NOW WE’RE COOKING!
A GREAT BARBECUE IS THE HOTTEST ITEM ON OUR SUMMER WISH LIST, SAYS
BLUE skies, blazing sunshine and the thrill of the grill – cooking outdoors has to be one of the best parts of summer.
Whether you choose to light up the barbecue or use a pizza oven, go veggie or full-on carnivore, host a casual cookout or a gourmet gettogether, al-fresco mealtimes just feel special.
“The addition of a barbecue gives a whole new dimension to your outdoor space, encouraging you to make the most of warmer weather and get cooking outside,” says Nadia McCowan Hill, resident style advisor for Wayfair.
“The simplicity of firing up the barbecue and inviting friends and family for impromptu get-togethers goes hand in hand with the summer.”
Indeed, searches for barbecues are up 16% year on year at John Lewis & Partners, and while there are plenty of styles out there to choose from, function and flair are key. “Homeowners want technologically-advanced barbecues that will not only perform on the cooking front but fit into the home’s aesthetics, as well as offer more options over the kind of food they can cook,” says Brendon Haxby, co-founder of interiors specialists Naken. Brendon says pizza ovens are proving a popular alternative to barbecues, while those with more substantial budgets are opting for bespoke outdoor kitchens. Of course there are lots of smaller, more basic grills to get your al-fresco party started without any fuss or too much expense.
But for those looking to move up a level, here are some other sizzling hot outdoor cooking options...
VonHaus 64cm Charcoal BBQ £124.49, Wayfair
Made of cast iron, this free-standing charcoal barbecue offers two ways of cooking your meat fish or veg – either barbecue them, or switch to a smoker by closing off the ventilation and stacking woodchips beneath the grill. The two spacious side shelves will come in handy too.
Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven £559.20, John Lewis
Pizzas will doubtless ess be first on your menu, but this is oven’s large grilling area can also lso be used to roast joints of meat, seared fish or vegetables, or bake bread. Just as flexibly, you can cook using wood or charcoal or, with the addition of the compatible gas adapter (sold separately), gas.
It’s “one of the most sleek pizza ovens on the market,” according to Alice Rice, outdoor buyer at John Lewis & Partners.
John Lewis & Partners Grillstream 6 Burner Hybrid Gas & Charcoal BBQ, Silver
£749, John Lewis A showstopper, with all the bells and whistles, this is your outdoor kitchen sorted with six gas burners, warming rack and side burner for spicy barbecue sauces and marinades.
Norfolk Grills N Outdoor Gas BBQ £683, Naken
Brendon says this Norfolk Grills model has h all the aesthetic appeal of a trad traditional charcoal powered barbecue barbecu but the benefits of a gas one. “It’s It’ quick and easy to clean and an you have more far more control co of the grill. Plus, you don’t d have to light it hours before you want to eat – unlike a coal barbecue, it doesn’t take an age to reach cooking temperature,” t says Brendon.