Food & Wine

From about the minute Westward opened on Lake Union in August, diners were thinking about how good Seattle’s July 4 fireworks show would look from its dock (pictured above.) The good news: There’s a big viewing party planned there for Friday, with a paella dinner, sides, lots of beer, wine and sangria, plus a DJ….

File photo by John Lok/The Seattle Times

You get the hamburgers and hot dogs. We’ll grill the experts. Here are tips from recent barbecuing and grilling books that should help make your Fourth of July meals a flaming (or, er, glowing) success:

Clean machine: Most experts stress the importance of maintaining clean, lightly oiled grill grates. The editors of Bon Appetit go beyond that in “The Grilling Book” ($45, Andrews McMeel), suggesting using a toothpick to make sure all burner holes on a gas grill are clear of debris. “If the burner holes are clogged, the flame will be low or nonexistent and heat levels will drop dramatically.”