| Well the taste must be a factor. Whether it's | | | | food outdoors. Inviting friends and family members |
| sausages, steaks, corn on the cob or veggie burgers, | | | | over might normally vary in uptake depending on |
| the close heat of the barbecue has a searing effect | | | | how interesting and generous you are, but before |
| on the surface, making it lovely and crisp on the | | | | you've even finished uttering the word "barbecue" |
| outside but soft and juicy within. | | | | they'll have made up their minds. It shows you're |
| Inside a bread roll with some nice sals or chutney, | | | | making an effort, although if they have sampled your |
| salad and mayo, it's the kind of feast that's just not | | | | previous efforts, some may politely decline or even |
| the same indoors. Barbecues are also an opportunity | | | | offer to help out. |
| to experiment that would be simply impossible in the | | | | So that just brings us back to the weather. The year |
| kitchen, like flame-grilling a juicy steak. Apart from | | | | 2009 brought a new phrase into the English language |
| getting the timing wrong, there isn't really all that | | | | - remember the "barbecue summer?" It turned out |
| much to mess up with barbecue cuisine. You just | | | | to mean a summer full of soggy showers, gray skies |
| cook it and serve it up to your waiting guests. With | | | | and sandbags around houses, which is not what most |
| much of the fat draining from the meat and burning | | | | people assumed it would mean. But the forecasters |
| off on the coals, there's an argument for barbecue | | | | did understand how important a part the weather |
| cooking to be better for you than other methods, | | | | plays in the love of barbecues. It can make planning |
| too. | | | | ahead very tricky, and benefits those who have all |
| Another compelling reason to get the barbecue | | | | the gear ready to deploy at a moment's notice. |
| equipment out is that it gives you the perfect | | | | There are halfway-house options, of course. Having |
| excuse to avoid being stuck indoors. Who wants to | | | | some form of outdoor shelter (a.k.a. massive |
| be slaving over a hot oven when everyone else is | | | | umbrellas) can stave off the worst effects of the |
| splashing about in the paddling pool or chilling with a | | | | odd downpour on an otherwise dry day. |
| cool drink on the deck chairs? You could be outside, | | | | So stock up the freezer in advance, prepare the |
| stuck in front of a smoldering fire, nervously | | | | barbecue equipment, have some coals or briquettes |
| brandishing pokers and being attacked by unguided | | | | in stock and keep an eye on the short-term weather |
| missiles of fat (and still managing to enjoy it). | | | | forecast. That way you can make every summer a |
| For many, the food is secondary to the event itself, | | | | barbecue summer. |
| the communal experience of eating freshly cooked | | | | |