Celebrity designer Leslie Segrete recently teamed up with Reynolds Wrap to promote the “Ultimate Grillaxation Backyard Oasis” sweepstakes.
By logging on to , anyone can enter to win a $5,000 backyard makeover, a stainless steel grill and, for three grand-prize winners, a private backyard design consultation with Segrete. The site also spotlights grill recipes, backyard design tips and summer entertaining ideas.
Room recently caught up with Segrete, chatting from her Long Island home, to find out more about her grilling and backyard entertaining expertise.
What do people expect from a July Fourth barbecue?
It’s one of the main barbecue and party events of the summer. So people really put a lot of pressure on themselves, their homes, their decks (and) their grilling.
I think it brings people together who might not normally be together. It’s an opportunity to gather your friends and family. The weather is perfect, and the house looks good since people do a ton of home improvement going into the summer season.
Some people have more than one event to go to on the Fourth, so you really want your home to look good. You want to make sure all your outdoor furniture is ready to go and you have enough for everyone.
What should people know about carcinogens and grilling meats?
What I know is that when things get charred on the grill, it’s not good for you. Every time I char something, I won’t eat it. I throw it away. One option is to line an area of the grill with foil so the food is not going to stick or get burned but will still maintain its flavors and juices.
Did you come up with the term “Grillaxation”?
It’s funny because my grandmother just saw that circular and said, “I saw this beautiful girl who was telling me to grill-ax.” I love that she’s using the term. The folks at Reynolds Wrap came up with it, and I think it’s perfect. Because people end up spending so much time around their grills that they don’t enjoy themselves or their company or their food. Do everything you need to, but don’t get stressed out by it.
Several of the Grillaxation recipes call for foil packets? Have you always grilled that way?
Even before my affiliation with Reynolds Wrap, I cooked a lot in the summer. One of our favorite side dishes is string beans. I love to put bacon at the bottom of a foil packet, string beans on top of that, then garlic, salt and pepper on top of that. I just did this and didn’t fully seal the top edge of the packet so it wouldn’t steam. The bacon turned out crisp and delicious.
(Foil packets) are a step saver and a time saver. In addition to keeping food on the grate instead of it falling through, you’re saving a lot of time because you’re not cleaning and you’re not cooking.
Get more grilling recipes and enter the “Ultimate Grillaxation Backyard Oasis” sweepstakes at
