One of the hottest and driest summer’s on record has served up some of the best grilling conditions in years for backyard BBQ lovers — we’ve had weekend after weekend of glorious weather to enjoy the season over an outdoor meal with family and friends.
But after so many backyard cookouts and potlucks, it’s understandable that many of us are starting to run out of fresh ideas for something interesting to toss on the grill.
“Burgers and hot dogs are staples of the summer BBQ menu for a reason — pretty much everyone loves them and they’re easy to grill. But sometimes it’s nice to expand your horizons and stretch your BBQ skills with other delicious grilling options,” says Belmont Meats CEO Paul Roach.
With that in mind and the end of summer on the horizon, Belmont has come up with some suggestions for BBQ lovers to try out as a change of pace before the season wraps up.
Bacon and Steak Together
Bacon-wrapped sirloin steaks give a tasty new twist to a barbecue classic. Belmont offers frozen bacon-wrapped sirloins in boxes of four that are ideal for the grill after they’ve been thawed.
Beef Short Ribs
Short ribs are a tender, flavour-packed escape from the usual grilling fare. Not only are they simple and quick to prepare on the BBQ, but also they’re a high-quality, healthy protein option. Belmont offers short ribs in three unique flavours, including Korean BBQ, Maple Chipotle and Tuscan.
Shoulder Cuts
As beef prices have climbed over the past several years, more consumers are buying less common cuts of steak. Beef shoulder tender — terres major — is known for its tenderness, soft texture and generous marbling, which make it an excellent grilling meat.
New Burger Blends
Not that there’s anything wrong with traditional beef burgers, but blended patties — mixing premium beef cuts — are a fantastic option to add some excitement to the backyard BBQ. Belmont has several blends in its burger line-up, including prime rib/chuck, short rib/chuck and prime rib/brisket.
White meats on the menu
Chicken and turkey are great options to bring something different and delicious to the grill. Why not serve up some spicy turkey burgers or California chicken burgers with guacamole as a change of pace. Poultry is quickly growing in popularity due to its versatility and health profile. In fact, chicken has been identified as the No. 1 meat of choice for Canadians for the past three years.