If "Service" Is The Rent We Pay For Living, Then Colin, This One's For You!

Hello grilling friends!

A few weeks ago I received an interesting yet disturbing email from a guy named Colin. In a few words Colin introduced himself, commented and complimented my blog which he checks in with once and awhile ( thanks for that Colin) and then proceeded to tell me that he has been an enthusiastic griller, (understatement) for the last few years since he purchased his BGE.

Colin then explained that one night a few weeks back some really stupid yet I have to admit "ballsy" crooks walked onto his west end Ottawa property in the middle of the night and stole his BGE right out of his back yard! Now, I've heard some crazy things but this is up there, wouldn't you say? I mean, of all the things to rip off, why take someone's ceramic oven that dam near becomes part of the family once you own one, ( yes I realize I'm talking about an inanimate object here) but for those "grateful griller's out there, you all understand where I'm coming from. It pains me to think the crooks probably totaled it as well or maybe threw it into the Rideau river to see if a BGE actually floats as opposed to getting to their hide out and actually using it for what its intended, great food to be savored and enjoyed by kind hearted friends and family, go figure.

I promised Colin I would say my bit on the blog as these blogs go viral and hope that perhaps somebody would have a lead or two as to the whereabouts of his oven but part of me also knows I'm grasping at short straws. What ever the case, let it be a lesson to those of you with any one of the better ceramic ovens in our marketplace that there are people out there who care less and who will do their part to ruin your day let alone your next cook out. So start getting creative with the way in which you secure your property so this kind of thing can't happen. Booby traps, trip wire and rabid German Sheppard's who haven't eaten in awhile could work but realistically and kidding aside, now would be a great time to seriously think about locking down your oven in order to make it that much more challenging a feat to anyone considering a potential heist.

For the record, Colin's BGE was a large model, well used with a distinctive medium sized chip out of the dome just above the thermometer and if anyone has any info please contact yours truly and I will get the info back to our grilling friend Colin asap.

Colin, my heart goes out to you and your family man but I know you will get another oven unless yours in fact shows up and if we ever do get the chance to meet and cook with each other, let's make it your place so I can admire the artistic, medieval not too mention razor sharp cast iron spikes you've installed on your new fence!

Chin up brother and here's to getting back on the "grateful grilling" road.......

The Grateful One

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN & THE Jenson Button REGIME!!!!

This post is dedicated to Jenson Button, Team Brawn and Andrew & the gang at Absolute Authentic in the UK! Keep doing what you guys do so well!!!!

Hola Grilling Friends!

Well, where do I start and how do I explain the connection between my passion for fire, food and ceramic cooking with my other obsession, F1 racing! To hell with it! I'll just spit it out and for the record, it has nothing to do with the "Sex Pistols"! Yesterday, history was made in F1 racing with the World Championship title going to my favorite of racers being Jenson Button of England at the Interlagos Circuit in Brazil. JB raced to a sixth place finish but was able to clinch the title based on the overall points spread and what a day and season it has been!

It's a family tradition in our house and has been for the past 11 years since I got married to my wife Eva to gather every other Sunday around the tele, spark up the Primo and in most cases the BGE as well and indulge in a real english breakfast, fried tomatoes and all. BTW, grilling note, seared/marinated field tomatoes over charcoal is simply to die for! All this and a few pints of Guinness while our eyes and ears are glued to the screen hoping that our favorite driver will pull out a victory.

For me and every other true JB fan, it was special indeed because I, like millions of other fans around the world have waited almost a decade for this to happen and gone through the highs and many lows that come with the sport. I can remember in the painful B.A.R. Honda days getting laughed at in the Montreal grand stands dawning my BAR hat which has seen better days and on many an occasion almost getting into fist-a-cuffs with more than a few wannabe fans flying their typical, trendy, on the day prancing horse colors, no offense Equipe Ferrari, but it's true. No my friends, this is about raw talent, passion, loyalty, sticktoittiveness, guts, sweat equity and pure faith in a driver that has what it takes and always did and finally the universal powers and karma that be have come together and granted this champion his day on top of one of the most sought after podiums in the world of sport.

From the first drive at BMW to Renault, BAR and now Team Brawn, I say, Ross deserves to get the lead role as Gandalf in Lord of The Rings 4, not that its going to happen but technical magic like this with a new team in their first year, going toe to toe in the Piranha pool that is F1 is beyond magic, beyond wizardry, it's GENIUS! Yes indeed folks, it would be a blast and an honor to sit around the table or better yet, grill up a storm "griller" style for this entire team and toast them all from Canada with love for what they have accomplished for loyal fans like me around the globe for the last decade.

In Sir Frank William's words, "talent like JB's is not extinguishable". "It is a part of the man's spirit and part of his soul".

Here's to you Jenson! You deserve it and when your in Canada next, the steak's on me, thanks a million mate! Feed the fire and the desire to take it higher..........

The Grateful Griller