The Hottest Item in Outdoor Living!

Cooking on the grill is a great way to entertain company or just feed the family without heating up the kitchen. But scurrying back and forth from the kitchen to the patio can get old. Make grilling easier and more pleasant by putting together an outdoor kitchen. Even the simplest of setups can make outdoor cooking more efficient, and the fanciest ones mean you will not have to go back inside until bedtime!

At Metro GreenScape, we urge our outdoor living clients to first start by making a list of why you should consider installing an outdoor kitchen:

• You grill often (or in large amounts) and are looking for ways to streamline the process.
  
  
• You frequently have guests to a cookout, and everyone ends up huddled around you on the patio, socializing while they watch you cook.
  
  
• You have a little-used deck or patio that you would like to incorporate into daily life.
  
  
• You would like to move past burgers and steaks and cook more elaborate dishes using the grill.
  
  
• Cooking in the summertime heats up your house so much that the air conditioning cannot keep up.
  
  
• You want to increase your living space to the outdoors.
  
  
• You want to add more value to your home.
  
  
• You want to spend more time outdoors!
  

If you plan to make the kitchen a permanent part of your patio or deck, select a built-in grill that will drop into a space on a cabinet with countertops or another base unit that is built on site. The base unit also can provide storage and work space, just like your indoor kitchen cabinets. If there is a chance that you might move to a different house, think carefully about spending money on features you cannot take with you.

After you have selected a grill, think about the other basic components of your kitchen:

Grill accessories include a griddle, baskets for grilling fish and vegetables, different levels of cooking space for varying heat requirements, a reliable meat thermometer, and tongs that will not pierce the meat when you turn it over.

Side burners are included in most better grills sold today. A camping stove could serve in a pinch.

Work space should be adjacent to the grill and burners. Make sure you can sanitize it for food preparation.

Lighting comes in all varieties. Direct light is best for the work area, and clip-on lights are available that shine directly onto the grill so you can check the progress of the meat. Softer light sets a nicer mood for the eating area, and candles are almost always appropriate for an evening meal.

Patio heaters are a must if you plan to use the space during the chilly months.

Insect control is another requirement in most places if you are going to serve meals outdoors.

After you have the basics, consider adding some of the extras:

• An exhaust hood to keep smoke out of the eyes of diners.
  
  
• Electrical outlets for using small appliances, stereos and more. (Outdoor outlets should be of the GFCI type. Make sure your electrical wiring meets local code.)
  
  
• A refrigerator for keeping food cold until it is time to cook.
  
  
• A sink, either fed with a hose or connected to the house's water supply. (Unless you plan to wash dishes outside, you need only a cold water connection.)
  
  
• Warming drawers so nothing arrives at the table cold.
  
  
• An ice machine so no one has to drag around a heavy cooler.
  
  
• Wine storage so you will not have to go back inside unless you forget the corkscrew.
  
  
• A wood-burning oven for roasting meats and vegetables and making authentic pizzas.
  

As with an indoor kitchen, proper design of the space will make cooking more comfortable and convenient. You do not have to adopt the traditional "work triangle" design, but think carefully about the way you and your guests use the outdoor space. Be sure to consider the location of other outdoor features, such as pools, playgrounds, gardens and trees.

There should be plenty of space for people to watch you as you cook, and there should be room for foot traffic to flow around the food preparation area. Leave an area for people to sit and socialize without being involved with the cooking, and make sure children will not be playing near the grill.

The options are unlimited and only up to you and our designer's imaginations!