Barbeques in the park

[fortified]

Passing through Peckham Rye Park today, I saw two seemingly separate groups of people using what appeared to be aluminium tray barbeques in the arboretum.

I've seen them being used on the Rye itself and in Dulwich Park in past years, but never before in the arboretum.

It's hard to believe that this is allowed in a public space, for health and safety reasons if no other, but even if it is, it seems thoughtless to fill the air with smoke (as one of them was) and kill the grass underneath.

The arboretum is popular with families with young children and it seems like a very bad idea to have hot coals in proximity to very young children.

[????]

outrageous

2.5/10

[Salsaboy]

How dare people enjoy themselves on a hot sunny day.

[firkinboo]

Hee Hee, I agree. Hot coals are not going to jump or spill out of one of those BBQ's, and we're not exactly talking poisonous fumes are we! As long as people leave as they find, I say live and let live. What really annoys me is people who have a picnic and then just get up and leave all their crisp bags and empty bottles for the 'litter fairies' to clear away. PS if a child is dumb enough to run over to a complete stranger and then fall onto a BBQ well....ever heard of contributory negligence???

[taper]

It isn't allowed in Peckham Rye park or most other parks because of the damage they do.

[fortified]

Quite right, if young children are too 'dumb' properly to assess risk... :-S

That aside, it isn't really living and letting live if nobody wants to sit anywhere near your party because there's smoke blowing at them.

Couldn't agree more about the litter.

[Annette Curtain]

Agree, outrageous, should be locked up

(sorry, what's this thread about again?)

NettsB)

[Otta]

I actually think it could be dangerous, and they will burn patches of grass unless people have taken bricks along with them.

Surely one of them had access to a fucking garden.

[DulwichFox]

Why can't there be areas built for the purpose of Barbecues...

I have seen them in the Parks in Berlin.. (Der Wannsee)

Also people can have a bottle of wine or a beer with their Picnic.

Just a very English thing to ban everything and raise money by imposing fines

on anyone who wants to enjoy themselves and breaks petty rules..

Fox..

[maxxi]

Otta Wrote:

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> I actually think it could be dangerous, and they

> will burn patches of grass unless people have

> taken bricks along with them.

>

> Surely one of them had access to a @#$%& garden.

I had access to a fucking garden once...

...wasn't as refreshing as a beer garden, nor did it smell as sweet as a rose garden; in fact it reminded me a little of the Torture Garden - but then we're back to bricks and burnt patches again aren't we...?

[fortified]

There is a charred patch. (Yes, yes, the grass will grow back.)

The 'killjoy' posts are a tad predictable, although it is true that there's nothing more irksome than people enjoying themselves. I hate fun in all its forms, apart from pooing in people's front gardens which is a hobby of mine. It's not hurting anybody, doesn't do any lasting damage and, well, I enjoy it so feel quite entitled to go about my, ahem, business.

Why not PM me your home addresses :))

[Annette Curtain]

Hail to the smoke

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg696/scaled.php?server=696&filename=img2362z.jpg&res=landing

I fired up the Curtain-HotSmoker ? today

It is the best bit of homemade-cobbled up kit i've come up with yet

Smoke so dense you could slice it. Nice, moist, indirect heat up to 200 degrees plus

Not a bit of charred meat in sight

Huge flavours-endless fun

*bows to converted galvanised dust bin*

Nette(tu)

[Applespider]

DulwichFox Wrote:

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> Why can't there be areas built for the purpose of

> Barbecues...

>

> I have seen them in the Parks in Berlin.. (Der

> Wannsee)

You do get them in this country too. There were quite a few at various country parks that I went to growing up. Massive stone-built ones where people would light theirs and then pass their spot on the grill over to the next family since the coals were still hot.

In South Africa, they provide really cool little braii (?) stands - what looks like a little cafe style table with a metal circle underneath to hold the mini-gas canister. The gas canister and the grill can be hired from the local shop or brought with you.

I'd always thought BBQ'ing in the local parks was banned so have never risked it. If there's no policing of it though, I might grab a couple of bricks to save the grass and try it. The smoke isn't going to be there all that long and if you're far enough away from others shouldn't be too disturbing. Surely less so than playing your radio loudly in the middle of the park as someone was today; if it had been decent music, I wouldn't have minded!

[Barry Road Barbers]

Lifes too short, i aint going to comment but Nette you have restored my appitite (had a bad bad bad belly bug for the last 3 days)

[Annette Curtain]

Today we go again

More meat, more heat, more sauce

Smoke with added smoke, just because we can.

Nette(tu)

(mind you, yesterday I opened the lid of the beast and accidentally breathed a lungful-OUCH)

[Brendan]

Is that waxed paper on top of the grill? How do you do that then without setting the patio on fire?

[Annette Curtain]

Brendan Wrote:

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> Is that waxed paper on top of the grill? How do

> you do that then without setting the patio on

> fire?

It's paper baking sheet Brendan

The flame bit is external and the bottom of the can gets lined with wet wood shavings (sweet-chestnut at the mo). It heats from the outside and the wet woodshavings smoke like crazy but dont combust into flames. I also add water as it goes, so you get moist hot smoke, and it has an oven thermostat. So it can stay at one temp like 200' quite easily, when the lid is on.

I made it all-by-myself and it's bloomin great fun. I've even cooked a Sunday joint in it.

The ultimate thing though is those huge Black Tiger Prawns, cooked from raw in the hot smoke.

They're sooooooo good, "Prawnographic" almost

Oh lord, i'm starving NOW

Nette:)

[Otta]

I don't want to sound like a kill joy, I love a BBQ, I just don't really think the park is the place for it.

[bon3yard]

You're right, maybe those unfortunate not to have a garden could build a barbecue in their kitchen sink, hoik open the windows and crank up the extractor fan to 11. And in case you havent actually cooked any of the meat thoroughly and the dicky tummy kicks in your BBQ is also a ready made vomitorium. Win-twinned-with-win folks.

[Guest]

It would be quite nice if barbecues came with a bell that rang when you first lit up to alert your neighbours so they can bring their washing in before it's infused with the stench of burnt fat. (Hint to otherwise lovely neighbours.)

[bon3yard]

Hickory smoked y-fronts?

[Guest]

More like burger with a hint of firelighter.

[Annette Curtain]

Ms B Wrote:

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> More like burger with a hint of firelighter.

There's nothing worse than that BBQ lighter fluid smell anywhere near your food

Reminds me of the Lambeth Country Fair

(I think I had the worse jerk chicken ever there)

Netts:-S

[Guest]

Is it paraffin or kerosene? Always reminds me of airports. If you happen to be in the vicinity at the time it's the early warning signal to get the washing in.

I've got to the age where I can't look at food at outdoor events without wondering about hygiene. Funny how when you're a teenager you can't imagine anything more delicious than a fairground burger.

[Otta]

bon3yard Wrote:

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> You're right, maybe those unfortunate not to have

> a garden could build a barbecue in their kitchen

> sink, hoik open the windows and crank up the

> extractor fan to 11. And in case you havent

> actually cooked any of the meat thoroughly and the

> dicky tummy kicks in your BBQ is also a ready made

> vomitorium. Win-twinned-with-win folks.

Do these unfortunate people not have any friends with a garden?