# Something to bring to a BBQ **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475 "2010-09-03T11:38:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/1 "2010-09-03T11:38:09Z")
There’s a BBQ at a friend’s tomorrow. We’ve all been asked to bring a dish or booze. I’ve some reasons for wanting to be both nice and impressive and I’m usually a decent cook but my mind is going blank. Can Dopers please come to the rescue? Basically, I want to make something myself so that would probably rule out drink. I don’t want it to be Italian as I live in Italy and the others would probably do a better job than I would. However, I can’t get hold of too many “ethnic” ingredients and spices here either. It should be a cold dish and could be a side but also a dessert or cookies or similar. I have an afternoon and evening to shop and cook or bake. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/2 "2010-09-03T12:30:26Z")
Just not a pitbull. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/3 "2010-09-03T12:41:45Z")
how about a marinated tomato and onion dish? It would go well by itself or with burgers (assuming you eat them in Italy) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/4 "2010-09-03T12:54:43Z")
I have a salsa cookbook; I’d bring some homemade salsa. A nice pineapple salsa maybe? There is also a smoked salmon salsa I’ve made… ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/5 "2010-09-03T13:01:35Z")
If you don’t mind putting a little work into it - nothing complicated, just some time - [this](http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/greek-lemon-cake/Detail.aspx) recipe has blown away every person at every function I have brought it to. I put at about 4x more lemon in it than the recipe calls for, and spoon melted honey over the top when done. Use a full fat Greek style yogurt. Other than that, follow the recipe as is and I promise you, you will be a hero. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/6 "2010-09-03T13:18:16Z")
> [@Oly](#): > > If you don’t mind putting a little work into it - nothing complicated, just some time - [this](http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/greek-lemon-cake/Detail.aspx) recipe has blown away every person at every function I have brought it to. I put at about 4x more lemon in it than the recipe calls for, and spoon melted honey over the top when done. Use a full fat Greek style yogurt. Other than that, follow the recipe as is and I promise you, you will be a hero. Okay, sold. It’s miserable and raining and I have the afternoon off so why not. I’m not actually good at cake, but should it fail I still have the time to run and get some very fancy wine instead. It looks delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/7 "2010-09-03T13:20:24Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Just not a pitbull. Or a velociraptor… 🙂 Two suggestions: 1. Building on ministryman’s suggestion a marinaded tomato/onion dish, my crowd-pleasing stand-by is a platter of thick cut slices of tomato, topped with chopped basil, crumbled feta, paper-thin slices of onion, cracked pepper and balsamic. Ridiculously simple. 2. If it’s an actual BBQ (as in smoked meats, rather than grilled meats), a really good coleslaw. Vinegar-based, not cream-based, heavy on the cabbage. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/8 "2010-09-03T13:29:51Z")
[quote=“Munch, post:7, topic:552475”] > [@Zeldar](#): > > 1. Building on ministryman’s suggestion a marinaded tomato/onion dish, my crowd-pleasing stand-by is a platter of thick cut slices of tomato, topped with chopped basil, crumbled feta, paper-thin slices of onion, cracked pepper and balsamic. Ridiculously simple. I’ve done the same thing, but I use thickish slices of mozzarella in place of the feta. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/9 "2010-09-03T13:31:57Z")
[quote=“kayaker, post:8, topic:552475”] > [@Munch](#): > > I’ve done the same thing, but I use thickish slices of mozzarella in place of the feta. Will probably use this as a stand-by, should cakes collapse on me. Periously Italian in this version, but I can easily and cheaply get very nice quality ingredients to do this. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/10 "2010-09-03T13:38:29Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > 1. If it’s an actual BBQ (as in smoked meats, rather than grilled meats), a really good coleslaw. Vinegar-based, not cream-based, heavy on the cabbage. Agreed. I’ve also never seen a simple pan of slightly sweet, cornbread squares fail to disappear quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/11 "2010-09-03T13:39:17Z")
The quoting function is fucked up in this thread! ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/12 "2010-09-03T13:41:05Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > The quoting function is fucked up in this thread! Seems to work for me. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/13 "2010-09-03T13:47:32Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > > [@Zeldar](#): > > > > The quoting function is fucked up in this thread! > > Seems to work for me. See Post # 8. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/14 "2010-09-03T13:54:26Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > > [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > > > Seems to work for me. > > See Post # 8. I fucked up, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/15 "2010-09-03T13:54:48Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > > [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > > > Seems to work for me. > > See Post # 8. I’ve seen it. **kayaker** didn’t preview check the post and made a minor error with the formatting. How is this a problem with the quoting function? As a counter example, see post 13. [/thread hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/16 "2010-09-03T13:56:39Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > The quoting function is fucked up in this thread! It’s not the quote function; it’s operator error. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/17 "2010-09-03T14:19:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > > [@Zeldar](#): > > > > The quoting function is fucked up in this thread! > > It’s not the quote function; it’s operator error. I sit corrected! I was trying to be politic. Y’all caught me. Not a biggie, by any stretch, I just wanted my “quote” not to be counted as mine. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/18 "2010-09-03T14:22:57Z")
Potato salad seems like the obvious choice- it goes with either a burgers & dogs faux-bbq or an honest-to-God smoked meats BBQ. And you could go the German route with bacon, vinegar, etc… or the mayonnaise/mustard/pickles/onions route with equal success. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/19 "2010-09-03T14:35:46Z")
If you have really good tomatoes, I like to take a step up from tomatoes & mozz aka caprese salad, and make a panzanella salad. Which is basically the same thing, except with cubes of bread to soak up the juices that normally go to waste on the bottom of the plate! Take some nice italian-style or semolina bread (its ok if its a bit dry) cut into 1" cubes (about 2 cups worth) and brown them a bit in 2 TBSP olive oil over medium heat. Put on paper towel to drain and sprinkle with salt & black pepper. Cube up as much tomato & fresh mozzarella cheese as you like. Slice a bunch of fresh basil into “chiffonade” meaning narrow strips 1/4" or less wide. Put everything in a bowl with 2 TBSP balsamic vinegar and a splash of olive oil. Stir up, add more salt/pepper to taste, and let sit at least a half hour before serving, turning so the bread soaks up the tomato juices. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475/20 "2010-09-03T14:37:28Z")
Deviled eggs Or, the one my European friends seem to really like: Rice crispy treats. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-to-bring-to-a-bbq/552475.md?page=2)