In the thick of BBQ season, when dinners are made in flip-flops and hamburgers steal the show, we bring out the lounge chairs, inflate the giant unicorn for the pool, kids run around in swimsuits, and in the air floats that sweet scent of... someone just lit the BBQ!!

It's the season for last-minute invitations, impromptu backyard parties, 5-to-7s that stretch until the campfire, and "bring whatever you want!" that end up looking like a royal feast.

So, when you're invited to a BBQ, what do you bring?

We think there's a way to arrive like a hero, without even touching a bag of chips. Today, we're talking about the perfect hostess gift for summer: the "The Art of BBQ" box... and a few other local finds that make you say "WOW, well, that's REALLY HOT! I HADN'T THOUGHT OF THAT!"

Opening this box is like realizing a BBQ can be chic... but still with your butt on a camping chair!

Imagine: you're chilling by the pool, a skewer in one hand, a local beer in the other. Someone tells you: "Hey, have you tasted this ketchup? It's not ketchup, it's a revelation!" Then you bite in... and "BOOM!", life tastes a little better.

That's what The Art of BBQ box is. A box full of little jars and magic packets, all made here, that transform your ordinary BBQ into a 5-star feast.

Want to know more about the products we put inside this fabulous The Art of BBQ box?

A jar of Black Garlic Salt from Sel Saint-Laurent

It's not just salt, it's charisma in crystals. Crispy sea salt flakes, married with organic black garlic from Quebec. Sweet like balsamic caramel, but with a salty punch that makes you say "is there any left?". Put it on vegetables, flank steak, or even a grilled cheese... and try not to lick the plate.

A small bottle of Maple Syrup Smoked with Peppers from Nos Cabanes

This syrup is like a campfire hugging a bottle of maple. It's cold-smoked, infused with hot peppers, sweet, spicy, sexy. Put it in a marinade, a tartare, or even on pizza... And suddenly, everything tastes like you're traveling somewhere between a sugar shack and southern Mexico. WOW! Psst!! By the way, put this in your favorite maple liqueur, JUST WOW AGAIN!!

A trio of BBQ Packets from La Pincée

Three small packets, three big taste adventures. A classic BBQ No5 that makes you feel like a true grilling boss, a Coffee BBQ for those who like it strong and flavorful, and a Maple BBQ, just sweet enough to make your chicken dance on the grill. No dehydrated garlic or onions, just fine ingredients, handcrafted by taste magicians.

A bottle of Chipotle Ketchup from Mi Corazon

Forget ordinary ketchup: this ketchup will make you snub Heinz forever. Smoky, slightly spicy, with a little Mexican kick that lingers just long enough. Perfect with burgers, potatoes, or even as a dipping sauce for homemade nuggets. Put it everywhere: in your burgers, hot dogs, with your fries, as a dipping sauce for your homemade nuggets, or straight from the spoon (we don't judge).

A Cedar Smoking Plank from Rabot D Bois

Now, we're moving to the "next level". A must-have for BBQ lovers who want to impress. You soak it, put it on the grill, add your salmon, vegetables, or chicken... and magic happens. It gives a smoky, sweet, subtle taste — worthy of smoking pros.

A bottle of Truffle Mayonnaise from MAG

Just... "WOW!!". It's creamy, rich, fragrant like a fancy restaurant evening, but you're eating it in flip-flops on your patio. Parmesan fries, grilled sandwich, gourmet burger, or beef tartare... everything becomes a little classier with a spoonful of this divine mayo. Seriously, one of our Shop favorites!

Here are 3 other ideas to arrive at the BBQ party with arms full of local pride.

Do you want a hostess gift that tastes of Quebec, smells good like BBQ, and showcases our local artisans? Whether it's to complete your box or just to arrive at the party with the gift that makes people say "wow, that's really cool!", we've prepared a mix of ideas we love — all local, festive, and perfect for pleasing (or getting you invited back again and again! 😉)

1. For hosts who like it really hot, Kanel's "Bring the Heat" box is a safe bet.

Because a good BBQ party deserves flavors that measure up. And this trio is like giving a kit of spicy happiness, ready to make plates sing.

With the For the Love of BBQ blend, you offer a sweet and savory punch that makes grilling unforgettable. The cocktail rimmer The Ultimate Caesar? A touch of peppery fancy to impress at drink time. And what about Heartbeat Hot Sauce Co.'s red Habanero sauce: spicy, balanced, and just daring enough to ignite conversations as much as dishes.

It's an original, local, festive gift — that says: "Thanks for inviting me, and here, I'll leave you some fireworks in your kitchen!" Basically: you provide the heat, and they'll officially name you "the party's favorite flame".

2. Want to give an original, local, alcohol-free hostess gift... but with full personality? The Harrington discovery set is a huge wow in a can.

This discovery set of 4 botanical sparkling waters and 3 non-alcoholic tonic cocktails is like offering a ready-to-serve boreal tasting experience. It's festive, elegant, surprising — and everyone can enjoy it: kids, adults, pregnant women, designated drivers... or those who just want to drink beautifully without the vino effect.

You'll find refined and finely crafted flavors like sweet spruce, sea buckthorn, juniper berry, sweet clover, wintergreen, cucumber... A bit like finding Quebec in a can, with a tasting map to explore the woods with the first sip.

And the best part? Between the sea buckthorn-juniper tonic that evokes a sophisticated Gin & Tonic, and the spruce water that transports you to our fir forests, you arrive with a gift that screams: "Your taste buds will be in wild camping mode, lost among the spruces... but guided by the smell of BBQ smoking nearby!"

3. Want to arrive with a hostess gift that's out of left field and guarantees laughter in the yard? The game Ah ouinnn? – Family Edition, is your best card.

No need for a big setup, or a rulebook as thick as a steak — this game sets up as fast as a bowl of chips on the patio table.

With "Ah ouinnn? Famille" from the Quebec company Randolph, the fun begins when you try to guess the order of preference of others among 5 sometimes surprising choices. Do you really know your family members and friends?

It's a perfect hostess gift for a family BBQ because it makes both kids and adults laugh, it creates shared screen-free memories, and it's a great alternative to the classic bottle of wine or convenience store bag of chips!

In summary: you're not just bringing a game, you're placing a box full of fun on the patio table. And they'll love you like the last sausage on the BBQ (the one everyone's eyeing).

What if we took BBQ a step further... to the perfect pizza? The moment the BBQ party fancies itself an Italian chef on vacation in Quebec has finally arrived!

What if you were the host who pulled out all the stops... with a pizza oven in the backyard?

OK, it's not a gift you subtly slip into a hostess bag, we agree. But if you're the one hosting, and you like to impress, gather people around a good dinner, and live the experience to the fullest... the pizza oven from LaPizzaShop.ca is an investment that will make you say: "Why didn't I do this sooner?"

They have a selection of ovens for all types of hosts: from the most spontaneous to the most "hardcore pizzaiolo". Portable models perfect for the patio, to more robust Italian chef style ovens for the garden.

And it's not just a purchase, it's a complete experience:

– A clear buying guide to choose according to your lifestyle (or your crust ambition!).
– A Pizza 101 course to get you started on the right foot — from dough to perfect baking.
– Human and responsive after-sales service (no vague chatbots, real people who love pizza).
– Pro accessories: pizza stones, peels, flour scales... the kit to make you feel like you're in an artisanal pizzeria, but with people you love around the patio fire.

Add a little flour, homemade tomato sauce, cheese that squeaks, and let the magic happen. You've just transformed your BBQ party into an open-air Italian evening, with "mmmmms" around the table and slices disappearing before they hit the plate.

Giving a BBQ gift is also giving an experience...

A BBQ is more than just dinner outside. It's laughter, sauce-stained hands, kids running everywhere, shared grilled food, and often... memories that taste like happiness.

Giving a box like The Art of BBQ or a little something local is a way to fuel (literally!) those moments. And to tell your host: "Thank you for having me like this. Thank you for making your backyard a place where we feel good!"

So this summer, don't arrive empty-handed. Arrive with arms full of local warmth, colors, and flavors!