The Grateful Griller (passion for food and ceramics)

Hello Folks,

So after the last post I thought it might be a good idea to enlighten my existing clients and anyone new to my blog about what "The Grateful Griller" concept and experience is all about.  When I came up with the idea a few years back to develop a new and innovative system to sell "The Big Green Egg" I really had no idea that it would morph into what it is today and now that I know exactly where I am going its been really fun and exciting to see what's on the horizon as I set my sights on 2009.  I have felt really fortunate that I have been able to combine my sales experience from the past with a feverish passion for grilled food and to be able to share this with my client base is really special indeed. 

 Since the creation and launch of "The Grateful Griller" this past year I have come to realize how great it is to be your own boss and to  not have to answer to anyone except yourself and your trusted clientele which have always been very important to me.  I realized very quickly how great a product I had found with "The Big Green Egg" and now all that I needed to do was develop a fun, innovative way to sell it, market it and deliver it to my clients door.  I also know the benefits of tremendous added value and sensational customer service and hence when I hit the road to deliver what has been coined "The Grateful Griller Experience" I am not only selling and spreading the wonderful secrets behind ceramic cooking but more importantly, I am introducing new people every day to a sensational food experience right on their decks or in their homes and its been a very interesting and fun experience to say the least.

"The Grateful Griller" is about the sales and education of the best ceramic grills in the world, how to cook on them, use them, take care of them and most importantly grill great food over natural lump charcoal every time you cook.  For me its as much fun to sell my packages as it is to deliver them, set them up and demonstrate, and best of all, cook for 99% of my clients all the time.  Yup!  I am guilty of being incredibly passionate about food and grilling with ceramics and delivering the best possible result every time with everyone.  I have also enjoyed the process in learning how to make better food, healthier food thanks to my affiliate partners like "SmokinLicious" and "Basque" Charcoal.  I am always searching for the best accessories to enhance the overall cooking experience as well so be sure to look for new and exciting products that are being added in 2009.

Since I have mentioned 2009 I have a few fantastic surprises that will be announced in the first week of the New Year.  In that first week I will be talking about new products that I am endorsing going forward and I will also be posting new package prices for the year.  "The Grateful Griller" will be selling a number of innovative accessories to enhance your overall cooking experience and I will be speaking in detail about all of them so stay tuned for lots of fun stuff coming down the pipeline!

For the record because I have been asked a number of times over the last year, "The Grateful Griller" does not sell or service gas bbq's.  We can always recommend a few places to go for your gas requirements but "The Grateful Griller" concept is strictly about cooking/grilling with ceramics. I am not against gas bbq's, in fact, they have their place and are convenient but in terms of providing the taste that ceramics provide they don't measure up at all, case closed.  This goes back to my point about the entire food and cooking experience.  It should be fun and not rushed and produce consistent results that taste great every time and its also about getting people into an ancient method of cooking that has been revolutionized for modern day enjoyment with zero hassle and a very short learning curve.  I will also point out that cooking with ceramics is much more environmentally friendly and energy efficient than gas for a number of proven reasons which I will talk more about in future posts. 

So there you have it in a nut shell my friends, a little bit more info on what "The Grateful Griller" is all about. I want to wish everyone who visits the blog or for whom I have done business with in the last few years a very Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah and Happy New Year!  I am looking forward to hearing from you all in 2009 and like always, keep on grilling!

smoke, wood & fire,

The Griller

p.s.  "Green Egg" pictures provided by Andrew, Georgina Atrins and Franque Grimard of Chelsea, QC. Thanks guys for the good times at both your houses this past year!

The Perfect Xmas Turkey

• One turkey cleaned and washed under cold water and set aside
• your favorite rub for the bird
• 1 onion cut in half, 2-3 celery stalks and 2-3 cups of chicken broth and or wine
• handful of pecan chips soaking for 30 min or so

Grill Prep & Bake

• set the Egg up for an indirect bake at 350 degrees.
• get the fire regulated and and throw on the chips
• coat the bird with the rub and place onto vertical turkey roaster and then into drip pan
• add onion, celery and wine or broth into the drip pan
• bake the turkey for 12-15 min. per pound or until the breast meat reaches 160F degrees and the thigh temp is above 170F degrees
• reserve drippings and whisk up the gravy of choice

Enjoy and don't forget to knock back a few egg nogs while the turkey is baking.  Its always a good build up for the main event!

The Griller 

Thule Riggs, so you can Rock "n" Roll!

Hola my grilling amigo's,

As light snow falls from the sky,  I can't help but be excited for ski season but also for the holiday grilling season on the deck.  Over the last few weeks as I, like most people,  get things from the Fall put away and stored until next Spring, the entire concept of storage took over my brain space for awhile as I reflected on what I would have done without the support of my friends at Thule Canada if I didn't have their product on my truck to assist me in my day to day business.  The truth is, I haven't the foggiest idea, but I do know it would have been very difficult indeed.  You see, Thule world wide are known for their superior products to carry, transport, pack, protect, and haul almost any load big or small with relative ease to where ever you are going in a vehicle. The cottage, the ski hill, the golf coarse, the extended vacation or most importantly the next deck party where the steaks are always sizzling!

"Thule" Canada were the first major branch of a globally recognized brand that took the time to listen to my story and thanks to a few people in their organization who could see and hear my vision for the "Grateful Griller" they got behind me, and for that I am truly "Grateful", no pun intended. For the record, I have been a consumer of "Thule" products for the last 20 years,  so I didn't need convincing that their products worked or not.  What I did realize early on into our relationship since May/08 was that they not only make great product but they are constantly stretching the envelope in regard to revolutionizing their products and are now not only producing great looking and functioning products for the exterior of the vehicle but "Thule" are creating ways to store your personal luggage inside the vehicle as well.  

I use their storage bags like the "Trunk Locker" and "Go Packs" for all my grilling spices and tools of the trade on a daily basis.  These weather resistant and tough as nails bags store everything and more for the short jaunt or the long haul and if the inside of your vehicle/truck is limited, fear not my friends, "Thule" are known for their sleek and spacious "Cargo Boxes" for the roof of your vehicle and thanks to customized adapters and load bars that retro fit to almost every vehicle today there is virtually nothing the company hasn't thought of in regard to your storage solution.  I have loved the use of my "Atlantis" boxes on the "GTOT", (Grilled To Obsession Toyota) from day 1.  These innovative and durable products come at a price however and like the ceramic grills that I sell and market they aren't inexpensive but if you are looking for the best in this category of product the buck stops with "Thule".

So on that note I want to give a shout out to the gang at "Thule" Canada in Granby Quebec and say thank-you for giving me the opportunity to use and travel with your products and for rigging out the "GTOT" and giving me some "Thule" Power and next time your in my neck of the woods the steaks are on me!

For those of you who are on the Quebec side of the territory and are interested in learning more about "Thule" products you can call "Attache Remorque Gatineau" @ 819-669-6111 or visit them and their very helpful staff at 655 Blvd. Maloney East in Gatineau.  If you are on the Ontario side of the border call "Auto Racks Ottawa" @ 613-722-5759 located at 378 Richmond Rd. in Westboro.

Griller's Appetizer of the week!

• "Bacon Wrapped Dill Pickles"
• 1 jar of pickles
• 1 lbs of melrose bacon and a bunch of toothpicks
• half each slice of bacon and wrap around a pickle and stick with a toothpick
• fire up your "Egg" to 350 for a direct cook
• throw the appi's on and drop lid gently and re-regulate to 350
• grill for  30 min or until bacon starts to become crispy
• rip off the grill and serve them up with some mango chutney and wash down with your favorite beer and most of all enjoy!

Ok folks, that's it for me so eat well,  have an awesome weekend and don't forget to "keep on grilling"!

Grilled to Obsession,

Chef Miguel