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We are utterly thrilled when readers want to hang out and talk – whether it's amongst themselves or in response to pieces we've posted. We want Eatocracy to be a cozy, spirited online home for those who find their way here.

Consider the daily Coffee Klatsch post as your VIP lounge – the primary comments thread for readers who'd like to chat about topics not related to the articles we're running. That way, everyone knows where to find each other, and each post's comments section remains on topic.

Some people maintain that Memorial Day officially marks the start of grilling season and Labor Day, the end. Those people, for the most part, are wrong. Some folks maintain the flame in snowdrifts up to their thighs. Others won't haul out the hibachi until late September because it'll finally be cool enough to cook outside without wilting like a hothouse gardenia.

So what we're saying is, so long as our spatula isn't actively frozen or melted to our hands, and monsoon spray does not prevent us from lighting a charcoal chimney, we're going to be outdoors, putting flame to food. Why don't you just come along and join us?

Catch up on the rest of our great cookout and picnic tips below, and if you run into a sticky grilling situation - we're here to help. Share your burning questions in the comments or Tweet us @eatocracy and we'll have your festivities back on track in no time.
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"No matter what else is served at a cocktail party, you will always find a tray of stuffed eggs," wrote James Beard, the so-called dean of American gastronomy, in his first cookbook, Hors D'oeuvre And Canapes.

The well-received appeal of these one-bite appetizers isn't limited to cocktail hour. They're also a superb addition to picnics and cookouts during the lazy, hazy days of summer.

Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe.

• We'll shut up our mugs if you fill up our jugs with these good ol' hillbilly cocktails. - Details

• For a very swine Memorial Day, try making this Filipino-style roasted pork belly. - Serious Eats

• Speaking of pork belly, BACON! Homemade BACON! - Food 52

• Has Giles Coren, arguably the world's angriest food critic, gone soft? - London Evening Standard

• Another day, another story about kids in restaurants: Susan Tahmasian claims a Sydney restaurant turned her away because she had her baby in tow. - Sydney Morning Herald

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday.

Today's food holiday is in the bag - May 25 is National Brown-Bag-It Day!

If you’re sick of the same old options at your workplace cafeteria, or tired of forking out precious cabbage for lunchtime nosh, consider jumping on the BYOL (bring your own lunch) bandwagon. Not only is brown-bagging it cost-effective, there are a ton of residual positive effects too.
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Pssst! Got a sec to chat?

We are utterly thrilled when readers want to hang out and talk – whether it's amongst themselves or in response to pieces we've posted. We want Eatocracy to be a cozy, spirited online home for those who find their way here.

Consider the daily Coffee Klatsch post as your VIP lounge – the primary comments thread for readers who'd like to chat about topics not related to the articles we're running. That way, everyone knows where to find each other, and each post's comments section remains on topic.

Perhaps you prefer mayo. Here - make some at home.

5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe.

Iced tea is made for summer. It's there to quench your thirst in the heat, to tote to countless cookouts, and to leisurely sip on a front porch swing. Best of all, it's a breeze to make. All you need is tea and water, plus a little sugar if you're so inclined.

Here to steep you in a little tea know-how is David De Candia, the Tea Director for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, a specialty coffee and tea retailer.

Five Tips for Making the Perfect Pitcher of Iced Tea at Home: David De Candia
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A revolution has been brewing in the workplace among coffee drinkers unwilling to settle for the break room sludge.

For some of them, pod machines and single-serve cups provide the illusion of a superior product. Others swear by the French press method, which has traditionally reigned supreme as the alternative to automatic coffee makers.

Now, more hand-brewed coffees from devices like pour-overs and the Aeropress are popping up in home kitchens and cubicles alike. Even in the CNN.com break room, the buzz of a coffee grinder has become a regular morning fixture. But why the fuss?
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Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe.

• Want to know a juicy secret? Watermelon can lower your risk of heart attack. - Dawn.com

• MIT researchers have finally figured out how to get the last drops of ketchup from the bottle. Science! - NPR

• Is cleanliness next to Yelp-liness? Some of the dirtiest restaurants still rank favorably among Yelpers. - NY Times

• Pore over this Vietnamese coffee tutorial. - Gawker

• Take a picture, it'll last longer: Chefs weigh in on the pros and cons of photography in restaurants. - Eater