Barbecue bliss in your backyard

Barbecue bliss in your backyard

Having a barbecue? Don't get stuck behind the grill. Instead, let a caterer handle the cooking. Several companies in the Hudson Valley offer this type of backyard catering, so throwing a summer bash has never been easier.  Chefs arrive with their own grills, plates, napkins, coolers full of meats and veggies. They cook, pitch tents in case of rain and, of course, handle the cleanup.

The menus go beyond traditional hamburgers and hot dogs; we're talking gourmet meals including cedar plank salmon, coconut ribs, pecan-glazed chicken, Teriyaki London broil, lobster, shrimp and much more. And to think, you won't have to lift a finger — except to eat.

(Story by Mary Lynn Mitcham.)