Master Your Barbecue Skills This August Bank Holiday Weekend

As the August Bank Holiday weekend approaches, many in Ireland are ready to fire up their barbecues, taking advantage of the rare sunny weather. To help novices and seasoned grillers alike, John Relihan, head chef at Pitt Bros in Dublin, offers expert tips and delicious recipes for an unforgettable barbecue experience.

Relihan emphasizes the importance of starting with a well-planned menu. For a refreshing starter, he suggests grilled mozzarella cheese paired with watermelon, tomatoes, and prosciutto. “You can add some almond nuts you’ve smoked and finish it off with a side salad drizzled in lemon dressing,” he explains. This combination sets a delightful tone for the meal.

For the main course, Relihan recommends a juicy sirloin steak seasoned with Pitt Bros’ special blend. He advises keeping it simple: grill the steak and serve it alongside fire-roasted potatoes wrapped in foil. Vegetable options like a mezze bowl featuring grilled aubergine, courgette, and peppers are also easy and flavorful sides.

For dessert, grilled stoned fruits such as peaches or nectarines can elevate the barbecue experience. Relihan suggests grilling these fruits and enhancing them with vanilla, brown sugar, and a pinch of ginger, served with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Essential Barbecue Tips from John Relihan

Relihan shares several practical tips to ensure your barbecue is a success. First, he advises investing in a quality barbecue. Prices can range from €100 to several thousand euros. “But the cheaper it is, the less time it will last,” he notes. For those on a budget, he recommends checking garden centres like The Arboretum in Carlow or The Orchard in Celbridge for affordable options.

If using charcoal, it is crucial to choose a high-quality product. Many cheaper brands contain chemicals that produce toxic fumes. Relihan suggests sourcing natural charcoal from companies like Goodwood Fuel and Fuego Fuels. He also recommends starting with a small amount of charcoal to control smoke levels, likening it to seasoning food.

Using good-quality meat is essential. Ireland is known for its excellent meat, and Relihan advises purchasing from local butchers to enhance flavor. His own line of barbecue seasonings, Pitt Bros Sauces and Seasoning, is designed to elevate the taste of meat and poultry.

Safety First: Barbecuing with Confidence

Safety during barbecuing cannot be overstated. Relihan recommends placing the barbecue a safe distance from flammable materials and being aware of the heat zones on the grill. “There’s a cold zone, a medium zone, and a fire zone,” he explains. If meat begins to flare up, it can be safely moved to the cooler section of the grill.

Patience is essential while barbecuing, as mistakes are part of the learning process. “Barbecuing is very easy and people typically complicate it,” he says. Enjoying the process, perhaps with a drink in hand, makes the experience more enjoyable.

In light of the barbecue season, Safefood recently released tips to avoid common food safety mistakes. Chef Adrian Martin outlined key practices, such as using a meat thermometer and keeping raw and cooked foods separate to ensure a safe and enjoyable dining experience.

Among the most common mistakes are not cleaning the grill adequately, leaving food out in the sun, and undercooking meat. For accurate cooking, it is important to ensure that chicken, burgers, sausages, and kebabs reach an internal temperature of at least 75°C.

Additionally, a survey by Too Good To Go revealed that Irish families waste over €20 worth of food after each barbecue or picnic. Many households tend to overestimate food needs during the summer months, with 32% of respondents discarding uneaten leftovers.

Machaela O’Leary, sales manager at Too Good To Go Ireland, emphasizes the need for smarter planning. “With an average of over €20 being thrown away after each BBQ, there’s a real need to plan smarter,” she states. The app allows users to purchase surplus food from local businesses, helping to reduce waste.

As families prepare for a weekend of outdoor cooking, Relihan’s guidance can help create a memorable barbecue experience, ensuring both safety and satisfaction at the grill.