How to Prepare for a James Bond-inspired BBQ
If you’re planning a themed BBQ, what could be better than doing up your garden 007-style? Anyone can have a traditional BBQ, but if you really want to impress your guests, why not go all out and make your garden and patio into a full-fledged theme park? Let’s take a closer look at how you can do this. If your guests are inspired by the theme, they might be tempted to try their luck with online betting and check out roulette games online.
Choose your colours
If you’re doing James Bond, first of all you should think about your color choices for decor and have everything match. You want something bold, striking, and old school enough that it will put your guests in the right frame of mind. Best to choose a lot of black and white to add a bit of mystery to the evening. Perhaps some gold trim to add some glitz, or a dash of red.
Remember that you’ll have several components to think about: Tablecloths, banners and streamers, coasters, and anything else that you choose to spruce up your yard. If you’re going to get specialty cups and plates, be sure they match the overall theme as well.
You’ll have to have an ode to the 007 Ashton Martin somewhere. Even if it is only a photo, you should make a physical reference out of some part of the decor. Perhaps you could find a tablecloth for your main table with a car image on it.
How about a dress code?
If you really want to make your evening fancy, try using a dress code. Women could emulate the looks of Vesper Lynd, Pussy Galore, or Mary Goodnight. You could even make a game of it: Guests can try to figure out what each other is going for with their outfits.
Men could go for the Casino Royale look and add a pair of cufflinks a la Daniel Craig. Or a sleek pair of gloves that would bring back memories of No Time to Die. Even if it is evening, showing up in a pair of Vuarnet Legend 06 sunglasses could also recall scenes from this famous film. Or how about an attache briefcase reminiscent of From Russia with Love? Perhaps a razor-rimmed hat that looks like it’s out of Goldfinger?
Add a gambling table
No James Bond setup would be complete without a bit of gambling thrown in. You could try to emulate the famous Casino de Monte Carlo and reenact Casino Royale. You could add in a bit of Chemin-de-Fer or Craps, but of course the main games will be poker and roulette. Let your guests know in advance that they’ll need to brush up on their skills. You can find chips and other parts at a local party store, or you could even offer juicier prizes for the winners.
In addition to actual games, how about throwing out a set of tarot cards, like the ones in Live and Let Die? Your guests could have fun reading each other’s fortunes and deciding what their various fates will be.
If your guests get inspired by the evening, they might want to try playing online. Online gambling is becoming increasingly popular these days -- particularly since the pandemic, when people couldn’t physically get to the casinos -- and it is now sweeping the globe as sites become international and people can collect their winnings in Bitcoin or other currencies that surpass national boundaries.
Don't forget the menu
If you're really going full-out 007, you'll want to give your guests a taste of some of Bond's favorites. If you have the means, try putting some veal, sole, or steak on the menu. Bond also favored French fries and potato salad.
While the classic Bond breakfast of scrambled eggs and “strong, black coffee” might be a bit much for a BBQ, you can offer the latter to your guests as a post-meal pick-me-up later in the night. Or maybe you could put out an espresso machine that will look like the one in Live and Let Die.
If you're really feeling extravagant, you could take a page from Bond's Beluga caviar toasts and offer some for your guests. Perhaps Costco will give you a discount if you buy it in bulk.
Let's not forget the drinks. Of course, Bond's own favorite was a vodka martini. You can either buy the ingredients separately, or grab some of the pre-made stuff for your guests (don't forget the olives!). Bond also loved scotch - depending on your budget, you could go for different grades (or just make your guests think you got the good stuff!). Depending on the movie, Bond drank Macallan or other types, as much as 50 YO.
And of course there were the wines. In Goldfinger, Bond famously samples a Pommery 1950 vintage champagne, as well as a Château Mouton Rothschild 1947 and a Piesporter Goldtropfchen 1953 Riesling. While it is highly unlikely that you’ll be able to get your hands on these specific vintages, you can have fun with the names and label some generic bottles accordingly. Perhaps make a game out of it and have your guests guess the movie of origin.
Whatever you choose, do it with class
Any Bond-themed party is sure to be a hit. However, if you really want to make your gig one to remember, go back and do some research. Go back through the list of films (if you have time, you can even watch them!) and see what little tidbits you can add to your evening to pique the interest of your guests. You can even make it a challenge for them to remember which movie some of the details come from. After all, even seasoned Bond aficionados can be challenged by some of the movies’ subtleties.
And if you’re feeling generous, try to come up with a list of prizes for the winners. This will not only make you the most popular host in town, it may well inspire others to come up with their own theme nights. And that’s how a neighborhood really picks up steam.