A terrific Fourth of July party can range from having a few close friends over to a major event with hundreds in attendance. Partygoers will be thinking about the great company, entertainment and most of all, the good eats. A host or event planner doesn’t need to serve 15 different kinds of salad, but hot-off-the-grill foods are a tradition no Independence Day gathering can do without. To that end, it’s important to match your grill rental with the food items and number of guests. The last thing anyone wants is to keep hungry people waiting.
Intimate Gatherings
It’s reasonable to consider an intimate party between 10 and 50 people, including couples, singles and children. That’s a good number of appetites to handle. You’ll want to have backyard BBQ staples such as burgers and hot dogs for kids and adults to enjoy. After that, sausage and a chicken or shrimp item could round out a limited menu. Keep in mind, guests may bring things that require cooking or reheating as well.
As a primary grill, you’ll want a Stainless Steel 3’x 21” with cover to have enough space to create a steady flow of protein items. It will be important to have an additional single burner stove as a side unit to reheat potted items guest bring as well as sautéed onions, mushrooms and the like. A single burner also lets you wind down toward the end as the crowd trickles out.
If you love the more traditional char-broiled flavor a simple charcoal weber will meet the needs of a smaller gathering.
Mid-Sized Parties
When you get into that 50-75 guest range, the grilling needs ramp up. It’s important to add additional hot menu items. Two food options that tickles many people’s fancy are BBQ ribs and chicken wings. The Big John 2’x5’ open air grill makes mouths water and fills the air with the tantalizing smells of good BBQ. A no-lid, big grill like this one starts to create an almost festival-like atmosphere that will have people talking all year about your awesome Fourth of July party. Hey, bragging rights matter.
To really set it off, add a rotisserie for succulent racks of ribs or large pieces of beef or pork and add a 2-burner stove for reheating sides and specialty items.
Big-Time Bashes
If your guest list heads north of 100 people, you’ve got one big Fourth gathering. It may be advisable to set up a pair of grilling stations or use our 6ft x 3ft towable grill. Consider consolidating burgers and hot dogs to one Big John 2’x 5’ and another for BBQ ribs, wings and specialty items such as kabobs. You’ll be surprised how fast these items move.
Each station should have a single or double burner, depending on side items. Keep in mind that the more people that attend, the greater the reheat and skillet needs. A propane or charcoal rotisserie is an absolute must for a big party and definitely do the pig roast. Big parties call for amazing food and no one forgets a pig roast.
If you are planning a Fourth of July get-together, contact AA Rental Center for grills, rotisseries and other event-planning needs in the Melrose Park, Illinois area.
