🌅 As the weather gets nicer here in Cornwall Tom and I have started taking to AL FRESCO eating! When Tom gets back from work and we can’t be bothered to cook we pack a little kit and travel to the north coast to watch the picturesque sun set over Cornwall.
I have gone to SOOO many beaches in Cornwall and when it starts getting later around 5-6pm the smell of BBQ fills the air and makes me so JEALOUS, and if you can’t win JOIN THEM!🍖
Below you will find the 5 tips to creating the ultimate Sunset BBQ!
1. PREPARE YOUR BBQ KIT
As I mentioned above, I have taken to making spontaneous BBQ trips, so create a BBQ kit is essential. Below is a recommended list to pack inside your BBQ GRAB BAG. Doing this is just so handy for when you are tired and come back from work and instead of running around the house trying to prepare things have one ready to go. 👜
ESSENTIAL KIT LIST:
Portable or Disposable BBQ – I have linked a reasonably priced portable BBQ from GO OUTDOORS but the disposable BBQ’s are normally found in a supermarket for £2.50. If you invest in a portable BBQ you will never have to ‘pop to the shops’ to get a disposable one and it helps the environment!
Charcoal – this is only necessary for your portable BBQ
Lighter or Matches – or if your Tom an have to be EXTRA a blowtorch
A Rug or blanket to sit on
Plastic Plates and Cups – reusable and efficient BUT PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAKE THEM HOME!
Cutlery (if needed)
A multi-purpose BBQ utensil (which I have linked) This is our most useful tool it flips burgers, helps cut the bread and sausages AND has a bottle opener. No need to bring three utensils when you can bring one!
Kitchen Roll for those little messes
Tin Foil – for when things start to get messy
Water – Stay hydrated in the summer weather and to put out the BBQ coals after use
Alcohol - (Optional but sometimes needed!) 🍹
Sun cream - (if it is still hot enough, but by sunset it’s normally fine)
Mosquito Spray!!! – I got caught out with this and definitely regretted it the next day! OUCH
Bin Bags – please tidy away your mess and help the environment
FOOD! Obviously, this is something you will add on the day.
2. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
The best sunset BBQ’s are ones where you can SEE the SUNSET! If in Cornwall I would suggest the following places 🌅
St Agnes
Gwithian/Godrevy
St Ives
Porth, Newquay
Fistral Beach
However, if you are not in Cornwall don’t fret, just give a google or Instagram search of your location to find the best Sunset spots near you.
Alternatively, if you want to be old school and have an adventure grab a compass (or use the one on your phone) and a map and head west to find a perfect sunset spot.
3. Pre-heat the BBQ
Once you have found the perfect sunset spots sit back and relax, have a drink or two that you brought from your grab kit and let the BBQ pre-heat. For me this is the most impatient part of the process, so if you are like me instant lighting charcoal is ideal! Again, I have linked some.
You need to wait until the coals have gone white (around 15 ish minutes) and then start adding your meats.
4. Think About Your Meats
Depending on what your tastes are you might be veggie and, in that case, look into Quorn burgers, which are okay but keep an eye on them! 🍗 If you are bringing chicken it is an idea to pre-cook it, but this is not essential, it will just take a longer time to cook.
Something that doesn’t need a long time to cook is fish, so make sure you keep an eye otherwise it might start disintegrating into the BBQ!
Why not challenge yourself to catch your dinner, either go out with a local or hire a boat and go fishing for the day and moor up cooking the catch of the day!
TOP TIP: Bring some to help keep everything in place, especially when eating fish and its particularly soft.
5. REMEMBER The Planet
🌎 🌍 🌏 Dispose of your coals safely and take all of your rubbish and belongings with you. So, make sure to remember to let your BBQ cool down by putting it out with water and if using a disposable to put it in the right bin. Remember the bin bags to collect all your rubbish.
Have fun BBQing and I hope these 5 tips have helped you create the ULTIMATE sunset beach BBQ.
