Just because you can't invite all of your friends and family to a big barbecue in your favorite park, or even in their own backyard, doesn't mean you can't add that same flavor to your next summer cookout.
"We always associate the grill with connecting with friends and family or the community," says chef Mee McCormick, rancher, restaurateur and author of "My Pinewood Kitchen: A Southern Culinary Cure," which runs Pinewood Kitchen & Mercantile, an organic farm. , restaurant and shop in Nashville. “At Pinewood, we as a community raise beef and pork, and then a couple of people smoke it all night. Just the thought of coming together to create delicious food sparks this idea of connection. ”
Perhaps that is why we are so eager to have a good barbecue right now, even if we have to do it with limitations due to social distancing.
"There's nothing like home cooking," says Suzanne Vizethann, owner and executive chef of Buttermilk Kitchen in Atlanta, whose new cookbook, "Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen," features recipes with a southern bent. “My fiance and I try to sit together every night. There is something comforting in the act of breaking bread together. It is an opportunity to leave our mobile devices and talk to each other and put aside the stress of the day. I wait for him every night. "
We ask McCormick and Vizethann for their best tools for indoor grilling. "The most important tip is to enjoy the act of preparing great food with the people you love," says McCormick.
What you need
Philips Smokeless Indoor Barbecue Grill ($ 129.95, originally $ 299.99; amazon.com)
If you're running out of space on the patio or outside, you can still get that barbecue flavor in your kitchen. "This indoor barbecue grill works on all rainy days," says McCormick. “It does not create smoke, it takes up little space and is easy to use.
11-Inch All Clad Square Non-Stick Stiff Skillet ($ 49.95; amazon.com)
This grill pan is versatile - you can use it to grill chicken, skewers, vegetables, and more.
16.75 "x 9.5" Reversible Cast Iron Griddle ($ 29.97; amazon.com)
For a larger grill surface, this reversible griddle is flat on one side and ridged on the other to give those great marks to everything from burgers to vegetables.
Cuisinart Sliding Skewers, Set of Four ($ 11.97, originally $ 14.99; amazon.com)
When planning your menu, choose dishes that are easy to prepare ahead of time, so you can spend time with your family, Visethann says. "The chicken skewers that you can marinate and make for hours before dinner are perfect for this," she says. "Choose a dish that is familiar to you or that you have prepared before."
Perfect for cooking vegetables, chicken, steak, shrimp, and more, these two-tooth skewers keep your skewers when they roll on the grill, and their built-in slider makes removing food from them easier.
Dust and Things 'King of the Grill' Wooden Barbecue Cutting Board ($ 24.99; amazon.com)
Cuisinart Grill Tool Set with Grill Glove ($ 23.98; amazon.com)
Of course, you will need something to cut and serve your food. Frequent cooks will love this cutting board that you can personalize with a name engraved on it. Choose between hevea wood or natural slate. For an additional $ 6.99, you can also get an engraved message on the back.
And you will need the right tools. The Cuisinart set includes a spatula, fork, tongs, and a heat resistant glove.
Doux South Angry Cukes 2-Pack ($ 17.99; amazon.com)
What else should be on the menu? "If I don't make it myself, Woodsmoke Provisions has great smoked salmon pastrami and Doux South has amazing pickled vegetables," says Vizethann.
KitchenAid 11-Cup Food Processor ($ 159.87; amazon.com)
And the key to a quick preparation of any summer garnish? Use a food processor.
accessories
Jenga Giant Hardwood Game ($ 118.50, originally $ 129.99; amazon.com)
Don't forget about the games! No outdoor space available? No problem. This giant 5-foot-tall version of Jenga is perfect for playing in the living room.
Gibson Overseas 12-Piece Melamine Dinnerware Set ($ 36.74, originally $ 39.99; amazon.com)
"Setting the interior table with nice tableware changes the mood and puts everyone in a good mood," says McCormick. She says a rustic melamine vibe, like this Gibson line, "sums up the summer outdoors."
books
'Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen' by Suzanne Vizethann ($ 29.69; amazon.com)
Are you planning your barbecue menu? If things like fried chicken cookies, grits, or potato chip fritters sound appealing, order a copy of Vizethann's new cookbook. A 2011 winner of "Chopped" on the Food Network, the chef shares 100 farm-to-table recipes at her popular Atlanta breakfast and lunch restaurant, all with a southern sensibility.
Mee McCormick's 'My Pinewood Kitchen: A Southern Culinary Cure' ($ 21.38; amazon.com)
A cookbook with more than 130 gluten-free, southern-inspired recipes designed to reduce inflammation and help heal the gut. For your barbecue, consider preparing a batch of gluten-free fried chicken, which McCormick says is succeeding at his Tennessee restaurant right now. "Now I know that people want the combination of classic delicacies and a touch of wellness," she says.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of article posting.