Backyard BBQ

The best food for the summer is obviously BBQ! However, this is a very vague and controversial topic in my family for a variety of reasons:

What sides are the best for BBQ?

What Style of BBQ do we like: Texas, St. Louis, Memphis, etc.

Beef or Pork ribs?

What is “the” best drink for the summer: Sweet Tea? Lemonade? Kool-Aid?

The list goes on but one thing we can agree on is that BBQ is the way we celebrate and lets all of us know that Summer is officially here!

So one of the things that we always seem to get into confusion with us and BBQ is what are we going to BBQ? I am the type where I want the whole deli: Chicken breast, lamb, pork ribs, beef hot links, shrimp, etc. My favorite meal to eat for the summer is hot links. Louisiana style. Everytime summer comes, all I can think of is my mouth watering and burning from the thought of BBQ Louisiana hot links. I am not a fan of hot dogs but I do eat hot links with hot dog buns so I do not feel like I am missing out! However, hot links are not just the best BBQ food to eat. We cannot forget about ribs!

My dad is someone who takes over the BBQ when we have family events. In fact, just thinking about him BBQing makes me laugh because there is a family joke where we call him “Fire Marshall Bill”. My dad has a routine when it comes to making ribs. His method is to soak the ribs for two days in lemon juice and then rub them with his secret seasoning right before BBQing. Soaking the ribs makes them so tender that they fall off the bone, which is the best method in my opinion. The ribs are *chef’s kiss, but there is another food item that is a must at our family BBQ: kebabs.

One of the best foods to eat for a BBQ are kebabs. Like I mentioned earlier, I am like a deli when it comes to a BBQ: I want ALL meat! When I do my kebabs, I have chicken, shrimp, salmon, and lamb along with the usual veggies. Sometimes I would separate the kebabs for those who are vegetarians or pescatarian. With that being said, I like to make my kebabs overnight, season them and chop garlic cloves along with fresh rosemary (for the lamb, chicken and salmon). As for the shrimp, I drench them with butter before putting them on the stick. Then they get to go on the grill the next day thanks to my dad who knows how to grill them with perfection.

BBQ correlates with so many holidays and events, that all you can do is smile as bright as the summer sun! When we have BBQs, we celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, 4th of July, Graduation, Labor Day, etc. While I love the food associated with BBQ’s, there is another reason why I love them so much: It focuses on family and friends. I love BBQ’s and usually with a BBQ, there is almost always a good time! One of my favorite memories was when I was five years old and we had a big BBQ on 4th of July. Our house had a pool so everyone was stoked to go. The food smelled amazing, the weather was nice and hot and most importantly: everyone had a good time. BBQs mean a lot to me and while summer in Cali can feel like death, BBQs and the memories we make at them give me life.