The present invention provides a shelf assembly for a cooking apparatus such as a barbeque grill, and method of using same. The shelf assembly has a shelf component which can rotate about a generally horizontal axis of rotation located generally at a first end of the shelf component, from a lowered position to a raised position. The cooking apparatus or an associated apparatus has a frame member which supports the first end of the shelf component about the axis of rotation. The shelf assembly also has a support extending downwardly in relation to the shelf component when the shelf component is in the raised position. The support is capable of rotating about the axis of rotation with the shelf component. The shelf assembly further has a stationary coupler located generally below the axis of rotation in the vicinity of where the support is capable of rotating about the axis of rotation with the shelf component. The support can releasably engage with the stationary coupler when the shelf component is in the lowered position to generally prevent the shelf component from inadvertently swinging outwardly from the lowered position. The support also supportingly engages with the stationary coupler to support the support and the shelf component when the shelf component is in the raised position.