Let me say for the record that this is in no way, shape or form any kind of taunting to our friends and family back East in the frozen tundra we like to call home, aka: Western New York…but I think that it’s safe to say that we’ve kicked off the official grilling season out here on the West coast for the year…I know what you’re thinking - it’s warm there all year so is there even a grilling season?!

The answer is yes - although we may not have as clearly defined seasons as back East, there is a natural ebb and flow to our way of life out here and when it gets cooler we spend less time out in the backyard and near the grill.

Tonight we went over to our wonderful friends Kunle & Michelle’s house for the first time since they moved back to Los Angeles.  They have a place up in the Hollywood hills, so we found our way up the narrow twisting roads for an evening of amazing food, great wine and best of all wonderful friends.  (On a side note this was my first outing since my surgery so I was looking forward to getting out even more than normal!)

As soon as we got there I knew we were ready - Burgers the size of a baseball awaited along with all the fixings and that was it - GRILL TIME!

There’s something about that smell of the grill as it gets going, and the convening of conversation around it.  I think that this can be traced back to primal days - cavemen had fires and spits, we have grills and wine….you get the picture.

I guess the point I’m trying to get across is that for me there is a social aspect of the grill.  It means “come over”, “let’s eat”, “MEAT”! Tonight was just another example that all you really need is an open flame and friends to make an ordinary day an extraordinary night!

So, on that note - bring on the charcoal.

PS: Anyone on the East coast swearing obscenities at me right now, just know our grill is waiting for you…all you have to do is get here!