INTERIORS:It's little more than an outdoor grill, but there's something satisfying about throwing some meat and veg on the barbie, writes Eoin Lyons
A BARBECUE FOR a large group can force you to face some shortcomings in the entertainment department: not enough plates, too few glasses and odd napkins. Do a one-stop trip to Dunnes Stores - you'll be amazed at how much €50 will buy. Plastic plates with Paul Smith-style blue and yellow stripes are €2; clear blue plastic salad tongs are €2; white china plates €3, white bowls €2; big serving bowls €6; three napkins €5; a cream linen table cloth is €12; a 16-piece cutlery set with cool plastic handles is €15. Don't use disposable everything: it's nice to use some real glass and china, too.
Keep the table colourful with big, bright bowls of food. Use sprigs of rosemary around the edge of the plate or between slices of meat: it gives a rustic look. A citronella candle keeps bugs away and is good for atmosphere too. Try TK Maxx for inexpensive colourful cushions. Woodies' has a great range of attractive BBQ tools - rosewood forks, spatulas, tongs, mitts, skewers and so on are all under €10.
A gas barbecue avoids the frustration of lighting a fire that takes forever to get going and dies out halfway through cooking. But there's satisfaction in getting a successful fire going rather than twisting a dial. Your charcoal fire should be burning for between 45 minutes and one hour before it's at the correct stage for cooking.
Start with a layer of coals about two inches deep with a barbecue lighter and twists of newspaper underneath. Lay the coals lightly with air spaces to help the fire take hold. Light the newspaper and add more coal as it starts to burn. Use more coal than you think you'll need. Wait until the fire is glowing before putting food on the grill.
Muji's Pyramid barbecue costs €69.95 and is probably the most stylish real coal barbecue you can buy. It folds away into a carry bag and is easy to store. It looks great, is both convenient and compact: best for a small terrace or patio when cooking for small numbers.
The Weber One Touch Sage barbecue at Meadows & Byrne is an attractive real charcoal barbecue in a traditional kettle shape. It boasts the reliable functionality that's the trademark of its manufacturer, Weber, and with a 57-centimetre diameter cooking space, it rests securely on its base and is very versatile. Best of all, it is reduced to €160 in Meadows & Byrne's summer sale. Branches of Meadows & Byrne also have state-of-the-art Weber gas barbecues that are more like mini-kitchens than anything else. See www.meadowsandbyrne.com
The Sahara three-burner flat top barbecue costs €299 at Woodies. It has an oak frame and is a good standard barbecue at a very good price. It comes flat-packed and can be put together in an hour or so. It does all you'll need - it's easy to use and can cook enough food for six or eight people at a time. There is also a smaller two-burner model for €199. Woodies' has a good selection of barbecues: see them all at www.woodiesdiy.com.
A three-burner stainless steel gas barbecue costs €599 at Atlantic Homecare. It has a cooking area of 608sq inches, which should be big enough for large gatherings. As barbecues go, it's a good looking machine - the exterior finish is stainless steel. See www.atlantic.ie for more models.
Don't try to build a built-in outdoor barbecue yourself, unless you're a competent bricklayer. Instead, get a reliable builder to do it - it should cost from €650. That includes laying foundations, materials, labour and grill fittings. Builder Martin Hyland says it will take no more than two visits.
ADDRESS BOOK: Argos, countrywide (for branches see www.argos.ie); B&Q, Liffey Valley (01-6299499) and Tallaght (01-6804650); Dunnes Stores (for your nearest store, call 01-4751111); Homebase, countrywide (www.homebase.co.uk); Meadows & Byrne, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin (01-2804554), Cork (021-4272324) and Galway (091-567776); Muji, Chatham Street, Dublin (01-6794591); Woodies, countrywide (01-4521353), or www.woodiesdiy.com); Atlantic Homecare (www.atlantic.ie); Martin Hyland (087-2397430).
Hugo Arnold's BBQ tips
Buy an inexpensive charcoal barbecue first and see how you get on. You can always trade up later. For entry level, it is hard to beat the Weber range. It is inexpensive, functional and something of a design icon, with its "kettle" shape. Consider the highly portable Smokey Joe if picnics are being considered.
Once you step up to the cabinet-style barbecue, it is hard to choose between the brands, as all follow a similar pattern. Various raised grills, a surface area on each side for preparation and holding cabinets for utensils and plates are the basic features, with the number of burners, British thermal units (BTUs) and ignition systems varying from model to model.
If you are buying a gas one, bear in mind the higher the price, the more gadgets and gizmos you get, but it is still only heat and your handling of the food which makes the difference. Look for different shelf distances rather than bells and whistles.
Choosing between the different styles and models really depends on how many people you think you are going to be cooking for. You can, for example, roast a butterflied leg of lamb on a Smokey Joe, but the task is certainly easier on a Genesis, Summit or Spirit, all of which are also made by Weber.
Other brands to look out for include the Australian BBQ Company, Ducane, Beefeater, Broil King, Napoleon, Outback, BillyOh, Fiesta, Boomerang, Plum, Sunshine, Kingsford and Regent.
Whatever your choice, cleaning is important and it's something you have to do the day after when everything is cool.
A good pair of gloves can help to reduce the pressure. You can buy barbecue tongs, but an ordinary pair of kitchen tongs are just as good.
Good garden centres are likely to have a range of barbecues available, as are Avoca, Atlantic Homecare and Woodies. There are many sites, such as www.barbecue-online.co.uk and www.flamingbarbecues.co.uk, where you can both buy barbecues and find a wealth of BBQ information and tips.