What am I going to cook for my American friends?

[Brit in Portugal]

Hi guys and girls, I'm a Brit that has relocated to Portugal and I'm looking for some advice about devising a menu for an outside party here that I'm doing for 12 American friends that also live here and are missing some of the food they enjoyed back home as the food culture here doesn't easily allow for anything further than simple grilled meat.

I'm a decent cook, make my own sausage and smoke meat regularly and I very much want to base the food around serving smoked meat. I want to try and make it feel like a reminder of home for them. But I don't have much idea of what dishes to serve that would embrace this concept - it might sound strange but in conversation over the years it has occurred to me that the way a Brit does this sort of thing is different from what Americans do.

Could you suggest some ideas of would really feel like a taste from home? Initially I'm thinking of smoking a brisket and making some kind of spicy sausage to smoke. For sides I was looking at perhaps doing mac & cheese, coleslaw and baked pit beans. But this seems a bit flimsy to me and I wanted to ask what you guys always put out to eat when having a summer party revolving around the grill and smoker.

 

[Bill'nCrosbyTX]

Your brisket, etc sounds great to me. I'm sure they'd love it. Also it may not show off your smoking prowess, but good old hamburgers, potato salad and baked beans also sound great. And cold beer!

Have a great time. You sound like an excellent host.

 

[chopsaw]

Could you suggest some ideas of would really feel like a taste from home?

Do what you're doing . Find out what part of the country they're from and have the different styles of regional sauces to use .

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Ribs, baby back or spares, are easy. The brisket would be great, it's just more work. For sauces, as Rich said, find out what they like. Usual sides like Dutch's Wicked baked beans go great with anything from the smoker. Mac & cheese, corn on the cob, coleslaw, etc. ABT's for starters are great, as well...

 

[normanaj]

Pulled pork is another fairly easy cook albeit a little on the timely side.

 

[Brit in Portugal]

Do what you're doing . Find out what part of the country they're from and have the different styles of regional sauces to use .

That's a good idea, I forgot how regional the sauces are. Me, I just like them all!!

 

[chopsaw]

I just like them all!!

Same here , but always like when I have regional choices . Sauce on the side mostly for me , but some things get it cooked on .

 

[Brit in Portugal]

Ribs, baby back or spares, are easy. The brisket would be great, it's just more work. For sauces, as Rich said, find out what they like. Usual sides like Dutch's Wicked baked beans go great with anything from the smoker. Mac & cheese, corn on the cob, coleslaw, etc. ABT's for starters are great, as well...

ABT's sounds a good idea. Wish I could get decent corn on the cob here, most of what corn on the cob they grow here is for animal feed!!

 

[bill ace 350]

Pork steaks, Cornell Chicken, macaroni salad, potato salad, cucumber salad.......

 

[sandyut]

I think you have a solid plan already. Work it!

 

[bigfurmn]

Your plan sounds great. I second @normanaj with the pork shoulder idea. If you make your own sausage could you do hotdogs as well?

 

[WaterRat]

Chicken wings would be great to start with - certainly fits a “taste of home” .

 

[Brit in Portugal]

Your plan sounds great. I second @normanaj with the pork shoulder idea. If you make your own sausage could you do hotdogs as well?

I had thought about hotdogs, as I've had a fair few American friends mention that I should make them. The main problem I have is that in the UK and, to be fair here in Portugal, they are not a great sausage due to their 'variable' contents of pour quality. But all I have read here about how much they are enjoyed does not support that and I was already thinking that perhaps I should give them a go. Does anyone have a foolproof recipe?!!

 

[jcam222]

I think your plan is spot on! Adding ABTs would be good and you might consider doing a nice fattie or two.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Do they have whole untrimmed brisket there ?? Have you smoked one before ??

Evrybody that answers gonna have a different suggestion... Go with Plan A and stick to it.. research how the salads, mac n cheese, beans, and such to make them "american" style...

Throw some ABT's on early for lunch/snack...

That's awesome of you for doing this...

 

[Elf@shore]

Hi guys and girls, I'm a Brit that has relocated to Portugal and I'm looking for some advice about devising a menu for an outside party here that I'm doing for 12 American friends that also live here and are missing some of the food they enjoyed back home as the food culture here doesn't easily allow for anything further than simple grilled meat.

I'm a decent cook, make my own sausage and smoke meat regularly and I very much want to base the food around serving smoked meat. I want to try and make it feel like a reminder of home for them. But I don't have much idea of what dishes to serve that would embrace this concept - it might sound strange but in conversation over the years it has occurred to me that the way a Brit does this sort of thing is different from what Americans do.

Could you suggest some ideas of would really feel like a taste from home? Initially I'm thinking of smoking a brisket and making some kind of spicy sausage to smoke. For sides I was looking at perhaps doing mac & cheese, coleslaw and baked pit beans. But this seems a bit flimsy to me and I wanted to ask what you guys always put out to eat when having a summer party revolving around the grill and smoker.

HI!
USA Menu:
Beef: Burgers, Roast beef: Lower priced cuts ,slow cooked: Bottom round, Rump roast
Chicken: grilled BBQ Sauce, Whole Chicken/Turkey.
Local fish: Grilled/baked.
Shrimp: Grilled, scampi ,Cold served with Cocktail sauce.
Pork: Pulled pork, Smoked ham with garnishes : Pineapple, Cherry pie fillings.
Sides: Potatoes + Mac salad, Mac/Cheese, Corn bread, Jello : orange : pineapple/carrots salad.
Hopefully you can use yur Local Foods to figure it out !
Hope it helps ?!
PS: APPLE PIE !!! W/ Vanilla Ice Cream !
If you wanted to hit all the bases?, I Know what I would do !
If you want to customize yur menu, it can be expanded or more intense on yur theme.

 

[Brit in Portugal]

Do they have whole untrimmed brisket there ?? Have you smoked one before ??

Evrybody that answers gonna have a different suggestion... Go with Plan A and stick to it.. research how the salads, mac n cheese, beans, and such to make them "american" style...

Throw some ABT's on early for lunch/snack...

That's awesome of you for doing this...

I've put ABT's on the list. Jalapeñoes are not routinely available here but I always grow plenty and I'll sacrifice them!!! Brisket is more difficult because they cut meat so differently here, but I have a butcher who get's the whole carcass come in to his shop so, with the aid of Google, I will get him to cut me a whole brisket .