Barbecue evening at the finca: The shopping list

Every finca with a grill has the same effect on adults: on the first day, it’s decided that we’ll grill tonight. At seven, someone realizes there’s no charcoal.

The grill evening is the secret highlight of many finca holidays. The sun is low, the pool is still sparkling, someone has put on music, and the discussion about the right level of doneness begins. To ensure that remains the only discussion of the evening, here is our shopping list – sorted by what is most frequently forgotten.

First, the unspectacular: Fire

The grill is already there. The charcoal usually isn’t. So before you think about meat, clarify the basic equipment:

• Charcoal: You should plan generously for an evening with six to eight people. Anyone planning several grill evenings should order double right away.
• Lighter fluid/firelighters: Firelighting cubes make life easier and faces less sooty.
• A long lighter: Matches and wind are not a good combination.
• Aluminum foil: for vegetable packets, fish, and anything that shouldn't fall through the grate.

You can find all of this under Grilling. In case of doubt, ask us briefly whether your finca has a charcoal or gas grill – that will save you a disappointment.

The meat: more than sausages

Spanish supermarkets have a meat counter that makes grilling fans happy. A few classics that have proven themselves on Mallorca:

• Secreto de cerdo: a cut of pork that is rarely found in supermarkets in Germany. Thin, juicy, quick to cook – and a good reason to talk about something other than bratwurst at the next barbecue.
• Panceta: pork belly, grilled crispy with coarse salt.
• Lamb chops: short and hot, with alioli. Nothing more needs to be said.
• Chicken: wings for the kids, marinated breast fillets for those who don’t want long prep times, ready-made skewers with peppers and bacon for everyone else.
• Burgers: beef, pork, or chicken patties, plus large bread rolls or brioche buns.

The complete selection is under Meat & Poultry. We buy the meat as fresh as possible and bring it chilled to your refrigerator. And for the fish faction, there is salmon and more under Fish & Seafood.

How much meat per person?

A rule of thumb that has proven effective for group barbecues: it’s better to plan for a bit more than to realize at nine o’clock that the last sausage is already gone. Anyone offering several types can buy a little less of each – people prefer to sample rather than stick to one large piece. And whatever is left over makes a pretty good sandwich the next noon.

The vegetables: peppers are a must

Green peppers halved, with olive oil and salt on the grill – in Spain, this isn't a side dish, it's a tradition. Add onions, tomatoes, and potatoes for the embers. If you like it convenient, get pre-cut pan vegetables consisting of peppers and onions. Everything under Fruit & Vegetables.

A little trick for potatoes: wrap them in aluminum foil, place them in the embers an hour before the meat, and forget about them. They’ll turn out good anyway. Mostly.

Sauces and spices

Without sauces, a barbecue is just a series of cooked food items. Our minimum equipment:

• Alioli – the garlic cream without which no barbecue on Mallorca works
• Barbecue sauce and burger sauce for everything between two bun halves
• Olive oil, coarse salt, sea salt flakes, and pepper from the mill
• Herbes de Provence or a ready-made spice mix for chicken and ribs

Found under Oil, Sauces & Spices. And honestly: a handful of sea salt flakes on a good piece of meat is the cheapest way to look competent while grilling.

The drinks: cold, colder, ice

A barbecue in the summer heat presents fridges with real challenges. Therefore, the list should include:

• Beer – Spanish varieties in six-packs and non-alcoholic alternatives under Beer
• Tinto de Verano or a rosé from Wine & Cava
• Water and soft drinks for the kids – and for the grill master in between
• Ice cubes in bulk packs from the Frozen range, to fill a tub or cooler

All liquids at a glance can be found under Drinks.

The extras

What is really missing at the end of a barbecue is rarely food. It’s napkins, trash bags, and dish soap. And at the very latest, when the sun goes down, mosquito spray. For the table on the terrace, we recommend a citronella candle or mosquito coils – both under Household & Kitchen.

The shortest shopping list in the world

You can print this list and take it to the supermarket. But you can also simply tick it off at the WOW MART: You order before arrival, we do the shopping and bring charcoal, meat, vegetables, and drinks to your finca. When you arrive, everything is ready – and the only question of the evening is who dares to take on the grill.

Still looking for a finca with a good grill area? Check out the WOW F!NCAS.

Chillin’ like a millionaire. With grill tongs in hand.