Spice-Up Your Summer BBQ, Latin-Style!

These days, it isn’t enough to blow-up balloons, toss confetti, throw chips and salsa in a bowl, and call it a party. Especially if you’re Latin! If you want to add some culture to your next backyard gathering, creating a Latin-themed party will not only bring color and fun to the table, but it will enhance the flavors for your guests to enjoy. Try some of these ideas to kick the celebration up a notch. [pagebreak]

Décor

Mexican Sarapes: These colorfully striped blankets serve as the perfect tablecloth. You can also use them as a throw over a deck, seating area, or back of a chair. Purchase sarapes online or at most rug stores. 

Paper Lanterns: Let there be light! Hanging lanterns around your yard will provide a glow once the sun goes down. Use lanterns in bold colors such as red, yellow, orange, and purple to add a festive ambiance to your party’s nightlife. Find them at your local craft or party store, or if you’re feeling crafty, you can  make your own using rice paper or fire-retardant paper bags.

Hanging decorations: Nothing screams fiesta more than a piñata. These bright, whimsical containers come in all shapes and sizes and will turn any gathering into a celebration. Especially if there are children in attendance.  Look for piñatas at party stores or make your own out of papier-mâché. Seek out classic Latin treats like Mexican chocolates, fruit, or individually wrapped dulce de leche candies and fill to the brim.

Color, color, COLOR: While most American BBQs have a red, white, and blue theme, like Latin culture, party themes are bright and bold. Red, yellow, orange, and purple are just some of the vivid colors that will make a space pop. You can introduce color in the forms of balloons, maracas, pillows, rugs, dishes, and napkins. You can also purchase disposable paper or plastic plates, cups, and utensils – from less expensive paper to thicker, more elegant varieties – at party stores in a variety of hues.

Centerpieces:  Let your centerpiece serve as a decorative piece and as a conversation point! Fill a terracotta pot with a cactus or colorful flowers (real or fake, your choice), stock mason jars with red, green, and yellow peppers, or simply fill a sombrero with chips and a bowl of salsa.

Party Favors:  It’s always nice to have a reminder of  a good time. Maracas, sombreros, small bottles of sangria or tequila, candies, and decorative cards with recipes from the party menu are all useful favors that your guests can enjoy long after the music stops. [pagebreak]

Drinks

When planning your drink menu, keep colors bright by mixing up batches of flavored margaritas. Peach, mango, strawberry, and traditional lime will keep everyone cool on a hot summer day, and visually engaged. Another idea? Various flavored mojitos! While there are several versions of the mojito, the most popular uses rum.

Here are a few recipe ideas for The Cuervo Margarita and a Patrón Mojito; remember you can change the infusion fruit of each recipe by simply adding your favorite fruit. [pagebreak]

Food

Latin food substitutions are easy! So, switch it up with these ingredient swamps.

Instead of Burgers and Hot Dogs: Replace dogs and buns with sweet or spicy chorizo sausages, wrapped in tortillas rather than buns. More flavor, less filling!

Instead of Potato Salad and Coleslaw: Hold the mayo! Change it up by offering homemade tortilla chips and guacamole, and of course, don’t forget the salsa! A sweet fruit-based salsa and a spicy tomato-based version make flavorful dips for your chips. We think our recipe for tropical mango salsa would do the trick.  

Instead of Cold Salads: Instead of a salad, make a cool, light ceviche, a refreshing mixture of seafood marinated in citrus juices. Try this recipe for cebiche limeno from La Mar, a Peruvian restaurant in New York City.

Instead of Baked Potatoes: Instead of a potato starch, paella, a dish of rice, vegetables, and several kinds of meat or seafood will satisfy almost all of the major food groups. While there are many different styles of paella, you can customize yours depending on your preferences. Traditional versions use saffron to give the pan a golden hue. Try our summer paella recipe!

Instead of Pie: Everyone always looks for something sweet to end a meal. Fresh fruit pies are usually a hit, but to really hit the Latin notes, try a smooth and creamy flan or a light tres leches cake. [pagebreak]

Music

Latin music is comprised of very eclectic sounds. From salsa and merengue to pop Latin and jazz, you’ll never run out of tunes. Utilize melodic ballroom styles for background music, perhaps during the actual meals, at dinner and dessert.

When it’s time to dance, go to today’s popular artists like Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, and Enrique Iglesias. You can always rely on the classics of Selena, The Gipsy Kings, Santana, and Miami Sound Machine as well. Downloading these top Latin songs from Billboard.com and create your own iPod playlist.

For a dance party, use whatever deck or patio space you have to create a dance floor. Illuminate the area with the decorative paper lanterns from the dinner table and you’ll be ready to boogie.