Thursday, Jul. 02, 2009
red, white and cue
Most nights when I get home from work, after I greet my daughter and puppy awaiting me, my wife has something ready and marinating for me to throw on the grill.
It helps when she's also lined up a frosty adult beverage.
So I gather up my utensils - usually tongs or a spatula - tuck a roll of aluminum foil under my arm, grab a bottle of olive oil, my beer, that evening's to-be-grilled entrée and head out on the front deck to the shiny black and stainless steel BBQ Grillware three-burner.
Despite the blistering heat we've encountered lately, and despite sometimes hearing the crying pleas of "Daddy, Daddy'' through the walls tug at my heartstrings, I enjoy my time with the grill, fancying myself a grillmeister of the greatest order, and also enjoying the relative solitude of my grilling spot underneath a weeping cherry tree.
You know what's missing from this scene?
Some tunes.
I've got an iPod docking station, but I just haven't gotten around to procuring and installing weather-proof outdoor speakers yet. That's on the long-term list of home-front renovations, however.
I could open up the window and turn on the CD player/radio deck we've got installed in the kitchen, but that would waste air conditioning. So, yes, it would be nice if while grilling a tasty meal, I was able to listen to and enjoy some of my favorite tunes.
Does that sound like a good idea?
What if those tunes also matched the fare you were charring on the old flames-'n'-grate?
Do you smell what Surge is cooking?
With Independence Day on tap this weekend, we thought we'd do our part as patriotic Americans to present to you, dear reader, a handy-dandy guide for syncing up your grilling menu with the appropriately tasty music mix to make your Fourth of July cookout a rocking affair.
So, turn to page 12 to read correspondent Derrick Bracey's flavorful recommendations for serving up a sizzling helping of hot 'n' cool albums to make your Fourth of July party the envy of the neighborhood, including a cornucopia of sounds, from Kings of Leon to Kanye West to Paolo Nutini to Eminem to Dave Matthews Band.
In addition, the Surge staff compiled a mix-tape if you will of tracks we like to rock out to while grilling and chilling, which you can find on page 13, and also listen to www.weeklysurge.com.
Also, check out page 14 for a teaser to an online photo gallery and video from the recent Surge Summer Cookout which you can find on our Web site.
I actually do look like I know what I'm doing in a couple of those pictures thanks to the artful lens of photographer Scott Smallin - so eat your heart out Steven Raichlen!
Just kidding, I own a copy of Raichlen's "The Barbecue! Bible'' and probably should refer to it a little more often so I'll know what I'm doing when I'm jockeying the flames.
For starters, I could take it down from the bookshelf from behind my office desk and actually take it home.
With July designated as National Grilling Month, I can't wait to get fired up.
According to a French proverb: "Cooks are made, grillers are born.''