Why should you restrict BBQ parties to the summer alone? Fall is a great time to grill! Who can resist a succulent whole spit pig roast, juicy ribs, fresh salads, and warm bread when the weather turns cooler? Push your culinary boundaries and try something different. 

Serve exotically presented meats sourced locally, delicious entrées, desserts, and beverages right in your backyard or a venue of your choice. Below is a BBQ checklist that covers all the essentials you need to organize a BBQ feast in the colder months to celebrate a special event.

BBQ Essentials for Colder Days

• Reposition your cooking area first. Check the direction of the wind, find a spot that provides maximum protection from the cold gusts, avoid overhangs, porches, and anything that could serve as a fire hazard and set up a tent. 
• Never do the cooking in the enclosed area. 
• Keep extra fuel on hand. Both propane and gas burn differently in colder weather. They usually require about double of what you need to maintain the grill temperature during the warmer months.
• If you’re using a charcoal barbecue, wait for the coals to glow red with a grey ashy residue on top which is what happens when the heat is evenly distributed. 
• Ceramic cookware serves best to retain heat and transport food to the grill and back without burning your fingers.
• A cast-iron pan keeps the food warm for longer. Take it off the grill sooner or the food may burn.
• Warm up the grill in advance. It will take more time to get to the temperature you want than in the summer months. 
• Give your roasts, ribs, chicken and other meats extra time to cook. Add 20 minutes cooking time for every five degrees below 45 degrees F.
• Keep the lid of the grill down and the vents open to retain the heat.
• Use quick-cooking cuts, sliced thinner or smaller, cooked fast over high heat. 
• Plan ahead. Look up the weather forecast before you confirm the BBQ. 
• Wear suitable warm clothing and footwear. Wear fingerless gloves or mittens to move your hands easily. 
• Integrate a theme to build excitement and maintain it until the end. 
• A BBQ can be quite demanding if it’s a big party. Consider asking your friends or family to bring drinks, desserts, snacks or side dishes. Pre-cut bread and marinate the meat a day before.
• Serve a selection of salads to complement your BBQ – potato salad, coleslaw, couscous, and quinoa salad are always a hit. Veggie skewers and corn on the cob go well with all the roasts, meat and fish.
• Keep a separate vegetarian section away from the meat-eaters, and a children’s section if required.
• Don’t forget the music, entertainment, cooking equipment, utensils, cutlery, and your camera to capture the moments.
• Rent affordable folding chairs and dining tables. Buy disposable serving ware, plates and cutlery. Keep garbage bags and anti-bacterial wipes to make cleaning up easier. 

Pig Roast Catering for Hassle-Free BBQ Events

BBQ parties, be it in the winter or summer, are not easy to organize. Pig Roast Catering is a full-service event catering company operating in Caledon, Brampton, Guelph, Mississauga, Oakville, Milton and the GTA that excels in organizing and supplying everything you need for an exciting BBQ event. 

We take care of everything from start to finish; from recommending the venue, supplying tents, decor, renting tables, chairs, chinaware, and linens to bar and beverage stations, environmental services, staffing, and entertainment. Call us to organize a BBQ celebration with the least effort and most fun.