How Alton Brown Wins Summer
Alton reveals his favorite essentials and tips for all types of grilling occasions this summer. Most importantly, he clues us in on how to win this summer season.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever grilled or attempted to grill? Was it a success?
Alton Brown: I was hanging out on a Native American reservation in Arizona for an episode of Feasting on Asphalt and we grilled big fingers of buffalo fat wrapped in lamb intestine. It’s a dish they consider a delicacy. You grill it to the point where the fat surrounding the intestine melts. It was certainly an acquired taste.
Tara Donne, Tara Donne
What are the three things you need for a great summer party?
AB: Margaritas, guacamole and chips
Get the recipe for Alton's 5-Star Guacamole.
What’s your favorite picnic side?
AB: Potato salad. Potato salad that’s cold and mayonnaise-based.
Get the recipe for Alton's Cold-Fashioned Potato Salad.
What's your favorite summer drink?
AB: Gin and tonic
What should a guest bring to a potluck?
AB: My signature Slow-Cooker Lasagna, because it’s awesome and it travels easy. You cook it in the slow cooker, travel with it in the pot and serve it in there too.
What’s the easiest way to sabotage grilling season?
AB: Easy: a dirty grill. When grills get dirty, they don’t conduct heat properly. Food will wind up sticking to the surface and will take on the flavor of the grill.
Watch Alton's tips for keeping your grill clean.
What are some tips to win summer this year?
AB: Spike a watermelon with a brine injector. Instead of brining a turkey, use it to inject vodka into watermelon. Also, I'm a fan of boiled peanuts. They’re addictive and they go with a cold beer on a hot summer day.
