A Searing Debate: Why Don’t More Women Grill?
Guys, they’re coming for your tongs. Backyard grilling, long the domain of serious men, is now in the sights of Gaby Dalkin. The popular Instagram chef with nearly one million followers thinks anybody can do it.
By anybody, she means women. “Many women who have watched me grill have asked if I’m worried about lighting my eyebrows on fire," says Dalkin, whose coming cookbook is called “What’s Gaby Cooking: Grilling All the Things." “They are intimidated by the grill. They need to learn how to turn it on." The grill might be the last cooking outpost where men are firmly in control.
Meathead Goldwyn, whose Pitmaster Club for grilling and barbecue enthusiasts has more than 15,000 paying members worldwide, says men represent about 85% of membership. More than 90% of U.S. homeowners own a grill or an outdoor cooking device that needs to be fired up, according to the National Barbecue & Grilling Association.
The association has more than 28,000 social-media followers, 82% of whom are men. “It’s definitely a male-dominated pastime," adds David Parrish, chief executive of SnS Grills, a maker of charcoal grills and accessories. ‘Not rocket science’ Dalkin’s recipes range from charred corn pasta salad to lamb burgers to beer brats.
She explains the differences between charcoal and gas grills, and details gear, including digital thermometers, oven mitts and pizza stones. For those who prefer to grill with a cocktail in hand, suggestions include grilled lime mojitos and strawberry daiquiris. “I’m not going to buy a whole hog and do snout-to-tail grilling," says Dalkin, 37.
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