Sunny summer days are made for backyard barbecues, so let’s review basic backyard cookout behavior.
There Can Only Be One Chef
When attending a barbecue as a guest, resist the urge to share your grilling techniques with the host or hostess. Everyone has his or her own way of doing things, but it’s insufferably rude to act as if only you know the correct way to grill food. Even if you’ve won the World Series of Barbecue, sit back, enjoy the food, and be sure to compliment the chef.
No Surprises
When you’re invited to a barbecue, it isn’t rude to ask if you can bring a plus one, but it is rude to simply assume it’s OK to do so and startle your hosts. Make a point of arriving within 10 minutes of the time provided by your hosts; arriving too early can interrupt the setup process, and arriving an hour or so late shows a lack of respect….