By Helen Spiropoulos
We all know that the crucial ingredient to any South African summer would have to be the braai. Yet with the new development in “outdoor kitchens”, grills and gas braais, our modest charcoal braai has been taken to a completely new level, creating an outdoor-entertainment area fit for all occasions.
Cooking outdoors is becoming a way of life and can almost be done all year round, depending on your patio. It has taken cooking from intimate and indoors to a fun family outdoor escapade. So whether you just want to add a grill to an existing patio or renovate completely to include an entire outdoor kitchen, with a bit of planning and creativity you can be whipping up a storm in no time.
Choosing the best location for your braai or grill will be one of the major criteria to take into consideration to make the most of your outdoor area. Once this has been established, you can then design all your other features and furnishing around it.
Being the most important element in any entertainment area, the major debate for anyone venturing into the outdoors, would have to be gas versus charcoal. Apart from the obvious difference between them, Mathew Gruzd, from Alva Lifestyle Gas Products, suggests that gas is more efficient and faster than other methods and still much easier to clean, whist charcoal does give the traditional ambience and fun element.
To save you from too many trips indoors, and aid in food preparations, kitchen accessories are a welcome added extra. Jenna Bowden, from Les Bowden Kitchens, warns that the type of material used for both accessories and furniture, should be taken into consideration, as it must be resilient to wet and dry weather as, for the most part, it will be exposed to the elements.
However you revamp your outdoor area, it will undoubtedly help you make the best of our wonderful summers and make entertainment a breeze.
