For longtime grilling enthusiast Rich Adamo, a Big Ridge Outdoor Kitchen turned his Florida backyard into a year-round gathering place.

Long before moving to Florida, he was grilling, barbecuing and smoking food on Long Island, even when reaching the grill meant clearing a path through the snow.

“My friends used to laugh because I’d shovel a path to my grills,” Rich says. 

So when Rich and his wife Patti expanded the outdoor living area at their home in The Villages, adding an outdoor kitchen felt like a natural next step.

That search eventually led the couple to Big Ridge Outdoor Living, a Tennessee-based company that designs, fabricates and finishes outdoor kitchens in-house. Rooted in three generations of family heritage, the Christian-owned company specializes in premium outdoor kitchens, fire features, and TV cabinets designed around cooking, entertaining and gathering outdoors.

The company says its focus is on pairing durable materials with precision craftsmanship to create outdoor spaces designed to last.

For Rich, the goal was simply to create a backyard setup that gave him more ways to cook while allowing him and his wife to spend more time outside. But it was also a priority to have this outdoor kitchen island be an attractive addition while also being very functional. 

The Big Ridge island Rich decided on includes a gas grill, large griddle, refrigerator, storage and preparation space.

“I can smoke things, I can grill things with charcoal or  gas, I can use the griddle,” Rich says. “It just makes it a lot of fun. It gives you a lot of different options and flexibility.” 

The griddle was particularly important to him.

“We went with the larger island because I wanted the larger griddle,” Rich says. “I didn’t want to be limited by griddle space when trying out new recipes.” 

That extra space has already enhanced how the couple uses the backyard.

“By having the griddle and the grill, you’re able to do both the mains and the sides all in the same place and not have to go in and out constantly,” Rich says. 

He has used the griddle for everything from breakfast to hibachi-style dinners with neighbors. After one recent hibachi night, a neighbor even sent him a photo depicting him as the “Iron Chef.”

Football season has provided even more reason to spend the day outside. With a large television on their lanai, Rich says the couple can start with breakfast or brunch on the griddle and keep using the space through dinner while enjoying the games.

“We made bacon and eggs on the griddle the other morning and then worked right into cooking dinner on the griddle later on,” Rich says. “We’re able to just use the outdoor space the entire day. It’s just wonderful.” 

Doing the homework

Rich did not take the decision lightly.

He spent considerable time researching outdoor kitchen options, appliances and materials before making a purchase. Quality was particularly important, and his previous experience with Blaze products gave him confidence in choosing Blaze appliances for the new setup.

The kitchen itself required more decisions, and Rich says working with Big Ridge team member Jodi Smith helped him narrow down the choices.

Those conversations also led him to rethink the size of the island and ultimately choose the larger griddle.

“Talking through it, the griddle became a better option than a side burner (which was my original thought), and I was happy to make that decision,” Rich says. “It was a great enhancement to the outdoor space.” 

That personalized guidance is part of Big Ridge’s approach. The company works with customers to select layouts, finishes, appliances and other features, with the goal of creating a finished space tailored to how each homeowner plans to use it.

Service that stood out

Rich says one of the biggest surprises during the process had little to do with the kitchen itself.

It was being able to reach someone when he had a question.

“What was surprising to me and also made me a happy customer was I was always able to reach someone,” Rich says. “When I needed to ask a question or a follow-up on something, even if I left a voicemail, somebody got back to me.” 

That communication became especially important when the hood on his griddle arrived damaged during shipping. Rich says Big Ridge team member Denise Smith helped him get the damaged component replaced.

“You’re spending a good amount of money on a product like this,” Rich says. “You want to make sure that the company is as invested in it as you are.”

He says that was his experience with the Big Ridge team.

“They were, as a team, really helpful.” 

Rich was equally pleased when he saw the finished island.

“The island they put together is beautifully constructed, is very solid and it looks like it’s going to last for years,” Rich says. “I’m very pleased with the product.” 

A reason to smile

Perhaps the biggest testament to the finished project is how Rich feels about the space now.

The outdoor kitchen sits just beyond the sliding glass doors near his bedroom, so it is often one of the first things he sees in the morning.

“When I wake up in the morning and I look out and I see it, I start my day with a smile,” Rich says. 

Guests notice the difference too.

“We had some folks over the other day, and they just all walked outside immediately,” Rich says. “Their jaws had dropped. They say, ‘Wow, this came out great. This looks amazing.’” 

For someone who has spent decades cooking outdoors, Rich says the biggest lesson for homeowners considering a similar project is to take their time and understand what they really want.

“Definitely spend the time to research it and do your due diligence,” he says. 

For Rich, that research resulted in an outdoor kitchen that gives him more ways to cook, more reasons to entertain and more time to enjoy the Florida lifestyle.

To learn more about Big Ridge Outdoor Living and its outdoor kitchens and fire features, visit BigRidgeOutdoorKitchens.com or call 866-635-5487.