The Heart of the Table | Seasons & Celebrations

Memorial Day BBQ Party

By: Jorj Morgan

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Whether it’s thick burgers, charred brats, sticky ribs, or seared steaks, the vibrant sides are truly just as important as the main course when you’re systematically planning your Memorial Day bash. There is undeniably a massive amount of planning and equally an overwhelming number of dishes to actively prepare when you swing open your doors. Here is a beautiful way I have learned to actively make things just a little bit more graceful on yourself this year.

Honestly, in my years of entertaining, I've found that preparing a massive overarching harvest of summer vegetables—thick spears of asparagus, sweet bell peppers, red onions, vibrant zucchini, yellow squash, tender eggplant, and deeply earthy portobello mushrooms—always profoundly elevates the spread from standard to entirely spectacular.

"The glorious secret here is that you can actively grill the beautiful bounty well in advance, and with incredibly little effort, elegantly assemble the final vibrant dish while the main course is resting."

There is absolutely something deeply satisfying about slicing the lush produce, tossing it lightly in oil, and explicitly locking in those perfect, beautiful grill marks over a roaring open flame long before the first guest even physically arrives. By intentionally allowing the charred bounty to chill quietly in the fridge until the late afternoon heat sets in, you ultimately grant yourself the ultimate luxury of simply assembling the final platters while everyone else is eagerly gathered around the steaks.

When it’s finally time to share the table, the presentation alone sparks incredibly deep joy. One platter might elegantly showcase those absolutely tender grilled vegetables drizzled generously with sharp golden olive oil and red wine vinegar, topped with remarkably thin shavings of white Parmesan and toasted, nutty pine nuts. Another rustic board might boldly display the vibrant veggies seamlessly stacked with fresh garden basil and creamy mozzarella, or creatively chopped completely into warm jasmine rice for a remarkably beautiful grilled veggie pilaf.

They even make an enthusiastic textural addition expertly sliced thin alongside your beautifully grilled beef or chicken for fajitas or thick quesadillas. Sometimes we even creatively cut cold watermelon out into thick circles of the exact same size as the tomato slices, pairing it all flawlessly together. What an incredibly forgiving, fundamentally graceful harvest to share entirely with those you love under the string lights.

A Vibrant Summer Salad

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