RECOMMENDED: Full coverage of BBQ in NYC
Nothing screams summer quite like a backyard barbecue. Before you fire up the grill, snag BBQ essentials like these prime meats, cool ’cue tools and stylish accessories.
Tomato strecci
Sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, fragrant thyme and garlic stud these salty, 18-inch flatbreads. The chewy loaves—made from the bakery's pizza bianca dough—will round out any picnic spread. Available at Sullivan Street Bakery, 533 W 47th St between Tenth and Eleventh Aves (212-265-5580). $3 for half.Pat LaFrieda hamburger and hot dog packs
Pat LaFrieda's proprietary burger blends are all the rage at restaurants, but thanks to Eataly, you can bring the acclaimed butcher's meats home. Choose four-ounce free-range Piedmontese or Angus beef patties, or snappy, natural-casing franks, available in packs of six. Available at Eataly, 200 Fifth Ave between 23rd and 24th Sts (212-229-2560). Hamburgers $8.80/lb; six hot dogs $9.80.Kuhn Rikon watermelon knife
This long, serrated carbon-steel blade is specifically designed to cut through the thick, slippery skin of a melon, but it'll perform just as well on crusty loaves of bread and ripe tomatoes. Available at Williams-Sonoma, Shops at Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Circle at 59th St (212-823-9750). $24.95.Stanley classic flask
Ditch the ubiquitous silver flask for this sporty green number, which holds just enough of your favorite nip (eight ounces) to keep you afloat for a long afternoon in the park. Available at REI, 303 Lafayette St between E Houston and Prince Sts (212-680-1938). $22.Greenport Harbor Summer Ale
Choosing the right cookout beer is about taking the long view---you want something that's more flavorful than 30-pack swill, but easygoing enough to sip all day in the sun. Long Island's Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. hits all the right notes with its crisp, floral Summer Ale, which is infused with orange-blossom honey for a citrusy-sweet finish. Available at Nolita Mart & Espresso Bar, 156 Mott St between Broome and Grand Sts (212-966-8883). 64-ounce growler $11.99.Homemade sausages from Bklyn Larder
These fresh, grill-ready sausages are made with premium, sustainable ingredients, like Heritage Foods USA Berkshire pork. There are three flavors available: chorizo, fennel-pork and garlic-chicken. 228 Flatbush Ave between Sixth Ave and Bergen St, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-783-1250). Chorizo $14/lb; fennel-pork $14/lb; garlic-chicken $13/lb.Strawberry-balsamic pie from Four & Twenty Blackbirds
Bring a whole pie to your next rooftop gathering. Sisters Melissa and Emily Elsen, the ace pie makers behind this bakery, started rolling out summer flavors in May, including a standout strawberry-balsamic variety. 439 Third Ave at 8th St, Gowanus, Brooklyn (718-499-2917). $38.Marinated chicken wings and shallot-chive marrow butter from the Meat Hook
Pick up prepared foods from Brooklyn's indie butchers on the way to your next barbecue. Raw, marinated chicken wings come ready for grilling in spicy Frank's RedHot sauce. 'Cue lovers can also grab the Meat Hook's beefy condiment—a blend of freshly chopped chives, shallots and marrow collected from the Brooklyn Star. Spread it on bread like lardo, melt it on steak or add it to anything else that needs a boost of richness. 100 Frost St between Leonard St and Manhattan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-349-5033). Wings $4.99/lb; Half-pint container of butter $7.99.Nettle Meadow flavored chvres
Take these portable cheeses to your next picnic: You can dip a cracker straight into the tubs, filled with fluffy goat cheese in plain, garlic-and-olive-oil, horseradish and maple-walnut varieties. Available at nettlemeadow.com. 5oz $7.22.Thai-lime waffle chips from Epicerie Boulud
Leave it to Daniel Boulud to bring potato chips to the next level. Aromatic lime zest, dried Thai bird chilies and red curry powder pep up these crispy and delicate house-made gaufrettes (waffle chips). 1900 Broadway at 64th St (212-595-9606). 2oz $3.50.Photograph: Jolie Ruben Empire Mayonnaise Co.
Chef Sam Mason (Lady Jay's) and designer Elizabeth Valleau are behind this line of outstanding artisanal mayonnaises, made with fresh, local eggs. Use one of the 15 rotating flavors—standbys include bacon and white truffle—to top a burger. Available at Empire Mayonnaise, 564 VanderbiltAve between Bergen and Dean Sts, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-636-2069). 4oz $7–9.Photograph: Krista Schlueter Blink ketchup & mustard
We're suckers for these adorable red and yellow bottles, which blink their eyes each time you turn them over to squeeze out a condiment. Available at perpetualkid.com. Set $23.99.Photograph: Krista Schlueter Brooklyn brine pickles
Unconventional ingredients make these preserved veggies stand out from the pickling pack. Chipotle carrots and fennel beets make fine burger accompaniments, as do maple-bourbon bread-and-butter pickles and cukes spiked with McKenzie rye whiskey. Available at Murray's Cheese, 254 Bleecker St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-243-3289). Fennel Beets 16oz $9.99; Chipotle Carrots 16oz $9.99; Mable-Bourbon Bread-and-Butter Pickeles 16oz $10.99.; Whiskey Sour Pickles 24 oz. $9.99.Photograph: Krista Schlueter Fentimans sodas
This British beverage company has been carbonating sophisticated, botanical sips since 1905. Swap in their adult varieties—ranging from Mandarin and Seville Orange Jigger to classic cola—for the usual commercial swill. Available at Nolita Mart & Espresso Bar, 156 Mott St between Broome and Grand Sts (212-966-8883). 9.3oz $1.99.Photograph: Krista Schlueter BBQ Tools: The handyman's grilling set
Any square-footage-challenged New Yorker should appreciate these quirky dual-purpose tools. Each implement sports a grilling utensil on one end and a handyman tool on the other: The three-piece set includes a spatula/wrench, basting brush/tape measure and fork/hammer. Available at neatoshop.com. $35.95.Photograph: Krista Schlueter Marimekko trays
These pretty, patterned trays, from Finnish design powerhouse Marimekko, are ideal platforms for your festive snacks. Available at Marimekko, 1262 Third Avenue at E 73rd St (212-628-8400). Small round $89; large round $229; small rectangle $38.50; large rectangle $63.Photograph: Lindsay Taylor Cold-brew iced tea
When it comes to the iced version of their favorite beverage, tea obsessives (like coffee nerds) extol the virtues of cold-brewing. To make a batch for your next bash, steep loose-leaf tea (we like Ceylon Silver Tips, Mango and Blackberry from McNulty's) in water overnight and strain. Available at McNulty's 109 Christopher St between Bleecker and Hudson Sts. (212-242-5351). 4oz Ceylon Silver Tips $4; 4oz Mango $4.50; 4oz Blackberry $4.50.Photograph: Krista Schlueter First Field Jersey Ketchup
Artisanal ketchups rarely measure up to commercial stalwarts like Heinz, but this New Jersey entrant gets it right. The small-batch sauce, made with vine-ripened tomatoes, balances sweetness and tang. Available at The Brooklyn Kitchen, 100 Frost St between Leonard St and Manhattan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-389-2982). 8oz $6.99.Photograph: Krista Schlueter Bodum Fyrkat picnic charcoal grill
Whether you're firing up the barbecue on your rooftop or on your fire escape (we didn't see nothin'), this sleek, colorful charcoal grill gets the job done in style. Its compact size and latching lid make it perfectly portable. Available at Broadway Panhandler, 65 E 8th St between Broadway and University Pl (212-966-3434). Large: $47.99; mini $35.99.Photograph: Krista Schlueter Park tumblers
Instead of disposable plastic cups, offer your guests this eco-friendly alternative for their drinks: The cheery melamine tumblers come in array of colors. Available at zak.com. Set of six for $35.94.Photograph: Krista Schlueter Now Designs aprons
Protect your duds this barbecue season with these stylish, lightweight aprons, available in funky designs such as butcher-stripe and multistriped denim. Available at The Brooklyn Kitchen, 100 Frost St between Leonard St and Manhattan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-389-2982). $19.99.
Summer BBQ essentials: Go-to gear for a backyard barbecue
Stock your larder and keep the outdoor party going all summer long with these BBQ-ready essentials.
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