill
Whatever menu you decide on, don’t forget the other essentials: plates, utensils, napkins and condiments. Also remember to have beverages on hand to wash down the food. If you’re planning on serving alcoholic beverages, it’s a good idea to also have regular soda on hand for the non-drinkers.
Don’t make your guests stand. Before the cookout begins, arrange both the patio and apartment or your outdoor party area so that there is ample space for people to sit down and enjoy the food you’ve painstakingly provided.
Relax and enjoy
Finally, make sure that you leave enough time to cook food and enjoy yourself. Slaving over a hot grill all day is no fun if you don’t also have time to enjoy the festivities. If you are expecting a big crowd, ask guests to bring a side or party supplies. This is your party too, so have a good time.
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