Right now, everyone is changing the way that they do things. People are having to put plans on hold, find alternative ways to spend time together, and try and ride out this pandemic with as much isolation as possible. However, there’s nothing better for all of us than some fresh air and sunshine. You certainly can’t have the kickoff cookout that you’re used to, but there’s still a lot of room to get creative.
If you’re looking to enjoy a little social distancing, barbecue-style, there are a lot of different ways to go about it. As long as you’re being extra careful about things like food prep and not sharing utensils or drinks, you can even consider including your neighbors (from the safe distance of their own yards, of course). Keep reading to get inspired about your own quarantine cookouts, and about setting yourself up for a great summer of alfresco entertaining by upgrading your outdoor cooking space.
Speaking of Upgrades...
Now that the weather is getting warmer and you can spend more time outside, why not dedicate that time to making a few changes to improve your outdoor cooking space? Before you call up the neighbors and start discussing the details of a social distancing block party or potluck-style pass-around, consider upgrading your BBQ grill or even creating an outdoor kitchen that includes a variety of cooking appliances. You can even find outdoor pizza ovens and custom outdoor cabinets for storing all of your BBQ essentials.
With the whole family at home and few other things to do outside of school and/or work, it’s a great way to spend time together, get in some physical activity, and upgrade the outdoor living space of your home. Plus, when it is time for that neighborhood cookout, you’ll be ready to show off your new space and the great food that it can create.
Like Trick-or-Treat, But with Side Dishes
If you want to get more than just your next-door neighbors involved, you could consider setting up a potluck-style barbecue with the entire street. Find out what everyone wants to contribute and have them prepare the food and package it in individual portions. Then, you can walk up and down the street, collecting all the pieces of your meal to take home and enjoy while also delivering all of the great meats you just finished cooking on your new grill.
Over-the-Fence Fraternizing
You can include your next-door neighbors in a smaller spring cookout if you aren’t quite ready to invite the entire street. Again, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using clean utensils and dishes (or disposable items) to hold, serve, and consume all of the food that is served, and make sure that you aren’t sharing too much, if at all. Just because you can’t hang out in the same backyard doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a good time sharing some food across the fence. You can even take turns cooking or go back and forth over who makes the main BBQ and who brings the sides.
Get Out There and Get Creative
The first priority right now is safety. Of course, so long as you are practicing safe social distancing, you can still have a lot of fun in the early days of spring with your family and neighbors. Whether you throw a BBQ for the neighborhood or just have a small cookout with the neighbors in your respective yards, or even just get the family together for a little alfresco dining, it’s a great way to get some fresh air and get your mind off the stress of the world.