Designing the Perfect Outdoor Kitchen for Tennessee's Food Culture
Do you ever feel frustrated when you invite close friends over for some hot chicken, pinto beans, and cornbread, only to find yourself still sweating over the stove when they show up? Should you make your guests wait in the living room until the food is ready, or do you try to cram everyone into the already-sweltering kitchen?
The bigger your group is, the worse this problem becomes. On a hot summer day, this becomes almost unbearable, with your air conditioning barely able to cope with the heat from the stove and the crush of bodies in the kitchen.
The solution?
Make the most of your outdoor space by adding a grill and an outdoor kitchen setup!
At Keystone Custom Decks, we make your dream outdoor living space in central Tennessee a reality with custom outdoor kitchens. That’s why we wrote this blog, to explore outdoor kitchens inspired by and designed for Tennessee food culture.
Why You Should Consider an Outdoor Kitchen
If you find yourself cramped for space when you entertain, your first instinct might be to renovate your home. And while knocking out a wall and creating an open floor plan might help, it’s not always a practical solution. Not only is renovation costly, but it’s time-consuming and invasive, and it might not be compatible with your current home plan.
So before you worry about extensive renovations, let’s look at a more practical solution: why don’t you see what you can do with your current outdoor living space?
Creating your dream outdoor living area has multiple benefits. Not only does it open up entertainment opportunities, but it gets you out of the house and enjoying the fresh air.
When you add an outdoor kitchen to your outdoor living space, you create an easy way to socialize while cooking, keep cooking instruments from heating up your house, and prevent mess and foot traffic from entering your home.
Close your eyes. Can you hear your friends laughing and chattering? Can you feel a slight breeze? Can you smell the steaks sizzling on the grill?
Exploring the Tennessee Food Scene
Tennessee has a rich food culture, starting with the Native Americans who cooked up dishes like cornbread and hominy, which later became staples of Southern cuisine.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Scots-Irish and German immigrants brought techniques like smoking meats, pickling, and baking, while African American enslaved communities introduced slow-cooking methods, deep frying, and flavorful spice blends.
Today, the food culture of Tennessee is rich and varied, with regional differences depending on whether you live in West, Central, or East TN. For example, folks in East Tennesssee love traditional Southern fare, such as fried chicken and cornbread. In West Tennessee, barbeque reigns supreme.
For vegetables, Tennesseans are fond of fried okra, pinto beans, turnip greens, and stewed cabbage. Popular sides include cornbread and fried taters. And everything should be seasoned with liberal amounts of butter and pork fat.
But the real king of Tennessee cuisine is the meat. From Memphis-style smoked dry rub BBQ ribs to pulled pork with tomato and vinegar-based barbecue sauces, you can expect your meat in Tennessee to be well-seasoned and expertly cooked.
Although popular meats in Tennessee include hot fish, hot chicken, salmon patties, and catfish, the staples are popular too—good old-fashioned steaks, hamburgers, and hotdogs grilled to perfection.
Outdoor Kitchens Inspired by the TN Food Scene
All these mouthwatering foods you love should inspire the design of your outdoor kitchen. Here are the appliances and features to focus on when designing your outdoor kitchen.
- Grill: As the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen, your grill matters more than anything else. Choose a grill that can accommodate the types of food you want to make and the crowd you want to cook for.
- Smoker: The smoker is another staple appliance for making the amazing meats Tennessee is famous for. You can buy a grill with a smoker incorporated into it or get them as two separate appliances.
- Pizza Oven: Although the pizza oven isn’t as crucial to making Tennessee’s best-loved foods as the grill and smoker are, it’s still an excellent addition, especially if you like pizza. You can also use your pizza oven to bake fantastic cornbread.
- Refrigerator: Once you have the essential cooking appliances, it’s time to think about the comfort and convenience of your outdoor kitchen. For this, you need a refrigerator to hold sides, drinks, and ingredients. You’ll love being able to toss your friends a cold drink without having to go inside!
- Drink Station: Consider your favorite drinks to serve your guests, and build a drink station to accommodate them. For example, if you love craft beers, consider adding a kegerator or beer tap system. For serving cocktails or Tennessee whiskey, you need a weatherproof storage area for bottles, a bar area to mix and serve, and an ice maker.
- Layout and Seating: Design your outdoor kitchen with convenience in mind. Ideally, it will be a place where guests can mingle and work together or sip a drink while chatting with the cook.
That’s why it’s ideal to have plenty of counter space and a bar area with seating.
- Safety Features: Finally, remember that nothing spoils a party like a grease fire! Always keep a Class K fire extinguisher and a fire blanket on hand to quickly smother even the most intense grill fire.
Taking Your Outdoor Living Area to the Next Level
With an expertly designed outdoor kitchen, you’ll throw the best parties in the neighborhood through three seasons of the year.
But although your outdoor kitchen will be the crown jewel of your outdoor living area, you can upgrade the whole experience by investing in other outdoor living features.
- Furniture:
You’ve grilled delicious steaks, and your friends have brought all your favorite side dishes, but where will you eat it all? You need an outdoor dining table and chairs, and maybe some outdoor living furniture such as plush outdoor chairs and couches.
- Design and Aesthetics
Think carefully about the design of your outdoor living area, creating a tranquil, beautiful space. For example, consider incorporating beautiful masonry features into your design.
- A Pool:
Although a pool is a significant investment, it’s crucial for cooling off in the Tennessee summer heat!
How Keystone Custom Decks Can Help
At Keystone Custom Decks, we create decks, outdoor kitchens, and other outdoor living areas using high-quality materials, superior craftsmanship, and custom designs. We back our work with a limited lifetime warranty.
We’re located north of Nashville in Greenbrier, TN, and we’d love to help you design the perfect outdoor kitchen to make your Tennessee outdoor living dreams come true.
For more information or to get a quote, don’t hesitate to reach out today!