Even the most seasoned cooks can feel intimidated behind a grill. Perhaps it’s the open flame, the dogmatic opinions about barbecue or the gendered expectation to “man” it. America’s Test Kitchen (americastestkitchen.com) personality and author Morgan Bolling recently launched the new show The Grill Next Door to take the fear out of the sear and get everyone playing with fire. Each episode not only shares tips and techniques but recipes for everything from burgers and brisket to Caesar salad, a smoked pork nacho table and a Greek-inspired girls’ night. For that episode, Bolling makes an entire meze spread with chicken souvlaki, fireroasted eggplant dip and smoky carrots, all on the grill. It’s Bolling’s favorite way to entertain, not sequestered in the kitchen but outside, tongs in hand, orchestrating the party.
The southern-born cook joined America’s Test Kitchen 11 years ago, but she’s been cooking for people her entire life, starting with making brownies for her high school cross-country team. “Giving food to people has always felt like such a gift. So much of Southern hospitality is caring for people through food,” she says. Her new show, in many ways, is a nod to the southern tradition of creating community through food and bringing loved ones together around a hot meal, or in this case, a grill. One of Bolling’s favorite pastimes, when she isn’t developing recipes or filming, is the annual pig roasts she hosts. “It’s such a celebration of the animal and such an exciting way to feed a lot of people,” she explains.
Bolling’s hope for her audience is much simpler. She wants her show to inspire people to get together, whether for a girls’ night, a tailgate or even a simple date night. Light the fire and see how easy it is to get things heating up.
