12TipsforaPerfect(andEasy)BarbecueinaPublicPark-Gardenista

12 Tips for a Perfect (and Easy) Barbecue in a Public Park - Gardenista
If there was one thing missing from my life in New York for the past three summers, it was easy access to a grill.
Photographs by Erin Boyle except where noted.
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.
Bring your own tablecloth: Nothing transforms a picnic in the park like a tablecloth. 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.
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.
Committing to reusables can be trickier when there are large groups involved, but there are a number of good compostable options out there.
A set of six sturdy (and classically French) Picardie Clear Tumblers is $21.95 from Amazon.
Barbecue tool kit not necessary: A grill brush and a pair of kitchen tongs is all you really need. 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.
Prepare your food ahead of time: Preparing the details of a meal at home helps streamline the process at the park.
Know your coals: Or more specifically, know the rules for your coals.
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.
One of my favorite secrets to picnic success is packing a thin cutting board.
Bring a plastic bag for packing up dishes.
Be courteous: Many parks have time limits for how long you’re allowed to grill. Last weekend we were at the park, and folks were sharing goodies (and recipes) from their grills with nearby parties.
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