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I have spent some time in the New York neighborhood of Alphabet City. This is an area that is set in the historical borough of the East Village, and as all the neighborhoods of this American city there is quite a history behind it, and quite a future ahead.  There are only four avenues, A-B-C and D that make up the Alphabet of this section located near Houston Street and 14th.  It is located in the 9th Precinct of the NYPD, don’t know why that is thrown in, perhaps it’s my roots.  My father was police officer, then a detective for the city of Phoenix for 25 years, and I just have a fondness for the “fuzz”.  Fuzz is slang for anyone not in the know, for cops–which is also slang for police.

Moving right along…this neighborhood may not have in the past been home to some of the best hotels.  Manhattan however is in a constant state of renewal and reinvention, and nowadays there are many different hotels and accommodations available to all those that travel to this part of the country.  Any neighborhood on this island is filled with people from around the world, and Alphabet City is no exception.  People of German descent have made this their home, so much so that it has, among many nicknames, been garnered with “Little Germany” and “Kleindeutschland”.

This area was at one time known to be the third largest Germanic speaking region of the world, coming in third to the city of Berlin and the city of Vienna.  The only other American city that topped it, was the Philadelphia borough of Germantown.  Tompkins Square is a park, with again its own history, where I spent a lot of time when I was there.  It is a mix of Bohemia and grunge, music and art.  This is one of my favorite places in the United States.  It is true to its own nature, does not make any excuses, and leaves one with a feeling that art and history combine and will continue to survive.

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It’s a statement in itself when you have an outdoor kitchen of your very own.  It’s a commitment to the good life for you, and for your family and friends, and it also means you’re taking the time to have a good time.  Deciding on your setup can be one of the most exciting parts of the process, and when you start to factor in the benefits of drop in grills, you’ll probably decide these would be a good addition.  It adds tremendous convenience for your culinary repertoire, and there are suddenly more options for your new creations.

Discovering your favorite cooking creations is, of course, one of the real joys of your outdoor kitchen, and it’s something that can go on infinitely.  The learning is part of the true pleasures of cooking, and cooking outdoors always has a mystique of its own.  There are thousands of things you can do with food when you start experimenting with outdoor cooking, and for a special twist, you can try grilling onions on our drop-in gas grills to add sensational new flavors to accompany your favorite meals.

Imagine the surprise when your friends try steak and onions, where the onions have been specially prepared in their own spicy Italian sauces.  Meat and flavor merge and make splendid tastes together, and can absolutely brighten up anyone’s day.  Another option is to grill the onions whole, cutting out the center of the onion and stuffing it with butter, and seasoning with the basic salt and pepper.  It’s a gorgeous accompaniment to almost any meal, and the natural flavors are enhanced by the smoke and flame.  Also try adding a boulion cube to the butter for a spectacular taste that’s really out of this world. It’s a very simple way to turn basic foods into culinary masterpieces.