WANT THE PERFECT BBQ? SURVEY SAYS GO BIG AND ROCK ON
NEWS COPY - WITH VIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC
Take eight guests, add soft drinks, hamburgers, potato salad and a dash of rock and roll - that's the recipe for the perfect barbecue, according to a new survey.
Mostly men do the honors at the grill, the event is best staged in your own backyard, and you should be prepared to attend at least four barbecues between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
And although we may be gathered for a feast, food takes second place to people, with over half of Americans saying that it's being around old friends that makes the barbecue most memorable.
Those are the findings of a poll of 2,000 U.S. families by Cape Cod kettle-cooked potato chips to mark the launch of its new Americana Barbecue Brisket and Slow Smoked flavors this summer.
And as the smoke rises from the grill and appetizing aromas fill the summer air, other magical ingredients appear - childhood memories.
A wistful 52 percent of respondents said hosting or attending an outdoor get-together made them nostalgic for summers past.
The identical percentage said it reminded them of when they were young, one in five was transported back to where they grew up and one in 10 found themselves thinking about the food they ate as children.
But make no mistake - although memories and fun with family and friends are what people love most - food's still a really big deal.
"Cape Cod is our hometown, and back home, barbecues are the perfect intersection of family, friends and fun and clearly at the heart of Americana," said Alvaro Trinidad, Director of Marketing for Cape Cod potato chips.
"The results show our love for barbecues is stronger than ever, and it's great to see this American pastime is something we keep up, with our passion for the food and flavors of barbecues a clear favorite."
When it comes to the food, the Southeast was voted as having the best barbecue fare, ahead of the Southwest, the Midwest, the West and the Northeast.
Hamburgers reigned supreme as the nation's favorite meat, followed by steak, ribs and chicken. And the humble potato salad was named the best side, beating out corn on the cob, baked beans and coleslaw.
The survey found more than half of families prefer plain or barbecue-flavored chips, over sour cream & onion or salt & vinegar.
And when it comes to must-have drinks at a barbecue, soft drinks, iced tea or sweet tea beat out beer, but just barely.
The average American spends $140 when hosting a barbecue, and with at least four barbecues expected to happen before Labor Day - racks up a bill for a minimum of $560. But when they're attending a barbecue, most guests also contribute. Six out of ten will bring a homemade dish and a third of people take either beer, wine or something easy like chips.
Rock ruled as the number one choice of background music, over country, pop and hip hop.
When asked about location, most people considered the backyard was the best spot for a barbecue, even above pool, park and the beach.
"With the right company, sharing great food like your grandma's mac and cheese or our new Cape Cod Americana barbecue chips can take your outdoor gathering up a notch and make it that much more special," said Trinidad, acknowledging he didn't have any solutions for the bugs and mosquitos that are the No. 1 annoyance for the majority of us at barbecues.
ENDS
