Hello Foodie Friends. We are now in the middle of the summer. Hopefully you have had the chance to entertain or enjoy some outdoor cooking. Cooking on the BBQ grill can be fun and challenging at the same time – especially when working with finely chopped foods that slip into your grill. There are many grill accessories available that can be gimmicky, while others very helpful. One grill item, the perforated steel grill topper is an excellent tool that will help prevent foods from slipping through the cracks. The grill topper sits directly on the grill grates. It is helpful when cooking vegetables that might otherwise fall through the spaces. When company comes, and you are cooking larger quantities needed to feed a crowd, it can become harder to control delicate and finely cooked foods and keeping them intact. The grill topper can assist with this while allowing heat and smoke to rise through the holes for flavorful cooking. When cooking vegetables, one solution is to leave vegetables such as portabella mushrooms whole and slice after cooking. Quartering bell peppers, grilling and cutting afterward into smaller pieces also make sense. Thick onion slices can be skewered to keep them manageable for the grill, but loose vegetables like green onions and asparagus are easier to handle with the rimmed topper also known as a grill basket. The grill basket is another option that is perfect for grilling up side dishes, small foods or stir fry. Aromatic herbs contribute so much flavor to grilled foods, but their use is usually limited to marinade additions. Using the grill topper or grill basket allows us to make a “bed” of fresh herbs for grilling larger cuts of meat, fish or whole chickens. A “spatchcocked” chicken, a whole chicken with its backbone removed and flattened for faster cook time, is nicely grilled on a bed of two bunches of green onions and a package of fresh rosemary, thyme, or tarragon leaves. Arrange them on the grill topper, and place the butterflied chicken directly on them, cavity side down. Follow These Steps for Perfect Grilled Vegetables: 1. Toss whatever vegetable you’re using in olive oil and some salt. 2. Grill on the rack over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until tender and nicely charred. The grilling time will depend on the size of what you’re cooking, but it goes fast—a minute or two for scallions—so don’t walk away. 3. Finish with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. This summer, don’t let your delicate foods or chopped items slip through the cracks of your grill. Pick up a grill topper or a grill basket to help you grill vegetables or meats as well. At Compliments to the Chef, Saratoga Springs’ true kitchen essentials store located at 46 Marion Avenue, we carry grill toppers and baskets that are made here in the U.S.A. Have fun cooking outdoors. Remember “Life Happens in the Kitchen” – even if your kitchen is outdoors! Take care, John and Paula