Summer is getting closer, and we're all excited to spend more time outdoors, both in our free time and with our team. Indoor events will still be limited or entirely impossible for a while, so we're heading outside: the season for corporate grill events is officially open! Already planning your next corporate BBQ and looking for unusual ideas? In a year full of home office, challenges, and uncertainty, it's especially important to have positive experiences as a team and escape the daily grind. What could be better than good food and good conversation outdoors?

1. BBQ - THE catering choice for corporate summer parties

Grilling is one of the most popular ideas for summer parties, both privately and at companies. And rightly so, since hardly anything sparks a summery feeling quite like the smell of sizzling food on the grill.

One option is to organize the barbecue yourselves: everyone brings something, and the organizing team makes sure nothing is missing at the end, grilled food with and without meat, vegetables, salads, matching bread, and drinks. Maybe your boss owns a professional grill, and there's plenty of tableware in the office kitchen. Different colleagues take turns as grill master.

As charming as this idea is, it does require some organizational effort. Alternatively, you can order barbecue catering and not worry about a thing. The caterer takes care of all requirements (headcount, special requests, dietary habits or allergies, etc.), brings the necessary equipment if needed, along with service staff who handle the grilling and serving.

2. 8 ideas for your corporate grill event

Not all barbecue is created equal. Especially in the world of catering, there are significant differences in how food is presented, what it focuses on, and what service is included. Here are six ideas to inspire your next corporate summer party.

2.1 The grill buffet - classic or finger food

A buffet has many advantages: everyone can help themselves flexibly and choose exactly what they like to eat. Labels and allergen information help allergy sufferers, vegetarians, and vegans find their way. The perfect buffet offers a balanced mix of different meats and fish, meat-free alternatives, sides, bread, salads, and desserts, plus sauces and drinks of course.

The alternative to a classic grill buffet is finger food: bite-sized portions you can eat without cutlery. Grilled skewers with vegetables and grilling cheese, antipasti or tapas, grilled fruit skewers, mini burgers, or mini wraps. The two can also be wonderfully combined, for example grilled sausages and steaks with skewers and small side portions in a jar.

A few example dishes for inspiration:

• various salads such as pasta salad, coleslaw, and potato salad
• pork neck steak
• bratwurst
• chicken skewers
• mozzarella skewers
• salmon fillets
• focaccia

2.2 Themed BBQ with international cuisine

Grilling is popular all over the world, and every country has its own specialties. Maybe you want to give your corporate grill event a specific theme, or discover a particular country's cuisine together. Typical American barbecue or Korean barbecue? Grilling with Spanish or Mexican specialties? Turkish or Arabic cuisine, or something more Northern European. There's a lot to discover across the world's cuisines!

A few international grill specialties for inspiration:

• ribs
• buffalo chicken wings
• chicken tikka
• köfte
• harissa cauliflower
• grilled halloumi
• empanadas

2.3 Vegan-vegetarian grilling

It doesn't always have to be meat. Want to try something new, or is climate or animal welfare part of your company's values? A corporate grill event can also be fully vegetarian or even vegan. Delicious veggie burgers, vegan grilling sausages, or steak alternatives made from tofu, wheat protein, or legumes, paired with plenty of fresh vegetables and crisp salads. No one will miss the meat at such a colorful plant-based grill buffet!

Examples of delicious meat-free grill dishes:

• seitan steaks
• tofu bratwurst
• vegetable skewers
• baked potatoes
• grilled corn on the cob
• stuffed mushrooms
• grilled tempeh

2.4 BBQ food truck

Food trucks are eye-catchers at any event. Did you know there are barbecue food trucks too? These caterers bring everything you need for a varied grill menu at your corporate summer party, and keep you and your teammates fed with the tastiest grilled treats. Burgers, smoked or pulled pork, homemade burger and grill sauces, spareribs, broiled chicken, and of course fresh sides straight from the grill or smoker, ready to hold in your hand. For larger summer parties, several trucks together create a genuine street food market atmosphere.

2.5 Hot dog bar

Grilling doesn't always have to mean steak, sausages, and burgers, how about a hot dog bar for you and your team? Different hot dogs, bratwurst, and other sausages, with meat, vegan, and vegetarian, hot dog buns, sauces, and toppings, that's all it takes for everyone to build their own hot dog exactly to their taste. Crispy bacon and fried onions, sauerkraut and pickles, caramelized onions, cheese, and jalapeños, the possibilities are nearly endless.

2.6 Caribbean vibes at your summer party

A great summer event for companies could be held under a "Caribbean" theme. Alongside a delicious BBQ offering, matching cocktails and aperitifs could be served. Add some lovely live music with Caribbean sounds, and the escape from everyday life is perfect. Feel free to try something unusual, like grilled bananas with a mojito, the Caribbean sends its regards. Alongside grill catering, we can also offer matching cocktail catering, so you can fully enjoy your summer party.

2.7 Grilling in winter

A BBQ is usually associated with summer, but a wintry or holiday atmosphere has its own charm too. In a grill hut or a cozy rented stand, grilled food like tasty bratwurst and meat-free options can be prepared alongside mulled wine. Why not set up your own holiday market and create a magical holiday feeling for your company.

2.8 Grilling seminar

Want to combine your corporate grill event with a special summer team event? Some caterers offer the chance to learn from grilling professionals. Get shown how to grill the perfect steak, and what the best meat-free alternatives and sides are. Even the experienced grill masters among you are sure to pick up something new. And of course, there are delicious grilled treats to enjoy along the way!

3. The best grill caterers at heycater!

Would you like support planning and running your corporate grill event? heycater! has the best BBQ caterers, as well as event experts who have already organized corporate parties for many companies. Just send us a request with the key details for your corporate BBQ, and we'll get back to you with a no-obligation offer!