The Esquire Cookout is What Your Backyard Barbecue Should Look Like

The backyard barbecue is a Western concept that brings neighbors, friends, and family together. You know the scene: The apron-clad man of the house is in the middle of it all, ice-cold beer in one hand and grilling tongs in the other, flipping burgers and smoking meat over the grill. This format of festivities may have come from the West, but with good company and fair weather, it works anywhere in the world.

We drew from that concept for this year’s Esquire Cookout. Uptown Parade in lifestyle mall Uptown Bonifacio was the “backyard” in this case, its pedestrian walkway transformed into an upscale picnic area complete with wooden tables and barrels for a laidback country feel.

Borough provided the grub, which included Cookout staples like cheeseburger sliders, pulled pork sliders, portobello pita pocket sliders, four kinds of pizzas, baked macaroni and cheese, and a selection of chips and dip.

Of course, to wash it all down, there were beers aplenty. Guests had their fill of San Miguel Super Dry, San Miguel Premium All-Malt, and Cerveza Negra—all ice-cold and supremely refreshing.

No backyard barbecue is complete without entertainment, and indie label O/C Records provided the sounds to complement the festive mood. Up-and-coming artists Rice Lucido, Earl Generao, Bita & The Botflies, and Calein worked the crowd and picked up more than a few new fans.

Guests were a mix of industry colleagues and friends, and—as in any cookout—we drank, ate, and mingled under a clear evening sky.

It was a casual Saturday evening of burgers, barbecues, and beers to celebrate friendships and partnerships, and we’re already looking forward to holding our bottles up and toasting to the next edition of the Esquire Cookout.

Esquire Cookout 2019 was made possible by event partners San Miguel Super Dry, San Miguel Premium All-Malt, Cerveza Negra, Borough, and O/C Records.