2026 is the 960th anniversary of the Norman Conquest – which feels like a great, if thinly veiled, excuse to have a perfect French barbecue by combining some sizzlingly good Anglo, Irish and Norman ingredients with Bacon by the Box who started their business in Normandy, before moving to Ireland to send the best of British and Ireland produce to France and Europe.
Did the French invent the barbecue?
Although many countries claim to be the originators of the barbecue, some say the expression derives from an Anglo-Norman expression, barbe à queue, which means head to tail and therefore refers to a whole animal being roasted on a spit. Whether or not that’s true, as the weather gets warmer, and the days get longer, what better way to celebrate than by inviting friends over, lighting up the barbecue and enjoying Anglo-Norman Irish-inspired fusion cooking?
Let’s get this party started
For lovers of seafood, start your barbecue feast with some French oysters and king-sized barbecued prawns. Spice things up a little with some Peri Peri sauce (Bacon by the Box can help you with that) and barbecued halloumi slices (Bacon by the Box can help with that too). A little French wine would probably go down nicely at this stage as well.
Light up the grill
Obviously, at the heart of every great barbecue is really good meat and Bacon by the Box won’t let you down. Think Lisduggan Farm Beer Garden burgers sizzling on the grill and then served with Mexicana Cheddar slices, and dripping with Hellmann’s Chunky Burger Sauce, Ketchup or Hellman’s Mayonnaise, or make your own burgers with Lisduggan Farm sausage meat and local onion and herbs.
Sausages have got to be another mainstay of your barbecue, and thick Clonakilty traditional Irish sausages served with Brown Sauce in a crispy baguette really hit the mark! And make sure you add Lisduggan Farm chicken breasts to your Bacon by the Box order and a Tikka marinade for those ever-popular skewers.
Catering for vegans and vegetarians isn’t always easy in France, but Bacon by the Box also do delicious Clonakilty Ispíní veggie sausages.
Of course, it’s not all about the meat, and a barbecue is a great excuse to put on a fabulous salad spread. In France, no salad is complete without a little local grated carrot and a fresh tomato salad and for this Norman-inspired feast, a traditional Normandy salad is a must. So easy to make, the base of a Normandy salad is just fresh, crisp salad leaves such as mâche, endive, or rocket. Then add slices of fresh Normandy apples, chunks of Camembert, along with toasted walnuts, crispy bacon lardons (Bacon by the Box has a great selection of bacon if you want to make your own) and croutons.
Finally, don’t forget some local new potatoes covered with local French butter and a couple of mint leaves and make sure you stock up on plenty of crisp local bread.
The Normandy sweet treat
Teurgoule is a Normandy rice pudding-style dessert which dates back to the 17th century and is made with cream, milk, rice, sugar and cinnamon. It generally takes a little time to cook as you bake this rice pudding in the oven for up to four hours. But if you don’t have time, Ambrosia rice pudding from Bacon by the Box is the perfect alternative. Stir in just a dash of cinnamon for that Normandy twist for this delicious Anglo-Irish style Teurgoule so serve with a glass of Calvados!
As the sun slowly sets
Whilst the barbecue embers slowly die down, and you settle down for an evening with family and friends, it’s time to pull out one last culinary delight … the cheeseboard! Of course, both France and Normandy are world famous for their cheeses, and a few favourites like Camembert de Normandie, Livarot, Pont-l’Évêque, and Neufchâtel are musts. But a few Irish extras like Clonakilty extra mature Cheddar, Wensleydale with cranberries, Horgan’s Dubliner and Applewood’s smoky plant-based alternative to traditional cheese – will elevate that cheesy smorgasbord to another level. Serve with French wine or perhaps one last dash of Calvados.
BBQs made easy
A quick look at the Bacon by the Box website and you’ll see it’s about much more than just barbecues: think bacon and gammon, legs of pork and crackling, Fray Bentos pies and all manner of sweet treats from home like Jammie Dodgers and shortbread. If you’re struggling to source vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free ingredients in France, Bacon by the Box can help with that too.
Bacon by the Box delivers all over France and when you spend €150, delivery is free. So, if you’ve got friends in the area who fancy a taste of Ireland or home, get together for a collective order.
With no hidden costs, no customs charges (check out their website, where they list all their costs) and deliveries made weekly, Bacon by the Box add a little je ne sais quoi to life!
You can find out more, or place your first order here: baconbythebox.com
