Domestic Details: Recipe for Delicious Al Fresco Dining

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Easy steps to setting up an outdoor kitchen

Not everyone is as enthusiastic about outdoor cooking as Michael P. Clive. A grill expert for barbecue manufacturer Weber, he’s woken his wife in the middle of the night, “smelling like a smokehouse” after checking a recipe that requires overnight cooking.

While a chef’s ultimate outdoor kitchen includes endless pots and pans, lots of sleek stainless steel, miles of counter space, and a hand-washing station with running hot water, Clive agrees that most homeowners won’t find such bells and whistles either feasible or necessary.

BACK TO BASICS

“It all goes back to that primal form of cooking over a fire,” he says. “If you have the equipment that lets you do that in a few different ways, you have what it takes to cook for a family or do a classic outdoor party.”

Which type of barbecue you choose will be determined by lifestyle. Do you want to be able to come home after work and quickly get an al fresco meal done? Then go for the speed and ease of gas, and choose a model that has a push-button start. If lazy weekend barbecues are what you have in mind, enjoy the pace and ritual aspects of charcoal. Dedicated outdoor chefs like Clive increasingly choose to have both gas and charcoal, and to add a smoker or other accessories.

MASTER TEMPERATURE CONTROL

One of the trickiest aspects of cooking to master is temperature, and this especially applies to the outdoor kitchen, when distractions may be even greater. A meat thermometer will be key.

Weber has a new model—the iGrill 3—that fits into docking stations on its new Genesis II and Genesis II LX gas. It comes with two temperature probes, and two more can be purchased. A downloadable app sends alerts when, for example, fuel is running low or optimal temperature has been reached. Speaking of temperature, a set of well-made silicone gloves with fingers is a good idea.

ESSENTIAL OUTDOOR PIECES

Furniture that does double-duty will add flexibility to an outdoor kitchen. For that reason, Cindy Jardim, director of trends for Lowe’s, likes dining sets that also work for conversational groupings, planters that can function as privacy screens, hard-working wicker resin sideboards that when topped with a cutting board serve as prep area, and bar carts that can store extra propane tanks, pillows, and accessories.

Lowe’s also has a clever, affordable solution to the challenge of running water, with a “sink” that can be connected to a garden hose.

Lastly, for worry-free dining, choose unbreakable tableware, readily available at mass merchants like HomeSense and PC Home (at Loblaw’s Real Canadian Superstores). If some goes missing, replacements don’t have to match, but you might consider staying in the same colour family.

BRUSHES WITH SAFETY

There were some scary stories last summer of folks undergoing emergency surgery after swallowing bristles that had fallen off barbecue brushes.

While Chef Clive isn’t willing to give up on wire brushes, he cautions that it’s an item “where you get what you pay for.” Stay away from cheap dollar store wire brushes, and check all brushes for loose bristles each time they’re used. Clean and inspect the grill thoroughly before using.

If you do ditch the conventional wire brush, consider Weber’s new three-sided brush head, in which bristles are attached through two ends of the rods. Other low-risk cleaning options include a raw onion cut in two and rubbed across the grill, and crumpled tin foil pushed over the grill with a pair of tongs.