Sometimes I see something so brilliant I wish I’d thought of it myself (and reaped the imagined pile of money that certainly must come from the idea.  Thus, I introduce you to this durable plastic table cover that fits tables like a bed sheet.

Never again will you have to struggle with taping plastic to tables.  We stock these in a variety of colors.  Just tell us your table size and color preference and we’ll add them to your catering order for a very reasonable cost.

Throwing the biggest, best barbecue that your co-workers, friends and family have ever seen doesn’t take much work, just a little creative planning.  First, order Albert Pit Barbecue’s Honest-to-Goodness Real Barbecue.  Second, use the following ideas to create a fun, casual atmosphere.

A creative invitation heightens everyone’s excitement about the party.

Try writing the party details on disposable plastic bibs or aprons. Tie them up with ribbon for a fun look.

If you could hand-deliver barbecue sauce bottles to all your invitees, why not make a label with party details and stick them on the bottle. Imaging how much fun it would be to get such an invitation in your in-box at work. Albert Pit Barbecue can arrange label-free bottles of our sweet, Kansas City style barbecue sauce for you to use.

available at www.fakebugs.com

What picnic is complete without ants?

Why not order a bunch of plastic ants (available online at fakebugs.com) and spread them around the tables as confetti, freeze them in your ice cube trays, and slip one in the invitation envelope. In fact, put them everywhere, including on the mirror in your guest bathroom! If you are planning the party at work, add to your co-workers suspense by marching your ants around the workplace a few days before the invitations arrive…put a line of them across the time clock…add a few to the lunch room table…glue ants on pencils and put one on everyone’s workspace.

A western theme can make for a great barbecue.

Wrap your invitation up in a bandanna. Use bandannas as napkins. Give every guest a cowboy hat—if you put their names on the brim it makes a great replacement for name tags. You could even put the hats on the tables as place cards.  See our bandanna wrapped box lunches.

Don’t forget some festive centerpieces.

For an outdoor party, set a kid’s pail in the middle of the table, tie on some balloons, and fill it with party cameras, fun-shaped sunglasses, sunscreen and bug repellent.

Albert Pit Barbecue is here to help make your party a smashing success! Let’s do it together!

When it snowed last Thursday and we had to wake up the college student at CSU Engineering College at CSU in Fort Collins with the news, all might have been lost.  But to his credit the student, Jesse, had made a pretty good snow plan.  Good think too since he had 600 hungry students planning on him for lunch.  Company picnic planners or other planners of large events can learn a lot of tips from this event.

The planning committee had a backup plan to move the celebration indoors–but they didn’t decide to implement it.  Unlike a smaller event, logistically it isn’t easy to move a large event indoors.  Tip number one, have a back-up plan in advance.

Having a tent is a requirement. No one ever thinks it could possibly rain on their large wedding party, fundraiser or company picnic, but ask Jessie–it might not rain it might snow!  Having a sturdy tent with lots of weights in case of sudden wind gust and tent sides is a smart move.   Don’t be cheap–order the tent sides because if there is the slightest wind much of the tent’s potential coverage space is lost to snow or rain drifting in. Because we had a tent we could create a great space for serving barbecue.  We made a spiffy sun to hang up on the tent out of paperboard, put on a Beach Boys CD in a boombox and headed to the Fort Collins campus.  This year the tent kept the food out of the snow, in past years it has made a canopy to keep guests out of the rain.

We heard from the organizers that several of the vendors for the event cancelled when they saw the snow.  For large events, it is wise to ask your vendors under what weather circumstances they will perform and what happens to your deposits in case of foul weather.

As an approved cater on campus we list CSU on our insurance policy and follow, not just our own food safety rules, but all of the special rules CSU requires.   This legal paperwork is recommended for large events. It costs the vendor something to add you as an “additional insured” on their policy–so expect to pay for this service.  Ask your corporate legal department what you’ll need.  At a minimum, request proof of insurance and a copy of the vendor’s state and local licenses.

One of the fun things about this event was that the corporate sponsor worked on the buffet line. Event sponsor and student supporter, Slumberger, sent some representatives who spent several hours serving the traditional barbeque sides of coleslaw, potato salad and beans.   Have you considered which suppliers and supporters of your organization might be willing to provide giveaways or funding for your picnic?

The Engineering College chose a feast of traditional barbeque and grilled items for their event.  We consider the diversity that a campus crowd offers when we plan a menu for this event, and so we bring vegetarian, gluten-free, and pork-free meal choices for this client’s guests.  At large events, it is a safe-guess that guests will need varied menu options.

We love the happy exhaustion that comes from all the work of a large company picnic, association event, or fundraiser.  It was all made easier by a picnic planner for a large event that had done their homework.  Next year, let’s hope it is sunny!