Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association Searches
April 3, 2007
HPBA
Bringing the indoors outside **HPBA**
NorthJersey.com - Hackensack, NJ
April 1, 2007
Mary Amoroso
Eggsactly Keep your eggs safe **HPBA**
The Virginian-Pilot - Norfolk, VA
April 1, 2007
HPBExpo
HPBA Report On The State Of The BBQ Industry (Episode 39) **HPBA**
The Livin LaVida Low-Carb Show
April 2, 2007
Jimmy Moore
Hearth Trends
Wood-burner law fuels outrage, Hundreds attend Town of Chenango meeting
Press & Sun-Bulletin - Binghamton, NY
April 3, 2007
Nancy Dooling
Barbecue Trends
LIFESTYLE: A month of food
Niagara Gazette - Niagara Falls, NY
March 31, 2007
Kevin Purdy
Bringing the indoors outside **HPBA**
NorthJersey.com - Hackensack, NJ
April 1, 2007
MARY AMOROSO
Back in the day, suburban outdoor living consisted of sitting around a redwood picnic
table on a slab of concrete while Dad flipped burgers on the charcoal-briquette-fired grill
and the kids did cannonball dives into the pool.
Outdoor furniture meant folding metal chairs threaded with vinyl ribbon, or redwood
frames softened by vinyl-covered pillows that left their imprint on your thighs and
smelled when they were wet.
Today, outdoor living can be a re-creation of upscale indoor living, with outdoor sitting
rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and bathrooms, hearths, sound systems and dramatic
lighting.
As Greenwood, Miss.-based Viking Range Corp. puts it, in promoting the company's
high-end outdoor kitchen installations, "Forget going out on the town. Go out in the
yard."
Vanessa DeLeon, a Ridgewood-based interior designer, said people "want everything
from the inside on the outside, so that people are not going in and out, in and out of the
house all the time."
Americans spent some $178 billion on home improvements in 2006, according to the
U.S. Census Bureau. Outdoor remodeling statistics are hard to come by: The National
Association of the Remodeling Industry says it doesn't keep that data. But, according to
the Health, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), $17.4 billion was spent on
additions/alterations to property/outside structures in 2003. And, says the HPBA, a record
17 million grills were shipped in 2006, up 15 percent from the year before.
The cost of an outdoor room can range from $10,000 for a simple grill and sitting/dining
area to $50,000 to $80,000 for a built-in pool, outdoor kitchen, pool house, seating,
heating, decking, stonework, lighting and landscaping.
Will you get your money back on resale?
"Not only will you get your money out of it, but your home will sell faster,'' said Robert
Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers.
"Theoretically, you can extend the seasons a little bit."
A lot of outdoor rooms start with the pool. Robin Doyle and her family decided to put a
pool in their Wayne back yard last year, after living in their home for 15 years.
"My daughter is getting older -- she's 9 -- and we love to swim,'' said Doyle. "We weren't
spending much time at the house during the summer, because there wasn't that much to
do. We're social people, and we wanted to use the house more and have people over."
As the contractors began digging the pool, running the utility lines and regrading the
property, Doyle thought about the muddy feet and the dripping bathing suits coming into
the house.
"It became obvious to me that we would have a lot of messy traffic,'' she said. "We have a
finished basement with a bathroom down there and a light-colored carpet: It would have
been wrecked.''
And so, the plan for their outdoor room developed. A cabana was built, with bathroom,
shower, storage and kitchen area. The kitchen has a counter with a pass-through opening.
Bar stools flank the counter, and comfortable chairs between the cabana and the pool will
be shaded by a vine-covered pergola, a structure forming a shaded walk or passageway of
pillars.
It took a long time to finish construction, from April until September of last year, and
ended up costing more than double the original budget of about $40,000 for the pool. The
Doyles still have to buy the outdoor furniture, do the lighting and extend the homespeaker system outdoors. The family can hardly wait for the summer season to begin.
Much has been made of the "McMansioning" of North Jersey, the construction of homes
that take up most of their lots and maximize indoor space at the expense of outdoor
space. Area interior designers talk about the trend toward creating a flow between indoors
and out.
"People are bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out," said Rita Lyons of Marc
Design in Midland Park.
Christina Marraccini of Raccini Designs talks about one $800,000 project she is
designing for a home in the Rio Vista section of Mahwah. The owners had considered
moving but decided instead to double the size of the kitchen, open up the great room and
build an outdoor room beyond.
"There's a stone fireplace in the great room, and two big French doors from the great
room will lead to an outdoor stone fireplace 20 feet beyond the doors,'' she said.
In addition, a glassed-in octagonal space will project outward from the enlarged kitchen
and will be flanked by mahogany decks on either side of the octagon.
But if you have a high-end kitchen inside the house, why do you need another one
outside the house?
"People are looking for the same high performance and high style for their outdoor
kitchens as they have become accustomed to in their indoor kitchens,'' said Kim
Donahue, director of marketing for Carl Schaedel and Co. of Fairfield, the local
distributor for Viking Range appliances.
Viking has sold movable outdoor grills for a long time. The company began selling
stainless steel cabinets and appliance combinations for built-in outdoor kitchens three
years ago, Donahue said.
"Every year since then, the business in outdoor kitchens has doubled,'' she said.
The outdoor kitchen units from Viking range from about $12,000 for a 7.5-foot
installation with grill, side burners (to boil water for corn, for example), warming drawer,
storage and pull-out trash bins, to about $20,000 for a 16-foot installation with grill and
infrared burner, separate side burners, warming drawer, refrigerator, sink cabinet and
storage. The price does not include the stone countertops, which owners can choose to
match the exterior colors of the house, or the cost of installing plumbing, gas and electric.
Viking also sells smokers (to smoke meats) and beverage centers.
In addition to extending the outdoors in and the indoors out, a well-appointed outdoor
room can lengthen your outdoor experience into the colder months.
Interior designer DeLeon said she crafts a lot of outdoor rooms with a fire pit, a metal
drum in which you burn wood and which guests can gather around like a campfire.
"What's neat about a fire pit is that people use it in the fall,'' she said. "And if they have a
Jacuzzi, they still use it in late fall and early winter.''
People can also buy tabletop or free-standing patio space heaters to warm up an outdoor
room or install gas or wood-burning fireplaces.
And with the right lighting, you can extend the summer days into summer nights.
To play up their 65-foot pool with streaming waterfalls and columns on either side, the
Ciacciarelli family of Mahwah chose dramatic spotlighting and fiber-optic pool lighting
that changes color. The Ciacciarellis also had a cabana with a tiled bathroom and
changing area built in the last couple of years, along with an outdoor kitchen.
"I have a full, built-in barbecue, with refrigerator and counter space all around, all stone,
with a granite countertop,'' said Ann Marie Ciacciarelli. "I entertain 150 people outdoors
for my twin sons' birthday in July. Everybody looks forward to it."
As the outdoor kitchen area has gotten more upscale, so has the outdoor furniture.
"They have fabrics that don't feel like vinyl, comfortable-to-sit-on cushions that can be
left out,'' said designer Lyons. "They have waterproof fabric that does not absorb
wetness.. They have outdoor seating that looks like rattan, but is actually weatherresistant plastic."
These new outdoor seating choices don't come cheap. One arrangement of four deepcushioned, wicker-look chairs, a chaise and conversation table at Expo Design Center in
Paramus retails at just under $8,000.
And, Lyons points out, construction takes time as well as money.
"It's like building a little house, even though it's not a lot of square footage,'' she said.
"You may need a roofer, a plumber. You have to bring in the electric. Then there are all
the finishes -- the tile, the stone, the fixtures."
The plumbing, the framing, the electric, the insulation and the drywall all have to be
inspected at various points by local inspectors.
But homeowner Robin Doyle has two words of advice if you're considering an outdoor
room.
"Do it,'' she said. "If you're thinking about it, do it. Even though it's expensive and a pain
during the construction process, in the long run, it pays off."
E-mail Mary Amoroso at MaryAmo@aol.com
***
Components of outdoor living spaces
Hearth and heating: Wood-burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces, fire pits, chimineas, fire and
fountain combinations, free-standing or tabletop patio space heaters
Kitchen: Barbecue grills, wood-fired pizza ovens, refrigerators, sinks, dishwashers,
cocktail bars, food preparation areas
Furniture: Couches, chairs, coffee and end tables, dining tables, hammocks, chaise
lounges
Flooring: Wood and synthetic decking, brick, stone, slate, stamped concrete pavers,
gravel
Water: Swimming pools, spas, waterfalls, ponds
Shelter: Pool houses, gazebos, sunrooms, awnings, pergolas, umbrellas, tents
Accessories: Sound systems, sculptures, potted plants, fences and walls
Lighting: Landscape lanterns, pathway lighting, candles, spotlighting, pool lighting
Source: Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (hpba.org)
Eggsactly Keep your eggs safe **HPBA**
The Virginian-Pilot - Norfolk, VA
April 1, 2007
AS EASTER APPROACHES, keep these egg safety factors in mind.
n\Store raw eggs in the refrigerator below 40 degrees to maintain their freshness; store
them in their original cartons for three to five weeks from the time they are purchased.
n\Store hard-cooked eggs in the refrigerator safely for up to a week.
n\Cook eggs so that both the yolk and white are firm; any dishes containing eggs should
be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
n\Cooked eggs should not sit out for more than two hours; after that the eggs should be
discarded.
Chocolate added
Quaker has added a little chocolate to Life cereal (the box front says "Made With Real
Chocolate") and called it Life Chocolate Oat Crunch. The semisweet chocolate is
combined with rolled oats (and rolled wheat) to make "chocolate flavored oat clusters."
There aren't all that many, so don't expect a huge chocolate rush.
What's new
If you are looking for a new grill this season, expect to see set-ups with multiple burners.
According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, the love for grills is growing,
and, apparently, consumers say the more burners the better. Grills with more than one
burner, allowing cooks to grill meats, veggies and other items at the same time, but at
various temperatures, are the latest trend.
- From Web and wire reports
Are you freezing?
Foods frozen in smaller quantities will freeze faster than foods frozen in larger quantities,
helping to prevent a buildup of large ice crystals, says Susie Theodorou in her new book,
"Can I Freeze It? How to Use the Most Versatile Appliance in Your Kitchen."
Some more tidbits from the book:
n\Use shallow containers with a wide surface area relative to depth. This will enable food
to freeze quickly all the way through.
n\It is important to cool food completely to room temperature before freezing. Placing hot
foods in the freezer will raise its temperature, slowing down the freezing time and
possibly thawing other foods, and the centers of the foods may not freeze quickly enough
to prevent spoilage.
Little things
According to Fitness magazine, lots of little things can tilt your blood sugar balance from
healthy to diabetic. The happy flip side: They're all risks you can do something about.
Here's a couple to think about:
n\Watching two hours or more of TV daily raises your risk 14 percent because of reduced
activity. The fix: Limit TV time to 10 hours a week, and exercise more
n\Skipping breakfast raises your risk 30-50 percent by increasing the appetite-stimulating
hormone, ghrelin, making you hungrier and likely to eat more. The fix: Have high-fiber
cereal with low-fat milk and a half cup of fruit in the morning.
HPBA Report On The State Of The BBQ Industry (Episode 39) **HPBA**
The Livin LaVida Low-Carb Show
April 2, 2007
Jimmy Moore
Greetings, low-carbers! Welcome to Episode 39 of “The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show
with Jimmy Moore.”
So, who doesn’t love barbecue? Can I see a show of hands? Yeah, that’s what I
thought…I don’t see anyone!
That’s not surprising at all, though, because nobody appreciates a grilled steak or rack of
ribs more than those of us who follow a healthy low-carbohydrate lifestyle. In fact you
could almost call it Livin’ La Vida BBQ! LOL!
So we’re really pleased to bring you yet another great interview recorded live at the big
HPBA (Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association) Expo show a few weeks back in Reno,
NV.
Today’s guest for Episode 39 is the HPBA’s very own Leslie Wheeler, who shared a few
laughs and a lot of data with the inimitable Mr. Moore. Prepare to hear some surprising
facts and figures about the state of barbecue grilling in 2007!
Listen to the podcast here:http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/
Wood-burner law fuels outrage, Hundreds attend Town of Chenango meeting
Press & Sun-Bulletin - Binghamton, NY
April 3, 2007
Nancy Dooling
TOWN OF CHENANGO -- Members of the town board met Monday night for their
regular monthly meeting, which is normally a quiet affair with routine business
efficiently conducted.
Instead, more than 200 angry people showed up, many of them outraged over a proposed
town law that would severely restrict the use of indoor woodstoves and outdoor wood
burners, as well as provide fines and even jail time for violators.
"I'm in America," said Albert Davis. "I'm not in Iraq."
His comments were echoed by others, one woman telling the board that she'd be the first
to go to jail for violating the proposed law.
So many came Monday that only about 100 could squeeze into the meeting room at town
hall on Route 12. The other 100 or so waited in lines outside and in the hallway. Board
members had to conduct two separate meetings to accommodate the crowd.
Their outrage -- and their numbers -- made a point, leaders said.
"We got the message," said Supervisor Margaret Turna after listening to a litany of
complaints.
She declined repeated requests to name which board member came up with the proposed
law, saying it was a joint effort of the four board members and Turna. Not all of them
agreed with portions of the proposed law, she said.
The proposed law would actually amend an existing law governing the use of outdoor
wood burners enacted in 2005.
The changes call for:
* Permits to operate outdoor and indoor wood burners in residentially zones areas of the
town. The proposed law doesn't require a permit for indoor fireplaces.
* All fuels except firewood and untreated lumbers would be banned from burning.
* Outdoor furnaces would be permitted only in areas zoned agricultural.
* Owners of indoor woodstoves in residentially zoned areas would have to apply for a
permit by Aug. 1. To get a permit, the woodstove must meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency standards.
* Interior woodstoves installed before 1992 must meet federal standards by 2010.
* A first violation of the law would bring a fine of up to $500 and a jail stay of 10 days.
Turna and the four board members told Monday's audience they would not vote on the
proposed law as it was written and would hold another public meeting -- in a much larger
room.
Turna later said she wasn't aware there were so many town residents who used indoor and
outdoor wood burners.
Lori Benjamin told the board she'd recently spent more than $2,000 on a new woodstove
-- and checked with town code officials on the installation. She hadn't heard a word about
the proposed law, she said.
And town officials should handle complaints about wood burning appliances on an
individual level, said Jeff O'Neil. "We don't need laws -- not like this," the town resident
said.
LIFESTYLE: A month of food
Niagara Gazette - Niagara Falls, NY
March 31, 2007
Kevin Purdy
If any month of the year warrants planning ahead for great food, it’s April.
As the snow melts — usually, at least, in Western New York — and the ground opens up
a bit, entire worlds of cooking open up that had once seem buried under so much gray
snow and depleted produce departments.
Even if one isn’t the type to go to bed earlier on Friday nights to get the jump on fresh
basil and other goodies at the farmer’s markets, just one word explains the difference
between cooking in March and cooking in April.
That word is barbecue, and for many people around here, it’s a serious annual change of
lifestyle. Sure, the really hardcore grillers haven’t let a bit of snow stop them yet, but now
there are people willing to actually come around and eat the results, as long as it isn’t
raining too hard.
Both Jewish and Christian food lovers have at least one day chock full of traditions to
look forward to in April, but the entire 30 days just call out to be celebrated. With that in
mind, this page offers up a few suggestions of how to get the most out of the month that
T.S. Eliot once called “the cruelest month” —remember, however, that he lived in Britain
for most of his life.
Some are legitimate reminders of spring’s greatness, others are a bit more tongue-incheek. But many great meals are born out of silly excuses and traditions, and April is
chock full of both.
So enjoy a month of great food, and don’t shy away from thinking about May already.
That is, technically, when National Barbecue Month begins.
- April 1: If your idea of an April Fool’s prank is making somebody’s head explode,
check out Adventures in Heat in Clarence. They’ve got everything you need to make
your friends start planning their revenge.
- April 3: Passover began at sundown yesterday. You don’t have to be eating kosher to
appreciate the versatility of matzo, or to enjoy a well-made treat made with it.
- April 6: Back in 1909, Robert Edwin Peary was the first man to verifiably reach the
North Pole on this date. Raise a piping hot cup of hot chocolate in his honor — he could
probably barely lift his arms by the time he got there.
- April 8: We’re pretty sure you’ve got Easter dinner covered at this point. For all those
leftover basket treats, consider making your own chocolate-dipped fruits.
- April 10: The first Arbor Day was held in 1872 in Nebraska today. Western New
Yorkers can’t reasonably plant a citrus tree, but we can take a moment to enjoy their
oranges, apples and other fruits.
- April 11: Two years ago, Jeremy Jaynes, supposedly the world’s eight most prolific
spammer, was given nine years in the clink for all that inbox stuffing. Replace one kind
of spam with another in style — learn how to make spam sushi.
- April 17: Back in 1864, the starving residents of Savannah, Ga., launched a bread revolt
as the Civil War was winding down. Maybe if they’d had the recently uber-popular noknead bread, things might not have gotten so out of hand.
- April 20: The 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion was an unmitigated disaster. Make the
anniversary worthwhile and slip some pancetta into your next lunch or dinner menu.
- April 22: As the French presidential elections begin, cook up a meal of steak frites and
marvel at the genius of combining hanger steak, fries and red wine in one meal.
- April 25: Skip the sponge candy if you’re going to actually honor Administrative
Professionals Day. Get them a gift certificate for some high-end ice cream, such as the
kind served up at Cold Stone Creamery.
- April 28: Now’s the time to start planning your herb garden, or at least make use of all
the fresh ones on the market.
- April 29: Radishes, asparagus, sugar snap peas and fiddleheads — welcome back.
Switch one of them into your dinner routine and say goodbye to limp green beans for
awhile.
- April 31: All we can do is hope the Sabres are still in the playoffs at this point. Even if
they are, there could be another month of stressful anticipation — maybe it’s time to look
into switching from coffee to tea.