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BBQS Galore
Amongst beaches, bikinis, and other hot weather b-words summer also beckons—yes, you said it!—BBQs Galore. And so, with summer just arriving, and my backyard desperately in need of a lean, mean, grilling machine, I found myself searching for the BEST barbecue grill one afternoon. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed by the sheer quantity from which I was to choose. As I settled on this intimidating task (taste buds salivating…) two thoughts occurred to me:
A.) Which of these meat-grilling behemoths would fit my needs and budget?
-AND-
B.) There truly are Barbeques Galore!
The better part of this afternoon was spent comparing names, models and features. I reviewed units from Weber, Char-broil and Huntington, just to name a few of the better known players. Some of the lesser known grills I researched were units from Beefeater and Jumbuck. All of these manufacturers boasted impressive products, albeit some notable differences. Starting with the underdogs in barbeque nation:
Beefeater Grills are a product of Australia and have been the mainstay of Aussie outdoor grilling enthusiasts for over twenty (20) years. Their grills boast rust-free technology cook tops (less mess!) made from porcelain enamel, cast-iron coated material. And, if you please, these can be replaced by stainless steel tops instead.
All but the two burner unit comes with a built in viewing glass contained within the hood assemblies. They also tout their “no flare” vaporizer technologies as well as a quartz starter on all burners. These features aid in the even distribution of heat and reduced flare-ups. Result: ultimate cooking experience.
Huntington Grills are distributed through some of the larger retail chains here in the United States such as Lowes, Cabela’s, and the Home Depot. These grills boast three series, the Rebel line being the first listed on their site. This series of grills is known for its durability, performance, and high quality craftsmanship. This unit sports an extra-deep oven cavity, porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grids (similar to its Beefeater competitor), the Flav-R-Wave™ technology, and the dual-tube burner assembly. The Patriot series boasts all of these features as well, distinguished mostly by its second-place status to the Rebel series’ durability and performance.
The last line of grills offered by Huntington is the Cast series. This is there “Classic” grill offering, similar in all respects to the Rebel and Patriot and differing only in its aesthetic quality, opting for a simpler, more “classic” finish.
Jumbuck is another Australian entry into the BBQ market place. This manufacturer offers two styles of grills: the flat top and the conventional hooded unit.
The flat top comes in 2, 4 or 6 burner models with a solid steel cooking surface, stainless steel burners, auto ignition, optional side burner and optional rotisserie (for all those slow-cooking enthusiasts!) These units are suited for small- to medium commercial kitchen uses.
The hooded units also come in a 2, 4 or 6 burner model that are built using grade 430 stainless steel with a powder-coated, high temperature lacquer finish. The features include: folding side shelves, auto ignition, stainless steel burners and have double hinged doors below the cooking unit.
On the higher end of the Jumbuck line is the Kitchen Matador. This unit is a self-contained system that is approved for natural gas installation. Features include: 4-burner hooded cooking surface, stainless steel burners, electronic ignition assembly, side burner, rotisserie, side breakfast plate, rear burner, a sink with faucet, enameled/stainless steel body and under counter storage. Read: too many details to remember.
With my head spinning from too many choices, I ended up taking the path of least resistance—My neighbor down the road was having a yard sale and offered me a Charm-glow unit for $25, how could I refuse?! It needed a bit of cleanup. After giving it a makeover and adapting it to my underground 1000-gallon propane tank (I hate running out of gas), VOILÁ! I scored a barbeque grill that will last me until the next time I have to buy one.