Burning logs in the pot-bellied stove, hot mulled wine in your hand and a delicious grilled meal approaching. Are you feeling it yet? Good. Because there's no reason to let your barbecue gather dust now that the temperatures are a little cooler. When the air is fresh and dry and a thin layer of hoar frost is forming on the leaves of the trees, the weather conditions are perfect for a winter barbecue. It does require some preparation. In this blog we share 6 indispensable elements for the winter BBQ, so you will be well prepared.

Step 1 | Good preparation is half the battle

Preparation makes or breaks barbecue night. So:

• Start heating up the barbecue in time. Raising the temperature at -2﮿C simply takes longer than at 28﮿C.
• For the same reason, check that you have enough fuel. It would be a shame if you have to move the whole thing to the kitchen halfway through the evening.
• It can be handy to have an extra heat source or hot plate next to the barbecue. For example, for the satay sauce; great for accompanying the curry sausage, along with a handful of fried onions.
• Use standing tables instead of chairs. Those who stand keep moving and this way your guests are less likely to get cold.

Step 2 | Create warmth

At a winter barbecue, you want your guests to enjoy each other, the food and the atmosphere above all else. Shivering is not part of it. That starts with telling your guests to bring their winter coat, gloves, hat and scarf.

You, meanwhile, make the barbecue setting as comfortable as possible:

• The perfect spot: find a sheltered spot in your garden so that the barbecue and your guests are out of the wind.
• Provide warmth: place torches and/or set up an extra fire pit with plenty of logs next to it. Provide plenty of plaids and pillows.
• Extra atmosphere: hang a light chain. Those lights don't really give off heat, of course, but they do have a warming effect. The light also allows you to see if the burgers are cooked yet.

Step 3 | Provide winter meat for the winter barbecue

Barbecuing in winter means you get to roll up your sleeves for typical winter meat. Read: a steak, spare ribs and game. Are the weather forecasts disappointing and is it going to freeze? At least choose meat that can be prepared quickly, such as a pork chop or meat that has already been cooked. And make sure everything is at room temperature before you put it on the barbecue, otherwise everyone will be chewing on their meal for half an hour.

Step 4 | Don't forget the side dishes

The focus of barbecue is still on meat and fish. However, you can prepare vastly more dishes with hot coals and a bullet barbecue.

• Pea soup or smoked tomato soup (if only to warm up the soup).
• A salad of grilled winter vegetables such as parsnips, squash and carrots.
• Apfelstrudel or cinnamon cake: in fact, the barbecue also serves well as an oven.

Extra tip: for the kids, set out a bowl of marsmallows and some skewers next to the fire pit.

Step 5 | Make hot drinks

When your guests and yourself are waiting for the food to cook, a glass of mulled wine, schnapps or cider is more than welcome. The mulled wine keeps your insides nice and warm, the other drinks do not, but at least make you feel the cold less. Those who don't want or can't drink alcohol serve hot chocolate with whipped cream or an alcohol-free brown beer.

Step 6 | Handy tableware for a beautifully set table

A winter barbecue does not require a lavishly dressed table with a 20-piece dinnerware set. What does come in handy are small plates, bowls and sturdy cutlery.

Bonus tip: put the plates and bowls in the oven beforehand for a while so they are up to temperature when dinner is ready. This will kill two birds with one stone. That way that bowl becomes a nice hand warmer and the food stays warm as long as possible.

I would say keep that winter coming!