It is more fun to cook -- and to eat -- outside, especially when the weather is balmy and cooking in the kitchen makes you feel sticky. In the early days, a fire pit or a charcoal grill is all we need to enjoy the starry skies while roasting hotdogs and steaks over red-hot coals or a small bonfire. On weekends, parents and kids used to sit on blankets spread on the grass or folding chairs; while sharing the freshly-grilled food and happy stories with each other.

A barbecue party is easy to organize because you can grill the foods that you'll be serving in front of your guests. No need to heat up the kitchen while entertaining friends. Just provide some lighting to illuminate the garden, place a long table for the drinks and utensils, and scatter chairs around. People love to grill food so you will have lots of volunteers.

Then, someone with a genius mind invented the portable gas grills. Gradually, starting up a fire or lighting chunks of charcoal are viewed as messy and time-consuming tasks. Although some people still prefer the smoky taste of the food cooked over hot coals or fire.

The portable cooking grills that use gas became popular. They sold like hot cakes. Because everybody loves the outdoor, these gas grills are now available in different designs and sizes to suit everybody's needs.

The simplest design is used only for grilling. This is quite small-sized to hold a barbecue party but it can easily be brought to a tailgate party, which is often celebrated with friends before every football game. Portable gas grills normally weigh from 15 to 20 pounds.

Bigger and classier designs of gas grills have the appearance of a cabinet with a large-sized cooking grill installed on top. Sturdier types normally use welded frames. Be sure to check the skeletal structure of an island-type barbecue grill.

The storage spaces for food and grilling paraphernalia are included in the later designs of outdoor grill to lessen the traveling time back and forth from inside to outside the house.

The grilling stations with built-in food preparation areas and storage spaces are eventually giving way to the more efficient and more elaborate designs for cooking grills. The main idea is to bring out the entire kitchen outdoors so that outdoor cooking will be easier and, thus, more enjoyable.

Building an outdoor kitchen requires minimal fuss, especially when what you have in mind has the simplest of set-ups. A barbecue grill and oven made of bricks can be suitable for your needs. You may add a fancy cooking grill with advanced features like side burners, food warmers, pizza oven, and many more. This latter choice is considered as a sound but a bit expensive home improvement.

Here are some points to consider before installing an outdoor kitchen:

• a space outside your house is not used frequently, such as a deck or a patio or a pool area;
• cooking in the kitchen produces excessive heat that stresses your air conditioning during the summer;
• you are fond of throwing barbecue parties to entertain guests; and,
• your family loves outdoor grilling and dining.

Typically, outdoor kitchens are built on decks, patios, lawns, and areas near the swimming pool. The reasons are practical rather than aesthetic. First, these parts of the house are often accessible from the kitchen so transferring foods and supplies back and forth will be quicker; and second, there is no need to run new lines for the utilities such as gas, electrical, and plumbing.

The main feature to consider when choosing the design for your outdoor kitchen is - the cooking grill. The grill is the centerpiece so you must choose the design carefully. Here are some tips to help you decide:

• Measure the space that you can provide for the outdoor kitchen.
• Determine if you'd want to bake outdoors as well.
• Find space for furniture that you can bring outside.
• Draw a picture so that you can visualize the look of your future outdoor kitchen.
• Include the roofing construction and materials to your budget.

• Side burners are used for cooking other dishes such as vegetables while grilling, or just keeping the food warm.
• Grilling accessories are kitchen utensils that help you save time and effort when cooking.
• Work spaces or countertops must have distinctive areas for preparation, serving, and food presentation.
• Lighting fixtures are used mainly to illuminate the whole area.
• Heaters provide comfort in cold weather.
• Insect repellant is a must to drive insects away.
• Shelter can be temporary or permanent. Retractable awnings and large patio umbrellas are low-cost and easy to remove. Permanent roofing may include a pergola, which can be covered with glass panels or iron sheets during rainy days.

Sometimes, the reasons for adding an outdoor kitchen to home amenities may be for aesthetic effects rather than practical. Despite the higher costs required by flamboyant designs, more and more homes are becoming known for their extravagant outdoor kitchens.

• Sink - to avoid ferrying used dishes to the indoor kitchen for washing
• Water supply - and proper drainage will save time on washing
• Electric outlets - intended for use of small appliances such stereos and lightings

• Wood-burning oven - or pizza oven, used for roasting meats and vegetables; and making pizzas
• Exhaust hood - to control direction of smoke
• Mini-refrigerator - to keep the food cold and prevent from perishing before cooking time
• Ice machine - to have steady supply of ice
• Warming drawers - to keep the food warm before serving
• Wine storage - to avoid going back and forth the house to get wine
• Dining furniture - or living room style set-up (complete with upholstered furniture), for dining in style
• Fireplace - to keep the area warm during chilly nights

Covers available for the cooking grills and amenities are usually weatherproof. Other parts of the outdoor kitchen must be made of materials that can withstand high heat, falling embers or sparks, rain, snow, and the heat of the sun. Check out the support, too, especially if the area was located on a protruded deck. Good materials include: stucco, tile, stone, slate, stainless steel, and teak.