From smoked duck to matcha bars, these tested ideas make outdoor cooking feel generous, social and celebratory
Published
July 12, 2026 3:30PM (EDT)
Summer party (Thomas Barwick / Getty Images)
Cooking is my love language, but entertaining may be the fullest expression of it. I’m the person who posts an open invitation for an impromptu barbecue, starts planning the holiday menu months in advance and sees a backyard gathering as an excellent excuse to try a new cut of meat, build an over-the-top spread or finally pull out a piece of kitchen equipment I’ve been itching to use.
