Cooking Outside, Laughing, Heading Home with Plans: Outdoor Kitchen Days in Llucmajor

One courtyard, many flames: This was the feeling in Llucmajor

Last weekend an unassuming inner courtyard on a side street near the Carretera de Llucmajor turned into a lively outdoor cooking lab. A hum of voices mixed with the clinking of cutlery and the sweet‑bitter scent of roast juices. Those who happened to pass by stopped. Some stayed until the last candles went out and the autumn wind gently shook the tables; read more at Cocinar al aire libre, reír, ganar: Días de cocinas exteriores en Llucmajor.

Thursday evening: A meal like a small celebration

The kick‑off was cosy and almost familial: a long table under the open sky, candles, bread, a simple but good menu – roast beef, hearty autumn vegetables and a light mascarpone dessert. Around 7:30 pm some forty people sat together, laughed loudly, exchanged tips on terrace lighting or windproof plates. 'Such an evening almost feels like a small celebration,' said a visitor who has rented a holiday apartment here for years. With the mild October breeze the bread simply tastes different; this echoes a wider shift discussed in Menos buffet, más sartén: cómo cocinar en casa cambia Mallorca.

Friday and Sunday: Try, touch, take away

The two weekend days belonged to the hands‑on crowd. Manufacturers presented modular systems; you could watch a steak sear on stainless steel or see how cast iron distributes heat. Between the stands hung grates, screws and brochures; the scent of grilled sausage wafted again and again – a smell that is rarely missing in Mallorca. Visitors grabbed, tested, asked questions about assembly and maintenance. It felt less like a sales show and more like a down‑to‑earth neighbourhood gathering with a tech twist.

The surprise moment was the raffle: a complete outdoor kitchen worth €10,000 found a new owner. Children ran barefoot between the tables, older men argued passionately about marinades. Much of it felt familiar: the Mallorcan way of eating together and making new plans at the same time.

People with passion and practical tips

Exhibitors emphasized that it was not just about selling. 'We want to show that cooking outdoors improves quality of life,' explained an official while handing out small samples from the grill. Sales staff became grill masters for the weekend and neighbours became advisers. There were tips on quick gas connections, the best protective cover for winter and the pergola that extends the season considerably.

Steel, cast iron and wind protection: What really matters

On site it became clear: stainless steel scores points for easy maintenance and a modern look; cast iron impresses with long heat retention and the typical roast flavor. The basics mentioned again and again: a good cover for rainy months, windproof plates and a stable base. Those who have a pergola or an overhang can extend the season by months – an important point during the often stormy October days in Mallorca.

More than technology: Neighbourhood and new ideas

Days like these are a reminder that kitchens are more than furniture. Outdoors conversations, new recipes and sometimes new friendships emerge. Over a glass of wine people noticed they loved the same ingredients, the same music or the same plans. Many went home with concrete projects: renovate the terrace, invite friends more often or simply cook outside on Fridays; design perspectives such as Birgit Müller – Ideas de Cocina Atemporales para Mallorca underscore that point.

If you missed the weekend: don't worry. The organizers are planning new gatherings and will announce dates locally. Until then the memories of roast aroma, clinking dishes and the soft rustle of the autumn wind over Llucmajor remain — and maybe the idea to move the next party outside.