| Backyard barbecues are a hallmark of summer. Any | | | | has come outdoors. |
| get-together involves food cooked out on the grill, | | | | There are many chefs who specialize in grilling and |
| accompanied by cold drinks, sunglasses, lawn games | | | | have written books and hosted shows dedicated to |
| and laughter. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and | | | | cooking just about anything on the grill, including |
| Labor Day--all are celebrated in this fashion. For many, | | | | baked goods. These men and women have made |
| summer does not truly begin until they attend their | | | | grilling into an art form and have spurred the |
| first backyard cookout. | | | | popularity of the outdoor kitchen. These |
| The tradition of the backyard cookout became | | | | multi-function centers take all of the features of a |
| popular in the 1950's, when companies such as | | | | kitchen--refrigerator, sink, grill and cooktop--and bring |
| Weber began making grills that were convenient and | | | | them outdoors. The development signaled a new |
| practical for home use. Prior to the grill, outdoor | | | | focus on gracious outdoor living. Today's backyard |
| meals had to be cooked over an open fire or in a | | | | get-together is as much a dinner party as it is a |
| large pit, so cookouts were large affairs or an | | | | cookout. These changes mean that the meaning of |
| activity for camping. Grills allowed for small-scale | | | | term backyard cookout has changed from the most |
| cooking with consistent results. Since homes were | | | | casual of get-togethers to a catch-all term for nearly |
| smaller then, the backyard cookout allowed people to | | | | anything, as long as it is served outdoors. |
| have a large number of guests without crowding | | | | Even with the upscale alternatives available |
| them all into a house. It also kept all of the heat and | | | | nowadays, there's something to be said for a |
| odors from cooking from getting inside the house. | | | | hamburger fresh off the grill with ketchup and pickle, |
| Most cookouts had traditional menus: hot dogs, | | | | some potato salad, a piece of corn on the cob and a |
| hamburgers, steaks, ribs and chicken pieces served | | | | cold beer, eaten at a picnic bench while wearing |
| with cole slaw, potato salad, chips and dip, and corn | | | | shorts and a t-shirt or a swimsuit, surrounded by |
| on the cob. Today, many people have expanded the | | | | family, good friends and laughter. The classic |
| definition of foods for grilling to include fish such as | | | | backyard barbecue will always be around as a piece |
| salmon, whole rotisserie chicken, kabobs, shellfish and | | | | of Americana that cannot be matched nor can it be |
| vegetables. Attached gas burners on today's grills | | | | replaced. |
| mean that food that could only be prepared indoors | | | | |