May Long Weekend is and always has been an exciting time of the year for me. I consider it the turning point of being able to spend more time outside. There are very few things I enjoy more than being able to cook and entertain in the great outdoors, even the idea of a backyard patio or dinner party gets me excited. The smell of the grill, the crack of a cold beer, and the noticeably longer and warmer evenings..There's nothing like it! Also I feel very fortunate to live in the sunny Okanagan where quality ingredients seam to magically appear with the changing of the seasons. Its like having your own dream pantry that is always fully stocked. May long weekend, in the Okanagan, is a good time and place to be a chef or passionate home cook.

First things first the weekend usually starts with getting everything organized. Dig out the camping or outdoor gear, and take a quick inventory, like my favourite

Next step for me is to get the grill station set up. I make sure I have my go to tool set - The Wusthof 4pc BBQ Set. Like my Wusthof knives this German steel tool set is built tough! And for keeping the grill clean I only use the Brushtech Double Helix Grill Brush. Say good-bye to those pesky metal pieces left in your grill! This brush has four springs that are twisted-in-wire, making it four continuous bristles. This brush cleans grease and burnt food perfectly well and lasts longer than traditional brushes. The four spring design will fit to clean the tops and the sides of your grills and grates.

This year more than ever I am looking forward to some quality friends and family time, even at a safe distance. Being set up and organized to entertain outside takes some preparation but is definitely worth it. Get creative with your table set up, source 'outdoor safe' plateware and barware, use quality ingredients, and I am sure it will be a hit. Happy grilling and stay safe out there!