SUMMER ENTERTAINING

HOST THE PERFECT SUMMER SOIREE WITH THE BEST BARBECUE GRILLS AND OUTDOOR PATIO FURNITURE

BY MIKE RYAN

Summer is just around the corner, which means more cooking and entertaining outdoors. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or an evening under the stars, investing in a good-quality grill and patio furniture will help you host the perfect outdoor summer celebration.

“Last year, barbecue grills were big sellers, and we expect sales to continue to rise this year,” says Erick Silva, seasonal department manager at Ace Hardware in South Pasadena.

According to Silva, there are four basic types of outdoor grills: gas, charcoal, pellet and Kamado. Gas grills work with either propane or natural gas, are the easiest to use and are the most convenient. Prices range from $100 to $3,500 depending on size and other features.

Charcoal grills use coals as their source of fuel and heat and contribute to a smokey, tender flavor when cooking. Prices range from $100 to $400.

Pellet grills, also known as pellet smokers, are fueled by small wood pellets that come in an array of flavors, including hickory and maple. Many pellet grills have temperature-regulation systems with a thermostat option, which allows for better heat control. They also offer more options so that one can barbecue, roast and smoke meat. Prices range from $400 to $1,200.

Kamado grills have tight-fitting lids for air-tight cooking and are great when grilling items that take multiple hours. The two most common types of materials used in the construction of Kamado grills are ceramic and stainless steel. The ceramic grill retains more heat and will rarely crack, while the steel grill is less heavy and retains less heat.

Silva’s favorite grills are the pellet grills from Traeger. He points out that the design has a timer that can be downloaded via an app. It also has a pellet sensor inside the grill, and only the brand’s pellets can be used.

“You just fire it up, leave it and forget it!” Silva says.

One of his favorite grill brands is Weber, which includes gas, coal and pellet options. He especially likes the company’s 10-year warranties offered on parts.

When it comes to safety tips for grilling, Consumer Reports mentions that three-legged grills are less stable compared to those that have four. It’s always a good idea to keep a combo-use fire extinguisher handy as well. Garden hoses are not recommended — like trying to put out a cooking oil fire, water could make a fire worse.

Good-quality outdoor patio furniture is another essential for outdoor entertaining. Fishbecks Patio Center in Pasadena, which has been in business since 1899, is one of Southern California’s largest outlets for outdoor furniture.

Richard Wainman, a Fishbecks salesman, explains that the company’s warehouse was once a carriage garage for Castle Green, a historic building lo-

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cated across the street in Pasadena that once served as an annex to the former Hotel Green.

Fishbecks offers patio chairs, couches, seat cushions and different types of tables, in addition to over 30 types of umbrellas. It also retails a wide variety of exclusive patio furniture brands, including Brown Jordan, an industry leader in luxury outdoor furniture, as well as Lloyd Flanders, which is known for making the first wicker baby buggy. Fishbecks also carries its own signature line of outdoor furniture as well.

There are several things to consider before purchasing patio furniture. Along with rain and sun, wind can be the most damaging element to outdoor chairs, tables and umbrellas. A good solution for windy environments is wrought iron furniture, which is quite heavy and can’t be easily moved. Wrought iron furniture tends to be more costly, ranging anywhere from $400 to $5,000.

Wicker furniture is traditionally made out of natural fibers and is light yet sturdy. While natural wicker furniture is very durable, furniture made from synthetic wicker, which features resins that are extracted from plant material and permanently hardened, can better withstand the outdoor elements for longer periods of time.

Another good option is aluminum furniture, which is lightweight and sturdy, doesn’t rust and is stain resistant. A powder-coated finish helps to enhance the furniture’s scratch resistance.

Plastic furniture is the most affordable and comes in a range of styles, including faux wood. It’s also low maintenance and can withstand all types of weather conditions.

The premium choice of wood for outdoor furniture, teak is a dense wood that has a high content of naturally occurring oils, which makes it extremely durable and resistant to moisture, light and heat. It’s also the most expensive; a teak patio set can start at around $1,800.

Eucalyptus wood is a less costly alternative to teak due to it being one of the most widely cultivated types of tropical hardwood. With regular maintenance, it can last for a long time when exposed to the elements, but it’s less durable than teak.

For those looking for custom-made wood patio furniture, American Woodworks in Highland Park is a family-run business that has been around for nearly 30 years and one of a few wood furniture factories still operating in Southern California. In addition to unfinished and painted wood benches, tables and chairs, it can also custom-build beautiful wood patio furniture made to order.

Summerset Superstore, which has locations in Anaheim and Costa Mesa, carries a variety of customized barbecue islands, fire pits, fireplaces and hot tubs and also allow customers to test their grills.