Something I realized this summer, there are two kinds of barbecues. Some portions of the country call them cookouts, but it’s the same type of gathering. The weather warms up and someone invites you over to their house. Usually, they grill up some kind of meat and you bring the booze. This is where things start to diverge.
I don’t want to call the one types of barbecues “single guy BBQs,” but that’s who are usually the hosts of these types of gatherings. I’m sure there are women out there who put them on too, but I have yet to experience it. If you haven’t been to one of these get-togethers, let me explain:
They are VERY casual. They usually don’t have any (or very much) in the way of decoration if the BBQ is near a summer holiday. 90% of the people at said gathering only know the host and no one else.
Regardless of what meat is being grilled, there will be no sides. If you are lucky, there are buns, but probably not. The host only tells you to bring booze even though they should tell you to bring sides or some dish to share.
You probably DON’T want to use their bathroom. Unless you are under the age of 25, you probably don’t want to stay very long or eat any food. There is music. There is makeshift patio furniture…like the stool from the kitchen and the folding chair from the “office.”
The other types of barbecues are usually a veritable feast. The host asks people to bring booze and sides. The meat, should it be required, always has buns. There is some sort of decoration and always napkins. The bathroom is safe for use and so is the cutlery. You know a few people there other than the host. The patio furniture usually looks like it belongs there. If you are lucky, there are s’mores!