It is now possible to organize gatherings as long as the group does not exceed 6 people. That means you can now organize barbecues for your family and friends. This is great news for barbecue and food enthusiasts as they can return to grilling the old way. The only difference is that they have to maintain a six foot distance from one another at all times. This law is only effective for people from different households. People from the same house can mingle naturally. Regardless of the stipulations, we now have the opportunity to party with some sumptuous meat, while practicing social distancing.
Read on to know about what you can and cannot do to throw a safe barbecue party at your house.
Guidelines of The Barbecue
The big question every law-abiding, summer-loving, meat-eater is asking now is, “can we do it”? The answer is yes, you can have a barbecue as long as you follow the safety guidelines.
The following Guidelines are for your good and you should follow every one of them
- Use clean cutlery and crockery
- Don’t share tableware
- Maintain social distancing if from different households
- Don’t share food or drinks
- Avoid going inside your host’s house unless to the bathroom
- Don’t host the barbeque in a garage, cabin or shed
- One person does all the cooking
- Don’t host the barbeque at a playground or outdoor gym
- Refrain from sharing chairs and tables at the party
- Don’t stay over at your host’s house
- Guests should avoid public transportation
Shopping For Your Barbecue
Now that you have the green light to organize a barbecue, shopping is number one on your to-do list. You must remember to be in order and uphold supermarket etiquette. You know the first rule by heart by now. Always practice social distancing and maintain a distance of six feet from others in the supermarket. If there is a big crowd in a certain aisle, it’s best to avoid it. The area should clear out soon, so be patient while roaming emptier spaces.
The next thing that you have to keep in mind is that you should not touch what you won’t buy. Only engage with products that you are going to purchase. This simple courtesy reduces the chance of corona spreading. Another thing to be kept in mind is not to make people wait behind you for a long time. They are probably after the same product that you are looking at.
That person might forget to maintain the six foot distance if he is waiting for too long. It’s best not to test that person’s attention span and social distancing manners. Lastly, be extra courteous to the employees who work in the supermarket. They are the true heroes in this global pandemic.
Now that you know how to shop, get yourself some A-grade meat, spices, and sauces. Other than the content of the menu, also get disposable cups, plates, and cutlery.
Get Disposable Tableware
You don’t want to use your cutlery, plates, or cups for the barbecue. So, while you are out shopping for meat, get plastic ones. Remember to get more than you need. After all, you never know if one of your guests could drop their plate or fork accidentally. Also, before the guest comes over, pre-arrange all the plastic cutlery and crockery. This will eliminate the need for guests to line up to get them.
Even if you pre-arrange all your disposable cutlery and crockery, there is still a chance of sharing. This cannot happen regardless of the circumstances. For this reason, instruct your guests accordingly before the event. Finally, wear gloves to dispose of everything and then get rid of the gloves too. There is no shame in being cautious when lives are at stake.
Who Should Do The Cooking?
When it comes to cooking, one person is enough. Do not allow anyone other than the cook to come in contact with the grill. In this case, too many cooks will inflict more damage than just spoiling the broth.
Who Can I Invite?
According to the new Guidelines, only six people can be at the same place at the same time. However, the rule is lenient about who you can be with. You can invite people from multiple households.
Although you can have people gathering from different households in the same place, they will have to follow the Guidelines. You can come in contact and be intimate with people from your home but you have to maintain a distance of six feet with people from other households. Practicing social distancing keeps everyone safe.
Don’t be sad, love surpasses any obstacle. Think of Romeo engaging with Juliet leaning from the balcony.
The Ideal Location For The Barbeque Get together
You can plan the barbeque in most outdoor locations. Hosting the party in parks or yards are within your right as long as you follow the Guidelines.
Other than public places, you can also have your barbeque on your front lawn. This is much better as it will eliminate the chances of strangers coming into the scene. I recommend that you have your get together in your front yard instead of your backyard. The reason for my suggestion is very simple. Your guests won’t have to enter your house if it’s in the front yard.
Remember that your actions are out of order if you barbeque in a playground or an outdoor gym.
Going Inside The Home of The Host
It is not at all a good idea to allow guests to enter your house. It does not matter how far they have come from or how close they are to you. Allowing them to enter endangers your entire family. You simply can’t let this happen.
There are only two exceptions to this rule when you may allow guests inside your house. The first rule is going to the bathroom. It would be inhumane not to allow your guest to use the bathroom.
The second exception is passing through your house to get to the barbeque location. However, even this rule should be on the NO list. You should not organize your barbeque party in your back yard or a similar location.
Should Guests Come From Far Away?
You should not invite any guest who has to travel too far. The reason behind this is, they have to stay over for the night. Furthermore, if they use public transportation, they might be potential carriers.
So, your guests should drive to your location. As for the people who live near you, walking or cycling is fine.
Final Thoughts On Practicing Social Distancing
Yes, you can have a barbecue and yes, you can have guests but you must follow the guidelines. Don’t try to take advantage of the guidelines. Be safe, enjoy sumptuous and tender barbeque meat, and have a great time with your family and friends. You can get together and have fun, while practicing social distancing to be safe.
Thanks for sharing this information, Karen. Your post has some really great tips to keep in mind as we all try to stay safe ourselves and keep those around us safe, too.