When cooking outside, nothing is off-limits for Gaby Dalkin. In her aptly titled new cookbook, What’s Gaby Cooking: Grilling All the Things ($35; abramsbooks.com), she throws nachos, frittatas, and many varieties of fruit on the grates. One of her go-to’s? A chocolate-stuffed banana. “Slice an unpeeled banana in half lengthwise, and press in some thin chocolate pieces. Char it up on the grill with the lid closed. Once the fruit is caramelized, scoop it and the chocolate out and eat it over ice cream.” While grilled fruit can be an amazing dessert (flames bring out fruit’s natural sweetness), Dalkin also shares some savory ideas below that are, well, fire. Regardless of what you’re making, she says, well-oiled grates are key, as is grilling over indirect heat. Her biggest tip is to enjoy being outside: “You don’t get your kitchen dirty, and that’s a win for everybody!”
PEACHES
Grill halves or quarters until grill marks appear. Eat as is with olive oil, salt, and herbs. Or thinly slice and arrange on a pizza. You can also toss with arugula, goat cheese, and a really tangy vinaigrette for a superb summer salad.
WATERMELON
Slice into meaty pieces, grill for two to three minutes per side, then sprinkle with salt or Tajín or another chili powder. Serve as an appetizer or use as a cocktail garnish.
PINEAPPLE
Chop up grilled planks and add to tacos or pulled pork sandwiches, or blend them into a pineapple margarita. —Grace Elkus
While any blanket can technically be a picnic blanket, we’ve suffered through many an itchy wool situation or barely-there, feel-every-rock microfiber spread. That’s why we fell for The Chappy ($150; chappywrap.com). It’s very pretty—as you can see at right—cushy but not bulky to carry, machine washable and dryable, large (80 by 60 inches, the same size as a queen mattress), and supremely durable. It’s also made of a delightfully cozy cotton blend, so you can snuggle up with it indoors during chillier months. Choose from a bunch of cheery reversible patterns and colors. Lemons! Stripes! Hydrangeas! And more! —G.E.
FOOD STYLING BY CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLING BY CLAIRE SPOLLEN; PRODUCT IMAGE COURTESY OF MANUFACTURER
Photograph by Greg DuPree