How Does Your Garden Grill?
Keep cooking, but the winter months are also the time to transform your outdoor space into the ultimate BBQ playground. Let TOM WINDLE of Gardenscape be your guide and, as a former chef, he has some food tips, too
Picture the scene. You have your favourite grill, the perfect cut of meat that’s been marinating for days, and the low winter sun has created the most idyllic setting imaginable. But, you’ve got nowhere to enjoy it other than a rusty old table that should have been recycled last century.
I have been garden landscaping (@gardenscape_wiltshire) for over 10 years, but before that I was a chef, growing up in a traditional English country pub, The Three Crowns in Brinkworth, Wiltshire, taught to cook by my chef father.
My go-to on a BBQ is a ribeye steak – that balance of tenderness alongside the marbling of fat that melts into the meat giving it such flavour. Add sea salt, cracked black pepper and some fresh herbs, but let the meat do the talking. I am also a big fan of slow-cooked beef ribs, seared on a high heat to trap the flavour and moisture, then left to smoke, before falling off the bone and melting in the mouth.
Growing up in a restaurant and learning to cook from scratch at a young age not only filled me with knowledge, but a passion and hunger for good food, and is now helping me to create outdoor kitchens and living areas that suit my customers’ needs, budgets and lifestyles.
The real skill is knowing what to build and how to build it without needing an extension on your mortgage, working out exactly how to maximise your space to enjoy cooking outdoors throughout the seasons.
The first thing to consider is how you’re going to use your outdoor kitchen. Is it going to be just for cooking? Or are you going to be preparing, serving and entertaining? Personally, I believe outdoor dining should be an experience. It’s not just about the food and how it’s cooked, it’s about the theatre, the smells and the vibes.
I also find it hard not to sip my favourite brew while stoking the flames of an open grill. So, for me the importance of having enough space to spend time outside while preparing my food is non-negotiable.
Imagine your outdoor area as if it’s another room in your house. You want to make sure your furniture is positioned appropriately, and your utilities are somewhere useful. The big difference, instead of your sofa being just the right distance from your TV, you want your patio furniture reflecting in the evening sun just as you settle down for dinner outside.
My favourite way of utilising outdoor space is to create built-in units that incorporate all your necessities while remaining linear and narrow. The beauty of this is not just how much space it saves, but also how it keeps you positioned front and centre to the rest of your outdoor space – never far from your guests or a replenished glass.
All of this sounds wonderful, but if you aren’t careful, then it can come with a hefty price tag. A good landscaper can suggest ways to create an outdoor kitchen and living space in a way that suits your budget.
Brickwork can be expensive; it’s specialist work and requires groundworks, good weather and attention to detail. However, creating the main structure of your outdoor kitchen can be done using treated timber available from any local builder’s merchant or DIY store.
Our American counterparts build many of their houses from timber frames, so why not put together the frame for your outdoor kitchen using wood. You can even get it built in your shed or garage any time of the year, regardless of the weather.
Once you’ve built yourself a structure that’s just the right size to accommodate your grill alongside any prep space you might need, I’d recommend cement board to cover the structure, making it both fire resistant and suitable for tiling or cladding.
If you like the style of brickwork, then you can use faux brick tiles or, if you want to keep things super-modern, then split face stone tiles or a large format porcelain tile will look great. Just remember to use weatherproof adhesive and grout, suitable for outdoor use.
Exterior worktops are often subject to scrutiny, with timber worktops liable to fail and some stone products unsuitable for outdoors. The solution? Porcelain. In recent years porcelain has become the most popular option for patios up and down the country and for good reason. Weatherproof, affordable and available in an endless variety of colours, styles and sizes, you are guaranteed to find something that suits you and your garden. With a little bit of creativity, choosing a large rectangular tile can provide the perfect solution for your countertop at a fraction of the cost of getting marble or granite cut.
Protecting your garden from the elements doesn’t have to cost a fortune either. Simple screens or trellises can offer privacy as well as much-needed protection from the elements.
A pergola is a stylish way to bring shelter and cosiness to an otherwise exposed area, but with no need to buy a top of the range aluminium-framed structure. A basic timber frame with carefully selected climbing plants such as Jasmine or Honeysuckle will work just as well if you have the patience to let it grow.
Combine a cosy secluded space with a simple log burner, and you’ve got yourself a space fit for even the coldest of winter nights – those chilly evenings gazing at the stars, tucked beneath a blanket with your loved ones, with the crackle of fire and the glow of red cheeks, are wonderful family moments.
So, we have the cladding, the herbs close to your worktops and the ribeye on the grill. But where are you going to sit? And how are you going to make sure that your barbecue is centre of attention – the life and soul of the party?
My golden rule involves teamwork. If everyone is eating the food, everyone should help prepare the food. Create a space that allows room for collaboration as well as relaxation. You want to be able to enjoy the theatre while creating moments and experiences with family and friends.
Open-plan furniture and cooking areas that are central to your space while providing the option of shelter will all help turn your outdoor space into somewhere that you can use throughout the year.
Finally, once your perfect area has become reality, don’t forget to give your BBQ the time and effort it deserves. Choose quality over quantity and source only the best ingredients. Make the effort and go the extra mile; marinate your meat, pair your wine and create the perfect playlist so that you can sing your heart out as you fill your table with flavour, eating well and looking good, maximising the outdoor space to suit your needs – both culinary and social.
