Holidays 
TopVictoria Day
Host the perfect Victoria Day barbecue
Cue the sunshine and fireworks! Invite family and friends for a lively day of British-inspired food and fun.
Create the look
Think like an event planner and host an outdoor party people will remember:
Pick a theme and colour scheme
Go Victorian Royalty, English Garden or British Invasion. Whatever theme you choose, use colours and elements that reflect it for your party.
Make an impression
When greeting your guests, wear a fun apron that links to your theme. Give everyone a theme-related drink and make sure there are light snacks on hand.
Set the mood
- Place comfy pillows and cosy throws on chairs
- Use coloured bandanas as table runners and cutlery-holding napkins
- Arrange fresh flowers in your chosen shades in multi-coloured pails
- Add a bit of sand, a votive and some wire to mason jars, and string them on trees for ambience. You can also use versatile mason jars as vases, drink glasses or condiment containers. You can also use lemons and limes in your décor – line the sides of clear vases with slices and then fill the vases with matching flowers, such as daisies.
- Don’t forget about lighting, especially if your barbecue will run into the evening. Plan for a mix of lanterns, torches and candles. For a cheery glow, puncture holes in the bottoms of paper muffin cups and place them over the bulbs in a string of white Christmas lights.
Serve with style
- Create different levels of interest on your table by using cake plates as burger platters.
- Serve condiments and cutlery in witty containers, like a glammed up six-pack beer holder.
- Make the day even more fun with special barbecue tools, such as a branding iron to personalize steaks!
- A drink dispenser with lemonade or iced tea placed on your dessert table makes it easy for guests to top up.
Drinks fit for royalty
As both Brits and Canadians are known for their love of beer, why not serve a selection of local craft beers and an international selection of ales, lagers and stouts?
- Beer is the perfect party drink because all it needs is to be kept cold – no mixing required! Simply have several large tubs of ice located around the yard for different beers.
- For something more inventive, have various beer “tasting bars” with each devoted to a different kind of beer. Assign “experts” to read up on the type of beers being presented beforehand and staff the individual bars.
- For those who want something a little different, serve a refreshing “shandy”, which is a mix of beer and lemonade. Shandies originated in England, where they were referred to as “shandygaffs”. Eventually, the popular drink spread to the colonies, including Canada.
- Teetotallers can be offered tea, iced tea or lemonade – without beer, of course!
What to eat
The perfect menu for a Victoria Day party is one with British influence and Canadian sensibility.
Apple-Brie Pork Burgers
For the main course, get things rolling by throwing some burgers on the grill – but not just any burgers. Brits love their pork and Canadians do too. These delicious burgers are sure to please tastebuds from both sides of the pond.
Grilled Vegetables
For a healthy twist, add some veggies to the grill while it’s on. Pre-marinate broccoli, onions, zucchini, corn, eggplant and peppers in your favourite vinaigrette, and use a vegetable basket or skewers to cook them to perfection alongside the burgers.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Brits love their chips and pork loves sweet potatoes. These baked fries are much healthier than the deep-fried regular version, but the taste is incredible. They can bake in the oven while the burgers and veggies finish up on the grill.
Strawberry Trifles
Qu’y a-t-il de plus anglais qu’une bagatelle"? Cette version nutritive utilise du tofu soyeux à la place d’une crème un peu trop riche. Offrir ce dessert aux convives dans des petits pots Mason serait une bonne petite touche estivale.
Backyard party games
Entertain
Make sure there are things for people to do. Whether you hold a competitive croquet tournament or backyard Beatles karaoke – get creative!
Remember to play music that reflects the theme and mood – since you’re celebrating Victoria Day, perhaps an all-English playlist would get everyone into the spirit.
Whether you’re holding your very own fireworks display or journeying together to a local park, closing out your Victoria Day celebration by lighting up the night sky is a time-honoured tradition.
Eating healthy at the barbecue
Light and shade
Perhaps you’ll be a guest versus a host this Victoria Day. If you’re attending your first big barbecue of the season, here are some ways to keep the potential for bingeing in check:
- The larger your plate is, the more food you will take...and eat. For simple portion control, serve your dinner on a salad plate.
- If you plan to eat a big dinner, go easy on the appetizers. The calories in small apps add up quickly, even when they are bite- sized.
- If you love burgers but dislike the climbing calorie count, ask for a couple of mini-sliders instead.
- Fill your plate with large portions of low calorie food – like mixed vegetables. Take smaller servings of high-calorie options, such as French fries or creamy potato salad.
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