Barbecue bonanza

So you’re planning a barbecue. You’ve seasoned the red-gum, dry-aged the grass-fed beef, and tracked down organic hops for the home-brewed lager. Phew. Now wouldn’t it be great if you could ask some of your favourite cooking talent along to pitch in. Wondering what Frank Camorra or Elvis Abrahanowicz or Neil Perry might bring to your barbecue? We were too, so we asked them.

**Ben Russell, Aria, Brisbane

** How about I bring a bottle of Hendrick’s, a cucumber, a whole ‘nduja (the spreadable Calabrian salami) and some Johnny Cash records? Although if you’re a friend of mine you’ll probably have your own.

**Frank Camorra, MoVida, Melbourne

** How about I make a couple of potato and onion tortillas to bring along?

**Elvis Abrahanowicz and Ben Milgate, Porteño, Sydney

** We’ll bring Ben’s famous punch (with secret ingredient Passiona and a disproportionate ratio of alcohol); it’ll make everyone know it’s time to celebrate, like it or not.

**Christine Manfield, Universal, Sydney

** How about I bring a couple of jugs of Goldie Hawn from the Universal cocktail list – Belvedere vodka, Aperol, peach bitters and lemon – ready to pour over crushed ice? And a huge bowl of raspberry ripple, like a deconstructed pavlova: chunks of meringue and marshmallow with raspberries and raspberry sauce swirled through vanilla cream and crumbled vanilla nougat?

**Scott Heffernan, Smolt, Hobart

** For the barbecue season, nothing beats homemade spiced humitas and chapa bread – and I’d also bring a salad of celeriac, asparagus and globe artichoke from my garden.

**Matt Stone, Greenhouse, Perth

** How about I bring along an asparagus and quinoa salad? I’ll roast the asparagus with red chillies, shallot, garlic and a handful of almonds, add some quinoa, chopped parsley and lemon zest. Then I’ll dress it just before serving with olive oil and lemon juice and season with sea salt.

**Dan Hunter, Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, Vic

** How about I bring Lennox Hastie – do you mind if he cooks?

**Brent Savage, Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Sydney

** How does a salad of lobster, pink fir apple potato, pickled green garlic and globe artichoke sound? And I’ll also bring some compressed fruit with custard and meringue.

**Iain Todd, Ethos Eat Drink, Hobart

** What if I bring my home-grown heirloom tomatoes with salt and olive oil, and a pavlova with Tassie cherries and ginger? And a big bucket of Pimm’s, mint and ginger syrup, soda water, cucumber, strawberries and blood plums? And a salad of crisp iceberg lettuce dressed with vinaigrette and black sesame?

**Craig Will, Stillwater, Launceston, Tas

** I’m hoping the protein on the barbecue will be a slab of dry-aged Tasmanian beef and I’ll bring along my gutsy chimichurri sauce. It has just the right balance of parsley, oregano and garlic from my garden with vinegar and chilli, topped off with some gorgeous Lentara Grove olive oil from just up the road. And how about I bring a salad too? A generous bowl of mixed greens from the garden or from Bruce’s Yorktown Organics (just up the river) with my creamy buttermilk vinaigrette topped with some toasted nuts and grains for crunch would work perfectly with the Tassie beef.

**Jowett Yu, Ms G’s, Sydney

** I’m bringing Buffalo wings – made with Frank’s Red Hot sauce – with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

**Alla Wolf-Tasker, Lake House, Daylesford, Vic

** How about I bring a large jug of our house-made wild damson cup? Yes, it’s a bit like a Pimm’s Cup – although the colour is a deeper red and yes there’s a fair bit of lovely alcohol in it. But it’s the base that makes it special. It’s a damson cordial we make from damsons growing in local long-abandoned orchards. And yes, it requires some tree climbing and hand picking. It’s a real treat on a hot sunny day and deliciously good for you.

**Jonathan Barthelmess, Manly Pavilion, Sydney

** I’ll bring prosecco, lemon sorbet and a bunch of mint.

**Pasquale Trimboli, Italian & Sons, Canberra

** You can’t beat a white peach Bellini to ignite the appetite. Very Italian and always a favourite with the ladies.

**Luke Burgess, Garagistes, Hobart

** How about I bring a few magnums of Vodopivec Vitovska ’02? One is never enough.

**Barry McDonald, Fratelli Fresh, Sydney

** I’ll bring mangoes, white peaches, blood plums, apricots, and a large wedge of three-year-old Reggiano.

**Jason Jujnovich, Divido, Perth

** I’ll bring some great cheeses, such as a Spanish queso tetilla. Tetilla means “nipple”; it’s so named because of the shape of the cheese with its nipple-like peak on top. It’s quite a talking point around the barbie – oh, and it tastes great as well. Or a nice la tur from Piedmont? This is a mixture of cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk all in the one creamy concoction. I know cheese is traditionally enjoyed at the end of the meal, but in my circles we like to eat it as antipasti with a few beers or choice glasses of wine.

**Jim Berardo, Berardo’s, Noosa, Qld

** I’ll bring some very sweet Georgia Vidalia onions to grill.

**Jeremy Strode, Bistrode CBD, Sydney

** I’ll bring some handmade sausages from Feather & Bone with Jane’s tomato jam.

**Colin Fassnidge, Four in Hand, Sydney

** How about I bring a salad of our house-made buttermilk curd mixed with some freshly shaved fennel, fresh peas, mint and lemon juice, with a bit of radish on the top?

**Ryan Squires, Esquire, Brisbane

** I’ll bring a cast net so we can coal-fire some tiny bait fish with sea salt. I remember a barbecue I was invited to in Napa. My friend’s magnificent garden grew everything I needed for guacamole except a fresh baguette. All I had to do was pick, wash and chop, from the avocados in season on the tree to the fresh tiny chillies. I mean, I picked everything! Sometimes the simplest things are the best. It’s a memory that has never left me, and guacamole goes with about anything over a barbecue. Apart from that I’d bring a bottle of Mount Tamborine limoncello and a bag of ice. Even the Italians regard it as one of the world’s best – so bloody refreshing on a hot summer’s day. A couple of large lemon leaves would be handy as well. Wrap little bits of fish in them or even charred meats and grill for a while until the leaf burns. The oil and fragrance are unbelievable.

**Paul Wilson, Albert Park Hotel, Melbourne

** I’ll bring my famous mustard made with huitlacoche (Mexican corn fungus), which invigorates the humble barbecue, or maybe a panettone summer berry pudding and a bottle of Joseph sparkling red.

**Jacques Reymond, Jacques Reymond, Melbourne

** I usually never bring any food if I’m invited to someone’s house because I don’t want them to believe that I do not trust what they have prepared for me. If I know they appreciate wine I will always pick one of my best bottles kept in my private cellar.

**Phil Wood, Rockpool, Sydney

** How about I bring a Brussels sprout coleslaw with roasted hazelnuts, and a peach, mint, macadamia and balsamic vinegar salad? And some White Rabbit dark ales.

**Peter Gilmore, Quay, Sydney

** How about I bring you a whole lot of home-grown heirloom tomatoes and make you a simple tomato salad?

**George Calombaris, The Press Club, Melbourne

** I’ll bring my cracked wheat salad from Hellenic Republic. Yum.

**Hadleigh Troy, Restaurant Amusé, Perth

** How about I bring a pav? Everyone loves pavlova no matter how dishevelled it becomes in transit.

**Andrew McConnell, Cutler & Co., Melbourne

** I’ll bring some of my homemade ginger beer and a quality bottle of vodka.

**Richard Ptacnik, Otto Ristorante, Sydney

** How about I bring a tiramisù? As a chef I love to relax on my days off so it’s a nice dish I can prepare at home before coming. I always bring along a bottle of Hendrick’s gin, a few bottles of tonic and a bag of lemons as well. I love the simplicity of the drink. And the rest takes care of itself.

**Vince LaMontagna, Vincenzo’s Cucina Vera, Adelaide

** How about I bring a box of handmade sfogliatelle, and Campari to make a mean pitcher of Negroni?

**Peter Doyle, Est., Sydney

** I’ll bring a salad of avocado, heart of palm, cucumber, pink grapefruit and mint, and a raspberry trifle.

**Justin North, Bécasse, Sydney

** How about I bring some of my favourite frozen Champagne and strawberry jellies?

**Martin Benn, Sepia, Sydney

** I’ll bring a beautiful fresh sashimi-grade bonito and my new Japanese filleting knife, and a little orange oil to brush the bonito fillets.

**Stefano Manfredi, Balla, Sydney

** Some decent wine – I’m thinking of top cru prosecco like Silvano Follador Cartizze Brut di Valdobbiadene. While we’re at it I’d also like to bring some ice-cold Graci Etna Bianco, a Sicilian wine made from the carricante grape.

**Scott Minervini, Lebrina, Hobart

** Are you grilling red meat? Then perhaps a bottle of aglianico or a dusty Chianti Classico, or some of my pork-chilli-fennel sausages, or some caponata that is beautifully developed. Or a potato salad made from freshly dug pink-eye potatoes.

**Dan Hong, Ms G’s, Sydney

** I’ll bring some tinned lychees, rambutans, longans, nata de coco jelly, cendol, coconut milk and shaved ice, mix it all up and make a refreshing dessert.

**Jock Zonfrillo, Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant, Adelaide

** How about I bring pre-made Bramble cocktails and some homemade marshmallows to toast over the embers for dessert?

**Teage Ezard, Ezard, Melbourne

** I’ll bring a salad of summer crab, mango, Vietnamese mint, chilli and fried shallot, finished with a beautiful fresh nuoc cham dressing. And you can leave me in charge of making Negronis.

**Kiren Mainwaring, Dear Friends, Perth

** How does Gidgegannup marron and a bottle of John Kososvich bottle-aged chenin sound?

**Mark Best, Marque, Sydney

** How about I bring three small pigs on the hoof and a case of 2001 Cristal just to keep things gangsta?

**Matt Wilkinson, Pope Joan, Melbourne

** I’ll bring this damn Weber I’ve had for 10 years; I still can’t get the coals to stay alight so you can show me how to work it properly. Or some witbier and my lime foam for us to drink.

**Neil Perry, Rockpool, Sydney

** How about I bring over some Ibérico ham, Iggy’s bread, tomato salad, potato salad and a couple of bottles of Rockford basket press shiraz. Then all you have to do is cook a good steak.

Related link – Homes to Love: how to care for your barbecue