Peapod wine (get the recipe here) often associated with the classic British sitcom The Good Life, where the characters Tom and Barbara Good make and drink a potent “peapod burgundy”. 

In the age of craft cocktails and artisan spirits, urban foraging and making the most out of the least, one unlikely throw-back is quietly making a comeback: peapod wine.

Once a humble “country wine” born out of thrift during hard times, it’s now being re-discovered for its simplicity, novelty and sustainable roots. The process involves simmering fresh green pea pods, discarding the pods themselves and fermenting the resulting infusion with sugar, grape concentrate (or raisins), yeast and other minimal additives.

Historically, peapod wine was born in rural kitchens where the shelling of peas left behind abundant pods and no desire to waste them. Rather than compost or discard, enterprising home brewers turned them into a light-bodied table wine. Vintage articles describe it as an old-school countryside favourite, and “a fine example of country wine thrift.”

The flavour profile is reportedly crisp, clean and surprisingly refined, with little trace of vegetal “pea” taste. Essentially, the fermentation and added grape concentrate mask the pod flavour, yielding a light dry white wine.

What’s driving the comeback? Sustainability. Up-cycling kitchen leftovers, minimising waste and making something homemade with basic ingredients resonates strongly with modern home-brewers and eco-aware drinkers. The DIY movement in fermentation (from kombucha to natural wines made from honey, even! ) has opened the door to recipes like this.

Also, the story and novelty add value: a wine made from what most would toss sparks conversation at dinner parties, tastings and small local producers seeking niche markets.

That said, it’s not without challenges: sourcing enough pea pods in the right season, ensuring sanitary fermentation, that they are organic, and ageing time (many recipes suggest several months to a year before optimal clarity and flavour). If the pods are healthy and young, I’d probably just eat them raw.

But for those willing to experiment, peapod wine offers a bridge between heritage, sustainability and craft. It’s a reminder that innovation sometimes means looking backward — to what humble home-makers did when times were tough.

We have the peapod wine recipe here.

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An outdoor kitchen is a great way to upgrade your backyard space, but it can also come with a hefty price tag. Fortunately, building an outdoor kitchen on a budget is possible with intelligent planning and creative thinking. 

Backyard Kitchen Tips and Ideas

An outdoor kitchen is a great way to expand the usable square footage of your property and get more enjoyment out of your backyard during the spring, summer, and early-fall months. 

Here are some tips and ideas for building an outdoor kitchen without breaking the bank.

Plan Carefully

Take the time to thoroughly plan out your design before you start building. Consider factors like the location, size, layout, and functionality of your outdoor kitchen. A well-thought-out plan can save you from expensive mistakes or changes down the line. (And when you consider that “ownership costs” are often the biggest long-term expense, this is huge.)

Do it Yourself (As Much as Possible)

If you’re handy, have you thought about doing some (or all) of the work yourself? This can significantly cut down on labor costs (which typically represent a big chunk of the overall project costs). 

If you decide to DIY the project, make sure you’re comfortable with any tasks you take on. For some things, like electrical or gas line work, it’s always going to be safer to hire a professional. Don’t cut safety corners just to save a few bucks. Pay for the professional and then use your time to focus on things that you can reasonably handle (like finishing work or landscaping).

Step into Style: Enhance Your Outdoor Kitchen with French Doors

Installing new exterior doors is another way to seamlessly blend your indoor and outdoor spaces. These doors, known for their aesthetic appeal and functionality, can serve as a stylish entrance to your outdoor kitchen. They not only allow easy access but also let in plenty of natural light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

When choosing the right model for your house, the vital factors to consider are:

• Manufacturer. Exterior French doors Canada made are usually the best when it comes to meeting industry standards, boosting thermal performance and adding aesthetics.
• Quality materials. You can choose anything from wood to steel or fibreglass but make sure it adds to the rest of your house design and energy efficiency. 
• Type of glass. Select from clear, frosted, or even stained glass inserts. The key factor here is to balance your house’s privacy and natural light.
• Energy efficiency. Since French doors come with a lot of glass, buying and installing those models with high energy ratings (ER) is essential, so you save on energy bills in the long run. 

Also, think about the door’s design and how it complements the overall style of your house and outdoor kitchen. Remember, while French doors can be a bit more expensive than standard doors, they can significantly enhance the value and appeal of your home. If you’re handy, you might even consider installing them yourself to save on labour costs. However, it might be worth hiring a professional for a perfect fit and finish.

Choose the Right Materials

You don’t always need the most expensive materials for your outdoor kitchen. For example, concrete or tile is a more affordable option for countertops than granite or marble. (And, again, it’s going to cost less to maintain over time.) 

Likewise, you might consider using reclaimed or recycled materials for parts of your construction. You can find materials at local salvage yards, building surplus stores, and secondhand shops. Home improvement stores also have occasional outdoor living sales.

Start Small

You don’t need an outdoor kitchen fit for a Michelin star chef. If you ever reach that level of skill, then, by all means, add any and every appliance you possibly can. But for now, focus on keeping a small footprint and aiming for quality over quantity. That means getting things that provide versatility and functionality. 

A great example of this is an outdoor grill island with a side burner. 

“The double power burner is an excellent choice to boost cooking capacity,” RTA Outdoor Living explains. “You can have two pots or pans going while you are grilling burgers. This is perfect for making sauces and side dishes to complement the main component of your meal.”

While a grill island with a side burner is great, you probably don’t need three or four different types of grills (at least not when you’re starting out). Be smart and discerning!

The Cost of Your Outdoor Kitchen

The cost to build an outdoor kitchen can vary significantly based on the size, materials, appliances, and your geographical location. It’s important that you take the time to budget properly, research the equipment and layout you want, and use discretion to avoid letting scope creep turn a reasonably priced outdoor kitchen build into an expensive mess that prevents you from enjoying it. 

With that being said,  a basic outdoor kitchen with a small counter and a decent grill will probably land you in the $3,000 to $5,000 range (on the minimum side of things). A more elaborate setup with high-end appliances, custom design elements, plumbing and electrical work, built-in seating, high-quality materials, and professional installation could easily reach upwards of $15,000 to $30,000 or more.

That’s obviously a pretty wide spread of costs, which is why it’s critical that you come up with your own plan and connect with experts in your area who can guide you through the process.

Adding it All Up

When you put it all together, there’s something exciting about building an outdoor kitchen. It gives you a chance to invest in something that your family will get years of enjoyment out of. And if you follow the tips outlined above, you’ll have a much more rewarding experience. Enjoy!

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