Outdoor kitchens have evolved more in the last few seasons than any other backyard landscaping concept. Back in the day, an outdoor kitchen was something you might see on the occasional Southern estate, primarily as a way to get food cooked without heating up the house. Fifty years ago, the barbecue grill planted it's hooks firmly into the GIs coming home from World War II, and the classic Grillin' Dad became the cultural icon that it is today. Families appreciated the opportunity to enjoy the unique flavors and out-of-doors experience when the weather was mild, and the patio or back porch became a commonplace addition to any home. Today, however, the typical outdoor kitchen is a much more sophisticated, elaborate place than the last two centuries would ever have supposed. Modern outdoor kitchens are well-stocked, fully-serviced facilities that allow their cooks to prepare, cook, serve, store, and clean up after food with style and ease. They often feature overhangs or awnings to give them some mild protection from the elements, though they are always open to the air. From tropical poolside cabanas with bartending facilities and floating service centers to open-air Tuscan pergolas featuring pasta drying racks and pizza ovens ready to produce uniquely decadent Mediterranean cuisine, outdoor kitchens come in as many varieties as there are homeowners who want one. The one feature that they all have is a grill of some sort, but from there, the details vary wildly. Dishwashers, refrigerators, sinks, heating drawers, smokers, turkey fryers, and even pools, televisions, and movie projectors have made appearances in outdoor kitchens across the country Oversize gas grills with side burners cook food that partygoers can eat while resting on everything from reclining lawn chairs to bar stools to pool edges. Your backyard might seem too small, too hilly, or too brush-filled to accommodate an outdoor kitchen, but dedicated families have found ways to create outdoor kitchens that span multiple terraces of a sloped yard, reach up into a nearby tree-bound deck to get over the brush, and even mini-kitchens that can be easily packed up and rolled inside at the end of the day to allow the kids some room to play. In the end, the decision to go for an outdoor kitchen shouldn't be limited by the details of your yard; a fertile enough imagination can turn almost any space into a cool, outdoor party area.