Category: Eat & Drink

Be Ironic and Organize an Autumn Barbecue

By aliciak
updated about 1 month ago

My friend and I have a biannual tradition: organizing barbecues in the park off-season, one in the spring and one in the fall. We weren't TRYING to be ironic or obnoxious, but in New York, everyone is running in a million different directions in the summer! (Well, always, but...) Including my friend, so Spring or Fall it was! Less competition for grills, less heat, fewer bugs and a little more creativity when it comes to the "menu" all make me conclude that I will quite possibly never have a run-of-the-mill summer bbq again.

The Planning Stages

Planning a barbecue not in your backyard takes a little more organization and thinking ahead. Plus, you’re going to be lugging a looooooot of stuff somewhere, and possibly without the aid of a car. The only thing at the park will be a grill and access to indoor plumbing (if you’re lucky…off-season usually means porta-potties). First up is the invitation process:

Ask, suggest, beg and then plead for your bbq invitees to bring something AND to indicate what that something is. No one wants 400 plastic cups and no forks, or 6 bags of chips without any dip.
Do not rely on anyone for the following, because when they come down with a headache last minute, you are SOL: garbage bags, serving utensils, napkins, plates, and coals.
Choose a starting and ending time, as most parks will close at dusk and the party can’t carry on under the stars.

Parkin' It in ALL 5 Boroughs!

Because this guide is specifically to help you plan a grillin’ partay in a public park, there are a few things to consider. Like, where to have said grillin’ partay. Not all parks allow you to grill. Central Park? No grilling ANYWHERE.

If it’s off-season, sometimes there is no access to bathrooms or running water peroid (how will you pee? how will you put out the fire at the end? how will you wash your hands?). These are the nitty-gritty logistics that actually matter, so do your homework ahead of time.

Let's Eat!

Whoa there champ, this isn’t some pre-made onion dip and fritos kind of party. A fall barbecue still means BARBECUE, or more accurately, grilled food, but give it that autumn flavor. Because of the no-refrigerated and transportation issues, you must be savvy when it comes to planning the menu. I.e., this is not time for gargantuan pots of soup or 13X9 pans of lasagna. You’re going for ease, taste and efficiency.

Grillable food can be the usual: hot dogs, tofu pups, steaks, garden burgers. For the “sides,” think pasta salads, regular salads, dips and desserts. There will be a slight nip in the air…people will want comfort food-esque choices!

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

It makes a ton and is delicious!

Ingredients

½ pound spaghetti or angel hair

½ cup creamy peanut butter

¼ cup rice vinegar

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 ½ tsp chili-garlic sauce, or dash of hot pepper sauce

1 tsp sesame oil (optional)

1 tbsp grated fresh ginger

½ tsp lime zest

½ tsp salt

2/3 cup canola oil

½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

¼ cup scallions, chopped (optional)

¼ cup salted peanuts, chopped (optional)

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Meanwhile, combine ingredients through salt in food processor. With motor running, slowly add canola oil in a steady stream. Return pasta to pot and toss with dressing. Garnish with optional ingredients (I recommend doing so!) and serve.

Beverages

Some parks will forbid you to have alcohol, others will permit you, and still others will be totally ambiguous about the whole thing. If forbidden, it’s all about the opaque cup. If permitted, go wild. If ambiguous, well, go wild. I am partial to the idea that if I don’t see a HUGE sign telling me not to do something, I’m allowed to do it.

Even if I do see a sign? Well, someone in my family, I won’t mention any names, once taught me that if you don’t like what a sign tells you, you remove it, chop it into pieces and throw it into the garbage. (Um, no really, we did this).

Transportation Time!

Throw everything in the car and book it to the park. And done. Oh wait, you may not have a car. Because you are an awesome New Yorker. Well shoot, that complicates things. Often we have a car to transport, but we have also carried everything via bicycles, which was…interesting. And slightly dangerous. But oh so green of us! Here are some tips for the transit logistics:

Pack things well! In tupperware that are well-sealed and can be stacked easily. And NOT in bags/backpacks that you actually like…there will be spillage.
Have an emergency contingency plan in the event that you forget something: choose a park near your apartment OR near a grocery store, deli, etc. Think about the amount of time it will take to race off to buy extra charcoal if need be.
Recruit nearby friends to help you! The incentive? Um, making the bbq possible in the first place. Having a bike brigade en route to the park carrying pasta salad and picnic blankets is actually quite enjoyable.