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Best BBQs in London
By Tamara Abraham 17.06.09
It’s a steak out: Tamara Abraham and friends tuck into a barbecue feast with a little help from Eden Events
Firing up a drama: Roastmaster at work
Cooking alfresco is great in theory but we're generally about as rusty at cooking on a BBQ as the ageing tin cans that pass for grills in our backyards.
Luckily, there is an effortless solution — let someone else do the hard work.
A barbecue catering company will provide a chef and professional grill, as well as waiters to serve the food and keep glasses topped up.
They'll bring gazebos if rain is forecast and even clear up afterwards.
Here, we've found the best companies that will bring the barbie to you — from Greek-style souvlaki and kebabs to Brazilian meat skewers and a full-on medieval-style hog roast — so all you have to do is decide on a theme, sit back and enjoy the party.
Eden Events
Boasting a six-foot barbecue grill, Eden provides the lot, from waiting staff and chefs to side dishes.
The food is designed to be eaten with one hand, so a glass of fizz can be held with the other.
Baby back ribs and chicken satay are served on wooden platters, the burgers are especially tasty, and coconut ginger shrimp potato skins are a must.
Tropical fruit kebabs with chocolate and honey continue the theme for dessert.
£30pp, 020 7803 1212, eden-events.co.uk
Simply Catering
Simply's signature barbecue feast takes its inspiration from Cyprus, with souvla lamb cutlets, grilled halloumi, souvlakia chicken kebabs and loukanika pork and juniper sausages, all cooked over charcoal.
Meats are served in pitta with Greek salad, hummus and tzatziki.
The company also offers a Caribbean barbecue complete with jerk chicken, and an impressive vegetarian feast featuring grilled mushrooms, veggie skewers, potato salad and couscous.
From £16.50pp, 020 8374 5542, simplycatering.co.uk
The Jolly Hog & Sausage
Run by rugby player Ollie Kohn and his chef brother Josh, this company has catered for Cartier Polo and is a favourite with the Harlequins and Wasps rugby teams.
Its hog roast, served with apple sauce and sage and onion stuffing, has real wow factor, while hand-made sausages include flavours such as
pork with apple and cider, and venison, red wine and cranberry.
From £20pp; for 30 or more from £600; hog roasts from £750. 07974 328 874, jollyhogandsausage.co.uk
The Aussie Barbecue Company
With feasts named “Fair Dinkum BBQ” and “Bonza Buffet”, you'll be transported to Summer Bay.
Well, minus the beaches, warmth or hot surfers. Specialities include “sizzler dogs” (hand-made sausages served in a roll with onion rings) and the “Aussie steakwich” (barbecue-marinated steak in a crispy roll).
Burgers are hand-made and the veggie kebabs feature corn on the cob, peppers, mushrooms and halloumi cheese on giant skewers.
Sides are kept classic with coleslaw and potato salad. They will use your plates, or will provide proper stuff for a fee.
From £8.99 a head, 01245 226118, aussiebbq.co.uk
South African BBQ
Serving up ostrich steak, Western Cape snoek fillets (a tender white fish) and boerewors (a spiced beef sausage), South African BBQ also offers a lamb spit roast for parties of 30-40 (from £320).
Exotic Side dishes and starters include biltong (air-dried beef) and Monkey Gland sauce (a barbecue relish).
Desserts include koeksisters (doughnuts) and pumpkin fritters with caramel sauce.
Usually use disposable plates, or proper plates at extra cost.
From about £10pp, 07703 743047, south-african-bbq.com
Blistering Barbecues
A favourite with foodies, Blistering's sumptuous spreads have even fed Prince Charles.
Feast upon rare pepper steak sandwiches, shashlik Moroccan lamb and Asian duck breast.
Monkfish skewers and griddled squid are served alongside charred asparagus spears with hollandaise.
Desserts are an experience, too, with giant pavlovas a metre high.
They only use real plates — or sometimes serve on stylish wooden platters.
From £40pp, 020 8778 3699, blistering.co.uk
Roastmaster
Roastmaster is big on presentation, with its multi-skewer tandoori chicken rotisserie.
Wild boar and water buffalo feature among the spit roast offerings, while the whole trout brushed with chive and lemon butter, and cooked over charcoal and walnut shavings is mouthwatering.
Prices include fresh bread, side dishes, plates, cutlery and service.
From £20pp, 0870 758 5750, roastmaster.co.uk
Reader views (3)
We used the Jolly Hog and Sausage Company for a local village fair and I can honestly say that the service was awesome! The hog was full of flavour and the service was great! Throughly reccommended!
- Nick, Bristol, England
Thanks for featuring us. If anybody wants to try our food, please visit us at the Toast Festival at Clapham Common this weekend (Friday-Sunday). 
You're a star, Tamara.
- Sonia & Hendré De Bruin, London
Hi Tamara
I just wanted to say thank you for including us in this weeks BBQ feature. The phone has been red hot!
Great feature.
Many thanks
Jennet & Dwayne Watkin
- Jennet, Chelmsford Essex
