Predictions of drizzle be damned; the second May bank holiday weekend calls for one thing and one thing only in the UK, and that’s the first proper barbecue of the party season.
This year, the annual lighting of coals and burning of burgers feels particularly special. After what seems like an eternity of unpredictable weather and cancelled garden parties, the nation is ready to tap-tap those grill tongs and embrace the great British tradition of often inept outdoor cooking, come rain or shine.
From unintentionally perfectly charred corn on the cob to those slightly-too-crispy-on-the-outside sausages we all secretly love, there’s something wonderfully nostalgic – or, you know, chaotic – about gathering round the barbecue with friends and family.
Whether your BBQ enthusiast is a weekend warrior who fires up the grill at the first hint of sunshine, or a serious pitmaster who debates the merits of lump charcoal versus briquettes, finding the perfect gift to fuel their passion can be a delightful challenge. The world of outdoor cooking has evolved far beyond basic burgers and bangers, with today’s grillers experimenting with everything from Korean-style marinades to reverse-seared ribeyes.
Should you have a loved one in your life who is particularly enthusiastic about all things smoke, fire, fat and flavour, and you’re looking for a small gift to display your affection as grill season warms up, then you’ve come to the right place; here are 7 IDEAL gifts for the BBQ lover in your life.
A Grill Basket Or Fish Clamp
As any well-seasoned griller will tell you, there’s an art to producing a barbie full of flavour and finesse, as opposed to one with cremated sausages and raw chicken sharing a plate. One of the best ways for those holding the tongs to grill with measured precision is with a grill basket; ideal for getting those grill marks and smoky finish on fish, meat and veggies without turning them into ash in the process.
Particularly useful are fish clamps, which allow you more control of turning the fish over on the barbeque, and prevents it from sticking. This also allows you to grill at a lower heat without fear of leaving half the fish on the grill when you turn it.
You can find sturdy, capable grill baskets and fish clamps on Amazon for between £10 and £20.
Read: How to grill a whole fish on the BBQ.
A Guide To Pairing Wine With Grilled Food
A great barbeque is about so much more than the food. There’s the vibe to consider, too, and that’s influenced hugely by the drinks on offer. Though grilling and chilling are natural companions and making a fuss over the liquid refreshments seems to go against the ethos of a laid back barbeque session, we think that if you get your drinks pairing on point, you can elevate the occasion that much higher.
For your BBQ obsessed loved one, there are several wine and food pairing books which place a focus on barbeque currently available in all good book stores. Some of our favourites include:
- Fire & Wine: 75 Smoke-Infused Recipes from the Grill with Perfect Wine Pairings by Mary Cressler – a marvellous, grill-specific cookbook.
- Natural Wine for the People by Alice Feiring – we think the biodynamic stuff goes particularly well with that essence of the grill.
- The Food & Wine Guide to Perfect Pairings by the editors of Food & Wine – plenty of the recipes here focus on grilled food.
It’s not all about the wine, though. Alternatively, you could check out these 4 IDEAL beer pairing tips for your Summer BBQ.
Hot Sauce Heaven
What is a great barbecue without a selection of hot sauces? Sure, the worst only call for a fire extinguisher, but the best? They transform grilled meats, with acidity cutting through the fat, chill heat bringing out the smoky notes, and the complexity of the finest hot sauces adding depth and intrigue to the spread, lifting the veggie dishes up, too.
For grilled meats, we particularly love:
- Encona Hot Pepper Sauce – An elite hot sauce brand if ever there was one.
- Chin Su– The thinking man’s Sriracha, Vietnamese chilli sauce Chin Su is bright, sharp, garlicky and with a credible kick. Smothered on banh mi in Vietnam, you’ll also find chin su accompanying all manner of grilled seafood in the country’s beach resorts.
- Cholula Chipotle Hot Sauce – Ubiquitous, sure, but it does a job nonetheless. Smoky, spicy, fruity…we could enjoy Cholula chipotle hot sauce on pretty much anything, desserts included. This one is 100% vegetarian and vegan, but loses none of its swagger for being plant based.
Read: 7 incredible vegetarian condiments, sauces and seasonings
A Restaurant Voucher To A Top London Grill Restaurant
Perhaps your grill loving companion prefers to eat barbecued food, rather than cooking it. As a generous gift, have you considered giving them a restaurant voucher to a top London grill restaurant?
In recent years, the grill scene in the capital has exploded, with foodies tired of plates which have been put together using tweezers. It seems that right now, diners are craving something more elemental. As a result, the popularity of food cooked over flames has risen exponentially.
Some of our favourite places to eat top ingredients kissed by fire, coal, wood and smoke are:
- Brat – Chef Tomos Parry’s ode to his native Wales and the fish-over-flames cooking of the Basque country has resulted in one of the standout London restaurant openings of the last decade. Bring a couple of friends, and order the whole turbot.
- Berber & Q – With two acclaimed restaurants, the Grill House and the Shawarma Bar, these guys specialise in the grilled foods of the Middle East and North Africa, with bold, zesty flavours taking centre stage. Incidentally, the Berber & Q Cookbook would make an excellent gift!
- Cue Point – Billed as British Afghan fusion, the restaurant also does nationwide delivery of their meal kits, should attending the bricks and mortar London restaurant not be possible.
- SMOKESTAK – Check out our review of the restaurant here
A Luxury BBQ Hamper For Couples
The couple who grills together, stays together, and a bespoke BBQ hamper makes for an utterly indulgent gift. Think beyond your standard supermarket offerings and seek out artisanal producers who specialise in premium barbecue fare.
Look for exclusive luxury hampers for couples gifts that feature dry-aged steaks from heritage breeds, handmade sausages infused with exotic spices, and perhaps some beautifully marbled wagyu burgers. The finest examples might include house-made rubs and marinades, charcoal-smoked sea salt, and a selection of wood chips for smoking. Many top-tier hampers also feature accompaniments like sourdough burger buns, fermented pickles, and small-batch BBQ sauces.
Perfect for couples who take their al fresco dining seriously, some even arrive in reusable wicker baskets that can be repurposed for summer picnics.
A Selection Of Premium Smoking Woods
The true BBQ aficionado knows that the choice of wood can make or break a grilled dish. A curated selection of smoking woods makes for a thoughtful gift that shows you understand the nuances of their craft.
Consider assembling a collection featuring apple wood for poultry, hickory for pork, oak for beef, and perhaps some more adventurous options like cherry wood for duck or alder for fish. Many specialist suppliers now offer sampler packs with wood chunks from sustainable sources, complete with tasting notes and pairing suggestions.
For around £30-50, you can put together a respectable selection that will have them experimenting with flavour profiles all summer long. Include a guide to wood and food pairings, and you’ve got yourself a gift that keeps on giving.
Read: Ingenious grilling techniques from across the world
A BBQ Masterclass Experience
Sometimes the best gifts aren’t things at all, but experiences that create lasting memories. A professional BBQ masterclass offers the grill enthusiast in your life the chance to refine their techniques whilst picking up new skills from the experts.
Look for classes that cover everything from low-and-slow smoking techniques to high-heat searing, with plenty of hands-on practice. The best courses include topics like making your own rubs, understanding different cuts of meat, and mastering temperature control. Many also conclude with a feast where participants enjoy the fruits of their labour.
In London, venues like the London Barbecue School and Weber Grill Academy offer brilliant half-day and full-day courses ranging from £125 to £350 per person. Some even offer couples’ classes, making it a perfect date activity for BBQ-loving pairs. The knowledge gained will elevate their grilling game for years to come.
