Perfect your outdoor entertaining

What better time of year to host a garden party, family barbeque or alfresco dinner with friends. And now, it’s easier than you might think to turn your outdoor living space into an area that’s absolutely perfect for luxurious living.

By Mark Eglington

Trending this year…we’re seeing home chefs like myself planning to take outdoor living to the next level by taking everything outside.

By introducing friends and family to the latest in innovative “kitchen” equipment, I’m finding that this is the best way to bring people together. It’s as simple as installing a double-basin workstation with multiple taps, cutting boards and serving sections. Add some additional storage by installing The Galley DryDock®, a 2” deep 12” or 18” extension to the sides of any Galley Workstation. The best feature is it expands functionality without sacrificing space.

Galley Workstations (thegalley.com) provide an area where you can chop, strain, and mix efficiently and ergonomically to prepare all the food for a meal and then masterfully transition to cooking. Using various serving boards, you can quickly and conveniently transform your prep and cook station into a serving station, ideal for setting out drinks and hors d’oeuvres to create a friendly and accessible entertainment area. And something I really like is fast cleanup. I can prep, cook and tidy up as I go making the entire process a breeze.

Suddenly, you’ll be the king of the outdoor kitchen as you seamlessly handle prepping, cooking, plating, and serving while continuing to entertain your guests. Here’s what to look for when redesigning your space or reimagining it with the help of a professional: a) ease of use for many occasions, b) adjustable heights and multiple configurations, c) quality and durability, d) culinary tools like mixing bowls, colanders, drying racks and cutting boards. 

Go from a garden party to a formal celebration with fare like lobster rolls and cheese, fruit and charcuterie plates with sauces dips to game night grilling favourites like thick steaks and cheeseburgers on the BBQ with accompanying summer salads. This, my friend, is your culinary time to shine. Get your summer grill game on!

euro-line-appliances.com

For over 15 years, Mark Eglington has been passionate about European-manufactured best-in-class appliances. By day, he is the President of Canadian-owned Euro-Line Appliances; by night he’s perfecting his cooking skills.

Get our newsletter

Get monthly updates with unique HomeFront updates and stay up to date with tips and trends

A seaside resort that’s a window to the world

Japan always surprises me. In the best way. Two hours from the shiny surface of Tokyo, my plane circles a mountainous green island. It could be the Caribbean but instead, it’s a Unesco World Heritage site that’s part of Japan. 

Bella Cucina

Setting the benchmark Inspired for practically with a flawless finish and an aesthetic quality that will remain forever stylish. poliformaustralia.com.au Wrap it up Decorative, square-shaped fabrics can be folded and tied to create a stunning and sustainable gift presentation that’s

Welcome home beneficent ‘ bots’

The latest robots in the home to clean, entertain, and surveil your premises. By Marc Saltzman While we aren’t living with a “Rosie the Robot” just yet—the high-tech housekeeper who petered around The Jetsons’ family home in that oh so

Gentle living

The freshness of Spring surrounds us and we’re grateful for it. Renewing, rebalancing and restorative, Spring brings new life. Gone is the harshness and “battle mode” of the winter months and forward comes a passage to a lighter, more appreciative

‘Beauty and Brains’ reset the bar

By Mark Eglington Having motivation and talent is always useful but today, it’s not enough. Let’s face it…we live in a competitive world. And, while it may not be the hunger games, it’s safe to say someone’s a ways got

Food Lovers’ library

Made in Bangladesh: Recipes and stories from a home kitchen By Dina Begum Taking you through the six Bangladeshi seasons – summer, monsoon, autumn, late autumn, winter and spring – with warming flavours and memories teaching modern classics and age-old