Footy finals season is well and truly here! Do you know what you’re doing for Grand Final Day yet? If you’re not one of the lucky ones to score a ticket to the game, there’s a good chance you might be celebrating with the traditional barbecue.
At the beginning of the month we published our guide to hosting a great AFL or NRL Grand Final barbie. Now we follow up by asking a few food, lifestyle and sporting gurus to share their thoughts on how to enjoy the day.
The Italian Chef
Annalisa Ferrari of a.ferarri kitchen
Annalisa Ferrari is a chef and food writer. Though now based in Sydney, she grew up in Florence, Tuscany, and lived in Paris and New York City before finding her way to Australia. If you’re craving something a little more swish than party pies and tomato sauce, then listen up: she’s bringing the noise.
While her food ideas are a far cry from the traditional fare at a Grand Final barbie, the sentiments behind them will be familiar. We agree with her 100% that great food shouldn’t mean being stuck in the kitchen instead of enjoying the game: “If you have a great sporting event to host and you want to have fun and be part of the party you want to create dishes that need little work, time and attention while the game is on and your guests are over. It’s much more fun to be in the party rather than cooking it!”
As a native of Italy, Annalisa is somewhat more familiar with the rounder balled version of football. Her food ideas, though, could work just as well for an AFL or NRL game: “Last time I catered a world cup soccer event we had a pasta al forno (pasta bake) with tomato, pork&fennel sausages, herbs, parmigiano, ricotta and a sprinkle of pine nuts. This item can be put together in advance and put in the oven 30 minutes before you want to eat it, that’s it!”
“In addition, we had a huge ratatouille tart, this can also be prepared in advance. All you have to do is stick it in the oven when you put the pasta in.”
“Then to wow them all, affogati (ice cream with espresso) for dessert”
“There you have it: a delicious, easy grand final feast!”
We then asked Annalisa a few questions:
What are your favourite food ideas for a Grand Final day barbecue?
“So if I had to choose a menu that has to be done in part on the bbq I would get a whole rib eye fillet, cover it with fresh herbs and cook it 5 minutes per side. Let it rest (for 20 minutes) then carve thinly and serve with roasted shallots.”
“While you are resting the meat you can put thick slices of eggplant , zucchini and peppers, covered in sumac, oregano salt and pepper on the BBQ and grill. When these are ready drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, a splash of lemon and serve with Mozzarella as a side to the the meat.”
“In addition this can be accompanied by a pasta with pesto, fresh tomatoes, olives and ricotta (that can be made in advance).”
“I finish it all off with Ice cream affogato’s and perhaps a salame dolce ( a chocolate log with nuts, coconut flakes, biscuit and dried fruit.”
What do you recommend in the way of drinks for the day?
“For drinks you could have some mimosas to start (champagne and fresh orange juice) or another great drink is a sprits (Aperol, soda water and a slice of orange) This is a great low alcohol drink to kick off the day!”
What’s the best time for Grand Final day celebrations to start? Grand Final breakfast, yea or nay?
“Any time of day is a great time for a grand final celebration: it’s the final! What more of an excuse do you need to get the crew together have fun eat and drink and possibly watch your team kick the winning goal?”
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happen at a Grand Final day barbecue?
“For the World Cup my Italian friends ended up playing in the garden with a pink Barbie ball, pretending to be on the national team. Their serious actions executed with the Barbie ball where priceless! When sport is a passion, any ball will do, so long as you get the chance to kick and celebrate.”
What should the host provide at a Grand Final day barbecue, and what should guests bring?
“When I host a party I like to do most of the cooking, but If I ask guests to bring something it’s salad, bread, crackers for cheese, beer and wine. If I have a friend who loves to make a special dessert then I let that friend go ahead and bring it. There are never too many treats!”
What’s the worst thing anyone can say or do at a Grand Final day barbecue?
“Not having the sportsmanship to let people cheer for their team. There is nothing like a bad loser! Sport is a game, passion and love. Everyone in it should be treated with respect and celebrated no matter what the results of the game are.”
The Food and Travel Writers
Amanda Quayle and Shane Schipper of Graze the Earth
Shane Schipper is the head chef for Cirque de Solel’s show Kooza, and an enormous NRL fan. Amanda is a marketing and events professional with a passion for food and travel. Together they write about their circus adventures around the world on their blog “Graze the Earth”.
What are your favourite food ideas for a Grand Final day barbecue?
“Slow roasted lamb shoulder and beer can chicken on the BBQ. This way we can watch the game and chat to our friends. We marinate the lamb a day before in garlic, chilli, basil and olive oil.For the beer can chicken we rub it with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Empty half the beer (husband to consume) and put in the can three lemon wedges, tspn garlic, tspn chicken salt and pinch of oregano.”
“Can’t go wrong with potato bake! This has become such a huge hit at our BBQ’s that we have to make two trays of it. We only make one salad, experience shows the meat and potato bake go first. Rocket, grilled asparagus, toasted pine nuts, roasted tomatoes and shavings of Parmesan.”
What do you recommend in the way of drinks for the day?
“Drinks on grand final day are usually beers and wine. We provide soft drinks and water with raspberries and mint.”
What’s the best time for Grand Final day celebrations to start? Grand Final breakfast, yea or nay?
“Nay to breakfast! To much prep and not enough time. We have friends arrive from 2pm that way we can chat and eat before the pre-match coverage starts.”
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happen at a Grand Final day barbecue?
“A girlfriend of ours was backing the opposite team to us. She disappeared into our kitchen and hijacked our dessert by handing out cupcakes with blue glitter frosting to bribe everyone to support her team!”
What should the host provide at a Grand Final day barbecue, and what should guests bring?
“A good host should provide the food for the BBQ, non alcoholic drinks and eskys or buckets of ice to keep guests drinks cold. Guest can bring their alcoholic drinks of choice.”
What’s the worst thing anyone can say or do at a Grand Final day barbecue?
“Offend other guests who are supporting the opposite team. Yelling at them does not help, they’re not playing the game! Sport brings out passion in people but it can also make them a little irrational. Remember to keep your cool and have a good time.”
The Barbecue Fanatic
Chris Girvan-Brown of Urban Griller
The phrase “avid barbecue fiend” doesn’t seem to appear in any dictionary I own, but if you find it in yours, what probably follows afterwards is a description of Chris Girvan-Brown. Chris is the founding president of the Australian BBQ Association (ABBQA) and is head BBQ chef of the Urban Griller BBQ Cooking School and Catering Company in Western Australia. He also appears on barbecue cooking segments on local radio, and has been operating BBQ cooking schools for 14 years.
What are your favourite food ideas for a Grand Final day barbecue?
“You need good finger food, nothing too complex, little boys are great grilled in the BBQ, wrap them in bacon if you want to go upmarket, but just grilling them is enough! Sprinkle some BBQ rub on chunks of corn, Frenched lamb chops are great, they come with their own handle, just hit them with salt and pepper and grill them off, serve with a herby mayonnaise.”
What do you recommend in the way of drinks for the day?
“Mostly the drinks will look after themselves as people bring what they want, have plenty of clean glasses and bottle openers. I would make sure to have some soda and lemon slices. Watch that your bins don’t fill up with empties!”
What’s the best time for Grand Final day celebrations to start? Grand Final breakfast, yea or nay?
“I think an early start is good, but it’s a long day if you have a Grand Final Breakfast, make sure it’s a hearty affair, there is a long way to go!”
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happen at a Grand Final day barbecue?
“Not really funny at the time, but I’ve seen a serious BBQ fat fire from the host being distracted by a crucial goal and never quite getting back to the job at hand! Tragic, but we did laugh after a bit of hose work!”
What should the host provide at a Grand Final day barbecue, and what should guests bring?
“It’s a no-brainer: the Host provides the meat, ice and backup beer, the guests bring beer, salads and nibbles.”
What’s the worst thing anyone can say or do at a Grand Final day barbecue?
” ‘Can someone move that car, I need to go home.’ it’s the beginning of the end!”
“Rule No 38 of good BBQ: Make sure your “best mate” doesn’t have to move his car to let out some wimp who wants to go home too early.”