One of the primary reasons why food lovers build an outdoor kitchen is that they want to be closer to the action and more involved in the socializing while they prepare and cook delicious dishes for their guests. If you’re looking to create a “mingle-friendly” outdoor kitchen, then here are some tips that you should take to heart:
Chances are that your indoor kitchen will still have all of the amenities that you’ll need to prepare and serve food, with your outdoor kitchen providing complementary additional features (maybe another oven/stove, perhaps a grill or a barbeque and beer taps). The more that you can blend your indoor kitchen with your outdoor kitchen, the better. By keeping your outdoor kitchen area adjacent to your indoor kitchen space, you’ll be able to easily move your meals indoors to out and vice versa effortlessly, and any forgotten condiments or drinks can easily be retrieved.
If you want to keep the socializing nearby, then make sure that you keep the bar top close to where the outdoor kitchen is happening. As an added benefit, guests want to be close to the cook/host, so by having the bar top and soda taps close by, they’re able to watch you in action while staying out of the way and enjoying themselves.
TIP: Any bar space that you create should come accompanied with bar stools to keep your guests comfortable.
Apart form having bar stools at your bar top, if you want to stay in the loop while cooking in the kitchen, make sure that majority of the outdoor seating space is also kept close by. Keep the comfiest and coziest overstuffed chairs and sofas close to where you’ll be to help encourage social gatherings near you in the kitchen.
