If there was one thing missing from my life in New York for the past three summers, it was easy access to a grill. On hot summer nights the smells wafting from our neighbors' grills would taunt me as I sat cheek pressed against the screen, trying in vain to see whatever it was one neighbor or another was grilling.
In a stroke of luck, the public park down the street from our apartment recently installed grills, and this summer my husband, James, and I have been taking full advantage. After a bit of trial and error, we've figured out a pretty good routine for making picnicking in the park a joy rather than a pain.
To be clear: no matter what you do, picnicking in a public park will mean some amount of schlepping, and some amount of compromise. But once you've gotten used to the idea that picnicking in a public park requires just a bit of extra attention, there are ways to bring the comfort of home to a public setting. At the risk of getting a bit precious on you, here are a few ideas for hosting a pretty barbecue in a public park, without too much fuss or too much waste.
Photographs by Erin Boyle except where noted.
1. Get there early: Staking out a table and a grill can be one of the hardest things about having a barbecue in a public park. The key is to plan ahead and stake out a table before the crowds descend. That and a smile. It's amazing how far a smile will go toward getting you a spot at a table, even among hamburger-hungry picnickers.
2. Bring your own tablecloth: Nothing transforms a picnic in the park like a tablecloth. This Breton tablecloth was a wedding present, and it's made an appearance at all of our picnics this season. A tablecloth makes even a simple gathering feel fancy, and eliminates the need to worry about bird poop or splinters or any of the other unpleasantries that sometimes accompany picnics in parks.
3. Invest in a few lightweight, reusable place settings: It can seem like a pain to carry reusable plates to a picnic, but if you do a bit of planning and invest in lightweight finds from thrift stores, it can be worth it. Using real cutlery and proper plates instantly elevates a picnic, to say nothing of cutting down on your trash. If you like the look of enamelware, see Julie's post, Classic Enamelware for Outdoor Dining.
Committing to reusables can be trickier when there are large groups involved, but there are a number of good compostable options out there. Our favorite is the disposable paper Wasara Tableware line designed by Tokyo-based Shinichio Ogata. A pack of eight Large Paper Plates is $14 from Cloth and Goods. For more, see Stylish Outdoor Entertaining With Compostable Tableware.
Above: A set of six sturdy (and classically French) Picardie Clear Tumblers is $21.95 from Amazon. For more glassware ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Basic Drinking Glasses.
4. Barbecue tool kit not necessary: A grill brush and a pair of kitchen tongs is all you really need. The Outset Verde Stainless Steel Grill Brush with Bamboo Handle is $11.09 from Vine.
5. Plan your menu around skewers: To make things even easier, I like to plan the majority of my meals around things that can be cooked on a skewer. Grilled veggies are the favorite barbecue food of this vegetarian, but other easy options are sausages, grillable halloumi cheese, and skewered shrimp. Even if it means another thing to carry, metal skewers are a huge improvement over bamboo options. The Eva Solo Grill Skewers are a simple option, available at LBC Modern for $45.
6. Prepare your food ahead of time: Preparing the details of a meal at home helps streamline the process at the park. I like to marinate my grillable food ahead of time and bring it to the park ready to cook.
7. Crowdsource your menu: If you're inviting friends along, there's no reason why everyone can't contribute to the meal. Have friends provide other snacks and sides to round out the meal. (You can also crowdsource a garden; here's how).
8. Know your coals: Or more specifically, know the rules for your coals. Some parks require guests to remove their own charcoal while others ask you to leave your coals in place. Know the rules and come prepared.
9. BYOB: A lot of public parks have rules against bringing in alcohol, but if you're at a park that's more lenient (or in case you've got a rebellious streak), you might consider bringing along wine that's easy to transport. The Fuori Strada "Off Road" is $12.99 from Astor Wines and comes in a Tetra Pak.
10. Pack a flat cutting board. One of my favorite secrets to picnic success is packing a thin cutting board. Not only does the board serve as a shelf in a picnic basket, it also provides an easy space for transporting food from grill to table to back again. Here are a few Remodelista favorites.
11. Bring a plastic bag for packing up dishes. If you make the commitment to bringing dishes that you will take home to clean, make sure that you bring a plastic bag or two for stowing the dirties.
12. Be courteous: Many parks have time limits for how long you're allowed to grill. Be conscious of folks around you and make sure you don't hog the grills for too long. And make friends! Last weekend we were at the park, and folks were sharing goodies (and recipes) from their grills with nearby parties. See? Grilling in a public park can be fun after all.
Have a balcony to call your own? Consider 10 Easy Pieces: Portable Outdoor Grills.
In the market for a picnic basket? We've got our eye on The Perfect Picnic Basket.
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