Hibachi South · Southern-style hibachi at home
Lake Week andBeach Week Supper, Handled
You rented the house so nobody would have to work all week. One night, let the chef take over the cooking while the family watches from the deck.
The one night nobody cooks
Every lake week and beach week has the same pattern. Day one is groceries, day two is somebody grilling burgers in the heat, and by midweek the kitchen is a mess and the cooks want a vacation too. Booking a hibachi chef for one evening gives the whole house a break. Most families pick the middle of the week or the last night, when everyone is sunburned, happy and ready to sit still.
Lakes we know well
Our home base in Buford sits right by Lake Lanier, and lake houses are a big part of what we do. We also cook on Lake Hartwell along the Georgia and South Carolina line, Lake Keowee in the Upstate near Greenville, and Smith Lake in north Alabama.
Lake lots tend to slope down to the water. The flat ground is usually up near the house: a driveway, a parking pad, or a deck where the owner allows it. Down by the dock is rarely level, and hauling a grill and propane down a hill of steps is a poor trade for the view. Set the tables where you can still see the water and put the grill at the top.
Beach houses on the Gulf and the Atlantic
On the Gulf we head to Gulf Shores, Destin and 30A, Panama City Beach and the Mississippi coast. On the Atlantic side we cook at Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head and the Outer Banks.
A few coastal realities:
- Not on the sand. Loose sand will not hold a grill level, and many beaches forbid open cooking anyway. We set up on the pool deck, a ground-level patio or under the house where it is raised on pilings, as long as the sides are open.
- Wind. Afternoon sea breezes can be stiff. A spot shielded by the house helps keep the flame steady.
- Condos and towers. Many high-rise condos ban propane on balconies. Ask the management office whether there is a ground-level grilling area.
- Rental rules. Check the listing and confirm with the owner or property manager that a caterer may cook with propane outdoors.
Planning the evening
Pick a start time that misses the worst heat of the day. Around sunset is popular. Bug spray and a fan or two make July evenings far more pleasant. Send the address and any gate code or guest list details before the date, and tell us how many adults and children are staying at the house.
The rental listing says no grills. Does that rule you out?
Not always, but you need the owner's or manager's answer. Some rules only cover guests' own charcoal grills. Ask specifically about a caterer cooking with propane outdoors and get the answer in writing.
Do you travel to lake and beach houses outside Georgia?
Yes. We cook across seven states. Travel is calculated from our Buford base or the nearest major city, whichever is closer, and you see it before you book.
Can the chef cook on a covered dock or boathouse?
Usually not. Docks are rarely level enough and getting gear down to them is hard. A spot near the house is safer and easier for everyone.