The other night, my husband was tending our BBQ, grill tools in hand, while chicken sausages, hot dogs and burgers sizzled in unison. While waiting for the right moment to flip, he snatched a hot dog and a bun, stepped away from the BBQ for a few seconds and slathered it with ketchup, mustard and relish. Nearby was a friend who had been keeping him company. As the flames began to heat up, the friend grabbed some tongs and began flipping and turning. While protecting the burgers from well-doneness, the friend remarked how much he liked to grill.
Upon taking the last bite of his hot dog, my husband returned to the BBQ to reclaim his role. It was a tricky moment for the two men as they stood over the very hot grill jockeying for position. Soon, my husband got back what he thought was his and resumed his job. Although he enjoyed the grill-side company of his friend and actually benefited from the assistance, he needed to be the alpha cooking guy. When Cooking With Friends by the grill, there was one main man and a Sous Chef. But it’s only a matter of time before he learns to share.