Fire Up the Grill for a Double Celebration: International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day!
March is the one month in the year when we get to experience two different occasions to celebrate all the women in the world. On the 8th of March 2023, the annual International Women's Day (IWD) is taking place, to support and promote achievements by women across the globe. Then later on in the month is Mother's Day, on the 19th of March 2023, for people to honour and celebrate their loved ones. It is the month to truly empower women and all that they have done, whether that be a mum, grandma, auntie, partner, or friend - now is the time to express your love for them!
A Brief Background
International Women's Day
This year's IWD theme is #EmbraceEquity, to make people aware of the issues that still exist in society when there is a supposed 'equality'. The difference between equality and equity can sometimes be misconstrued, which is why IWD is focusing on this concept for 2023. Although providing people with the same resources and tools can be deemed equal, you cannot assume that everyone will be able to complete a task to the same standard, as everyone is different. Instead, the term equity concentrates on the imbalance and providing people with the resources that they need to be successful. When everyone accepts and embraces equity, you can start to recognise diversity and inclusion too. If you would like to find more information about the IWD 2023 theme, click here.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day or Mothering Sunday has been an annual occurrence in the UK since the 16th century, generally commemorated on the fourth Sunday of Lent and three weeks before Easter Sunday. It is a time for children to honour and remember their mums or guardian figures. Whether you buy flowers, chocolates, bake a cake or host a lovely dinner, you can celebrate the day in any way you would like. Here at Cinders, our team will be taking part in these occasions to empower women, both at a personal and worldwide level. Obviously, as a company that specialises in the BBQ industry, we believe there is no better way to celebrate the days than include something BBQ related. In this blog post, we have listed the top most influential women within the barbecuing world and how you can cook up a storm for the ones you love by following in their footsteps.
Savour the Flavour of Empowerment: Women Entrepreneurs in the Barbecue Industry
Marie Jean, 'Mary John'
Marie Jean is one of the first women in the world to make a stand within the barbecuing community. She was an enslaved African American born in Arkansas, who remained enslaved through most of her life. In the 1780s, the French claimed the Arkansas region until 1803 after the Louisiana Purchase. After this purchase, the culture within the area changed from French to Anglo-American, where Marie Jean's name was Anglicized to Mary John. In 1840, Mary John was in charge of a fourth of July barbecue in Pine Bluff, where she cooked for a crowd full of people, whilst still under ownership of Colonel James Scull. John's incredible barbecuing mastery allowed her to earn enough money to end her subservience, and she continued to run a boarding house until she died in 1857.
Tootsie Tomanetz
Norma Frances Tomanetz, known as both "Tootsie" and the "Snow Queen" is an 87-year-old American who barbecues for hundreds of people in Lexington, Texas. In 2003, she opened Snow's BBQ which is open only on Saturdays to serve all of her fans. Her smoked meats are so good that she appeared in the Netflix series: Chef's Table BBQ, where you can see her in action.
Kerry Fitzmaurice
Kerry Fitzmaurice and business partner Jenny Mauric, are up-and-coming BBQ lovers who have already made their mark in New York City with their company Pure Grit BBQ. Their restaurant based in NYC is unlike your traditional BBQ stands, as they only serve delicious vegan food, with refreshing spins on your favourite classics. With the vegan community continuously growing, their business captures a huge audience of people who love both barbecues and vegan food. Written in a business profile with Sheventures Podcast, Kerry states: "We knew that BBQ is hyper masculine – as are the brands and branding. We were excited to take that on and make our version of BBQ more inclusive to all BBQ lovers. Our strong point of view has paid off: Our angel investor happens to be a man who believes very much in the vision and what we bring to the table." Their success shows that anyone can become a renowned pitmaster or chef with the right mindset.
Desiree Robinson
Co-founder and pitmaster of Cozy Corner restaurant in Memphis, Desiree Robinson became the very first Black woman to join the Barbecue Hall of Fame. She and her late husband started the Cozy Corner in 1977, where it grew and grew in popularity because of her stunning pitmaster skills. From juicy racks of ribs to intense smoked pork, Desiree supersedes every male-dominated BBQ kitchen.
The Perfect Mother's Day Cookout
Now that all the incredible pitmasters have been mentioned, it is time to get grilling! Whether you're looking to cook a BBQ meal at home or are a restaurant owner looking to change up your menu for Mother's Day, we have listed some tasty recipes for you to try. There is no better way to spend the day than with a BBQ cookout.
Grilled Salmon Fillet
Grilled fish is an excellent choice for a Mother's Day afternoon, as it is a pleasant, delicate dish that won't make you overly full. Especially if you're planning to go on a lovely evening stroll, a light meal is a perfect option. We recommend barbecuing salmon, as when cooked correctly, the soft pink flakes melt in your mouth. You can accompany this dish with a range of sides to cater for numerous guests, including rice, potatoes, roasted vegetables, or even a salad.
This recipe by
Salt Pepper Skillet grills the salmon with a layer of BBQ sauce, for a combination of smoky, salty, and sweet flavours. If you want to add a little crunch, purchase your salmon with skin on, as the heat of the grill will make it nice and crisp.
Steak Sandwich
For those who would like something a bit heartier, a BBQ steak sandwich is great for both lunch and dinner time menus. If you're planning to have several guests at your Mother's Day event, a steak sandwich is simple and quick to make, and it will go down a treat! Season your steaks with herbs and spices that are to your taste, and sear on a sizzling hot grill until they're brown on the outside but succulent in the middle. Choose from a toasted baguette, soft bun, or crusty sourdough bread and place the meaty goodness inside.
You can tailor your sandwich to your taste buds with a choice of toppings. We particularly like this recipe by Over The Fire Cooking, which smothers the meat in melted cheese, BBQ sauce, and onion rings.
Veggie Kebabs
In case your mum or relative is vegetarian or vegan, we have provided you with a recipe to ensure they are not left out! You really can't go wrong with a kebab, so why not put a twist on them and make them veggie? Charred vegetables are so easy to grill, and they are packed full of fragrant flavours. You can grill whatever vegetables you like, the possibilities are pretty much endless, however, we think these cauliflower kebabs by Delicious Magazine are to die for.
Plus, as the toppings are totally customisable, you can swap out dairy dressings and condiments for vegan variations too. These are a great addition to any menu!
Professional Barbecue Equipment and Accessories
Here at Cinders, the barbecue products that we manufacture are trustworthy, reliable, and strong, just like every woman worldwide. You can rely on our barbecue equipment to deliver you delicious smoking food, that can help you serve many people this IWD and Mother's Day. If you only require a grill for your event, please use our local search for barbecue rental services for top-quality products.