Common Sense BBQ Tips

It's that time of year when people leave the confines of the kitchen and go do some cooking outdoors. If you are about to fire up the barbeque for the first time or plan to make the most of your grill, here are some grilling tips to help make things go more smoothly this BBQ season:

• Make sure you have extra charcoal or propane. Seems obvious, until you can't get your fire started, or when your fire goes out.

• Take your meat or fish out of the fridge at least two to three hours before putting it on the grill if you don't want to deal with your food being cold on the inside.
  
• Mise en place isn't just for indoor cooking. Have your BBQ tools - tongs, spatulas, a sharp knife, basting brushes, fire extinguisher - cleaned and nearby before you head outside.

• Using a gas grill? Let it heat up for at least 10 minutes. Got yourself a charcoal grill?  Let it heat up for at least 20 minutes.

• If you’re using a charcoal grill, empty the ashes from your last grilling session. Check the grease tray as well for gas grills.
  
• Use only one cut of meat or fish. It's hard enough to get the right cooking temperature for one cut of meat, let only several.

• Go with lump charcoal if you want the best smoky flavour. Don't fret if you have a gas grill as you can still get some of the smoky flavour from the fat of the meat cooking at high heat if you don't have a smoker box.

• Don’t light your charcoal with lighter fluid. It's a fast way to start the fire, but it can make your food taste funny.
  
• Create gradations of heat on your barbeque by stacking your coals asymmetrically once they are hot. By doing this, you can move things that are charring on the outside across to the cooler part of the grill. Always keep an area of the grill with no coals under it at all – a place to rest food that is cooked and to move things to if you have a flare-up.

• Avoid squirting water on the flames when things flare up, as this will send ash flying over your food. Try moving the food over the part of the grill with no coals underneath it instead.
  
• If you are nervous about getting it right, use a meat thermometer to check it your meat is done. To make sure your meat is cooked to the right temperature, this is a link to a temperature cheat sheet.

• If you have any leftover marinade, cook it up on the grill in a metal bowl to kill off any bugs. or pour it over the cooked meat as a sauce.
  
• Consider rubbing in a separate marinade after you have cooked it. Barbecued fish is delicious if rubbed with very finely chopped parsley and garlic in olive oil. When cooking meat, smear some butter blitzed with herbs, salt, pepper and garlic on top of a chopping board. Place the cooked meat on the butter so it can melt and soak into the meat as you carve it.
  
• Be lazy and don't clean your barbecue after use. If you leave the fat on the grill, it will prevent rust from forming. To clean it, get your grill nice and hot and then rub the charred debris off with a coarse wire brush.

Tips for the Ottawa Wine and Food Festival

At the risk of losing whatever foodie cred I have, I won't be going to this year's Ottawa Wine and Food Festival. With a young son and Christmas just around the corner, there's only so much time, money, and energy a guy has to give. But that won't stop me from offering some advice to those of you who plan to check out this annual taste extravaganza.

• Buy your Day Pass online, unless you enjoy waiting in long lines. Hit the ATM beforehand to avoid that lineup as well.
• Go in the early afternoon to avoid the suppertime rush.
• Leave your jacket in the car. It’s hot inside and just another thing to lug around.
• Bring your appetite. Otherwise, what's the point? 
• Forgo dressing up and wear comfortable clothes and shoes. That doesn't mean sweatpants and Snuggies, use your common sense. I know a lot of people use the Festival as a destination for date nights, but putting on your finest duds to sample food, even great food, is silly. There's a reason you don't feel the need to wear a tuxedo or your little black dress when you visit the sample person at the supermarket.
• Budget accordingly, you can only purchase $60 worth of sampling tickets at one time anyways.
• Keep hydrated with water, especially if you only plan to hit the wine and liquor vendors. If your game plan is to only drink, arrange for a ride home afterward.
• Buying some travel-sized stomach remedies beforehand will help in case you overindulge.
• Try not to look greedy.
• Use this as an opportunity to try foods you wouldn't necessarily order at a restaurant, or make for yourself. That being said, remember that you only have so much room in your stomach.
• Bring a big bag to carry anything you buy.
• Remember to take pictures of products or foods you like.