Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Or Are They Saffires?
Hello Grilling Friends!
Ok, ok, ok, ok, how dare I go a month without some kind of update, or story from The Grateful Griller's vault and adventures on my "grilled to obsession" path as I continue to inspire and preach the benefits of such a great lifestyle and product to those who want into the "club". Don't worry, there's no membership fee required and I do sincerely apologize for my delay in getting new stories up but the good news is that over the last few months I have been collecting so much data and fun times from my travels and parties that I don't think I shall be running out of any new material for quite some time!
So, this latest post has been on my mind to write since the Orlando BBQ Show back in March/10 when I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Steve Benson, owner of Saffire Grill Co. in the midwestern USA. I got a lead on him after testing yet another kamado called "DragonFire that appears to have all but gone away and has never really launched in Canada officially, pity because I liked it and it tested well but more on that later.
As most of you if not all of you know by now, I am and have been passionately on the move absorbing as much knowledge and expertise on this rapidly emerging niche category for almost ten years and what do you know, another potential player has entered the kamado ring for all to see and experience and if you don't know Saffire Grill Co. yet, take note grillers, this cooker might just be here to stay and can be yours at least in Canada for approx. $999.00!!!!!!!! For those of you who have followed me for awhile now you'll remember me stating last year that the competition is gonna get thick and pricing will come down to enable a broader audience the chance at entering into this wonderful world and low and behold, this validates my point but remember friends, buyer beware and know what your buying, that's partly why I'm here!
Saffire comes to the table and the market with a great product that looks as good as it performs and it really takes on the esthetic characteristics of a few other known kamado's I have on my deck being Kamado Joe and DragonFire as I stated at the top of the post but yet still is able to deliver its own charm without fail.
Here's what I like!
1. Start up tests have been superb! 15-20 min max every time. Saffire maintains a consistent temp throughout most cooking sessions.
2. Stainless steel grill with trap door for chips, perfect and the color coded thermometer makes it easy to read your cooking temps!
3. The gasket is well made and thus far has tested really well, very similar to Kamado Joe.
4. Bamboo side shelves and handle are smart and enviro friendly!
5. Stainless hard ware looks great and is an added feature of quality often missed with other brands particularly BGE and Primo.
6. Spring Hinge is simple and doesn't squeek, I hate squeeking parts! LOL!
7. The cart is stainless and looks identical to DragonFire cart and comes with locking castors and apart from being really light it looks great and assembles in minutes flat! If imitating is the highest form of flattery, this cart proves my point!
8. Color options are red and black and the exterior finish is baked and glazed, not painted which I feel is key for our harsh Canadian climate and color options are nice to have!
9. Saffire offer their kamado cookers with optional cart and side shelves or on their own, ready to insert into a table of your choice and the best part is they come pre-assembled which is huge in my books, besides, who has the time to assemble these days?
10. Warranty is great and in line with all other top kamado companies and I can't stress enough folks, look for 20 years minimum on ceramic parts and you'll know your dealing with a company that takes their product seriously! Also, read up on the intriguing 1/2 price lifetime warranty offer and bravo for upping the ante Steve with 3 months on gaskets!
11. The two main accessories that I have tested are carbon copies of what Kamado Joe are selling and promoting with their kamado's which are the heat deflector with metal stand and grill extender/expander. Great products that work and make sense but make sure to purchase updated heat deflector stand and ceramic deflector or at least ask before purchasing because the newest version Kamado Joe product works far better than the original that didn't last too long in the market before being upgraded.
12. Congrats Steve on a basic but easy to understand printed owner's manual! Its all there in black and white and although the internet is where its at today, I suppose there are still people out there who like reading an actual hand held manual. I say let's save some trees and go right online with this kind of info!
Here's what I don't or didn't like when I first came across Saffire!
1. Original chimney top was cheap and felt weak but that has been modified and improved 100% with the new steel version which is great!
2. I can't stand little micro adjusting daisy wheels on this product or any others that exist. I personally think they're a waist of time and confusing to new comers to the kamado grilling lifestyle.
3. Although this part and point isn't a deal breaker for me I do hope it goes away but I honestly detest the wood chip portal mid way down the base of the cooker. To me it looks like another piece that can and will get lost or eventually fall out and the very strange wood chip feeder reminds me of a visit I took to the London Dungeon in England where I got to see what dentists were using in the 16th Century to pull teeth! OUCH, NO THANKS! I shall continue to use the trap door on the main cooking grill for all my wood chip needs. The other thing that makes me nervous here is the potential for air seepage around the hole where the portal knob fits, just a thought and I'll bet it disappears soon at least I hope so.
4. Although the Saffire cooker looks and performs very well I wish the ceramic dome could be just a bit higher in order to fit bigger cuts of meat and or vertically placed birds but frankly there's a way around almost anything as I have come to learn with this cooking medium and you will adjust in no time at all to its shape and design.
In conclusion, this kamado really did impress me in many ways above and beyond mere pricing and I firmly believe that all companies in this category today or almost all are striving to produce a better product that will last the test of time and grill/cook consistently delicious meals day in and day out.
If I wasn't any the wiser I would swear that some of these products come out of the same factories kinda like the ski industry where by there's really only 2 or 3 factories globally that produce 90% of the world's boot molds but who knows and really, who cares?
What I care about is that people get a great kamado product that makes sense, works well and is backed by a company who stand for something, especially the customers who are paying good money and a lot of it to gain entry into this great lifestyle and learn how to master it! Don't be fooled by just any knock off that you see out in the marketplace or perhaps on Craig's list or EBay. At the very least give the Griller a call and let's chat!
I want to personally thank Steve Benson for his time, product and passion to keep on grilling and producing Saffire and be confident The Grateful Griller's officially in your corner and I wish you huge success on the path ahead!
As the post title suggests I'm a potential Beatles fan but honestly I only ever really got into two albums, Sgt. Pepper's and The White album, ok, now I'm speechless! (pause, big sigh, move on.....) I loved Lennon's solo years, can you say "Double Fantasy"? Enough said grillers, I leave you not with inspirational musical poetry taken from the Beatles but instead some more 80's alternative and Modern English for now, forever!
Feed those fires and until next time, keep life's sparks flying........
"K", I'd Stop The World & Grill With You!
Moving forward using all my might and breath,
grilling with you was never second best.
I've seen the gas world thrashing all around this place,
never realizing that slow and steady is gonna win this charcoal race.
I'll stop the world and grill with you,
I've tasted the difference and its getting better all the time.
There's nothing you and I won't do "K",
cos I'll stop the world and grill with you.
I could never dream of a better life,
one where you don't exist, no smoke, no fire, no artistic desire to create and perhaps
inspire those who have never experienced bliss.
It would all be for not, an opportunity gone a miss like a kiss released to the wind.
I'm making myself a promise to save this starving human race.
I'll keep feeding the fires and driving this kamado pace and let all the others behind us take
up the chase.
I'll stop the world and grill with you,
I've tasted the difference and its getting better all the time.
There's nothing you and I won't do "K",
cos I'll stop the world and grill with you........
GG
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