Hola Grillers!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you are all enjoying a fantastic week of grilling and chilling as we all look forward to Spring, and the ski season coming to a close, breaks my heart but it has been grand! Last year at this time I made the trip down to Orlando Florida to the largest trade show in the bbq industry called HPBA. I cannot believe time has flown by this fast but it has and that trip was a great one for me for many reasons. First I got to meet and connect with many suppliers, grillers and people in general who all flock to this show once a year which is closed to the general public as it is more directly linked to the specialty retail channels across North America. It gave me my first opportunity as well to meet all the "kamado heads of state" as I like to refer to them as, and, who all brought their "A" games to the floor for all to see and savour over a three day period of time.
There was George at Primo, Steve at Saffire and a fantastic unplanned rendez-vous with Mr. Big Green Egg himself, Ed Fischer! Great guy and a real gentleman who after all and thanks to his product inspired me to become The Grateful Griller! The owner of Cypress Grill wasn't there and the fine folks at GrillDome opted not to attend. Then there's the fit as a linebacker, soft spoken Irishman named Bobby Brennan, commander and chief at Kamado Joe, a company that's been turning head's in the kamado market for well over two years and they are showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon! Rumor on the grilling streets is this guy and company make fast, razor sharp decisions with bulls eye accuracy and engage any and all fans of his products with a customer service oriented approach rarely seen in most industries!
Now, as some if not all of you know by now Bobby befriended me about a year and a half ago to find out what my concept was all about and get an understanding about what my intentions were within the kamado market and from our first conversation I genuinely liked the guy and his enthusiasm about his business. After some time getting to know one another Bobby eventually hired me and my small video production arm appropriately called "Grateful Griller Productions" to create video content for his brand. It was a huge step forward for me and a chance to really engage a major kamado player in the marketplace and get my name and passion out for all to see! Needless to say the project was a great success for both of us and I'm hoping there will be other projects like it in the near future, after all, its not everyday that a small passionate individual like me, a.k.a "The Grateful Griller" gets the chance to create the video look and feel for someone else's product especially another small brand building a following as well in the world we call kamado!
"Kamado Joe" from the beginning have quite frankly been looked upon at first glance as a BGE knock off brand but take it from the griller friends, this is far from the truth and I'll admit from a far the vessel itself does in fact look like a red green egg but once you really start zoning in on the details there are many improvements and differences in contrast to their biggest competitor. For the record, anybody selling this KJ product and advertising "red is the new green" should re-think their marketing approach because "Kamado Joe" have demonstrated numerous times over the past few years to me anyways, why they are different from the world's #1 seller.
The list of product detail differences are many, i.e. and starting at the top with the oversized temp gauge, the stainless steel bands and smaller hardware, bamboo handle and side tables, better and more durable felt gasket's which have been tried tested and true by yours truly for almost two years to date and all this comes to you, the end consumer, pre-assembled and basically ready to go out of the box! I also forgot to mention the pre assembled powder coated stand to house your new vessel as well! What happens when you open the lid for the first time? Bam!!! There's a stainless steel cooking grid complete with wood chip trap door ready to go for that first steak, very nice indeed!
For any non-believers still stickin to their knock off debate, all one has to do is get a glimpse of the newest creation that was just unveiled at the latest HPBA Show down in Salt Lake City! It had to happen I thought to myself and yes friends, Mr. Brennan and Co. have launched the newest member of the KJ family called "Pro Joe", ( a Vesta Award Winner) and for the record it has nothing to do with football or Theismann, yet this new kamado at least at a glance over the computer has super star quarterback character traits without a doubt!
In Bobby Brennan's words, "innovation always starts with a question"? True enough and I agree, and at first glance "Kamado Joe" must have had a pile of questions on the tablet when they dreamt up their latest project and kudos to them as well for thinking out of the box and gunning toward legitimately stretching the envelope and wowing the masses even though the masses will probably not be able to afford this work of art but impressive it is, nonetheless!
Some of the key features on the new "Pro Joe" include a much higher thermal retention capability, slick and polished stainless aesthetic, reengineered ergonomics, higher functionality, and by all accounts a "perfectly" counter balanced hinge system to support the lid of the cooker which weighs in at an impressive 575lbs! It's evident to those not even remotely familiar with this niche market that aesthetically speaking the new "Pro Joe" makes sense for those who have existing "outdoor living spaces" and who already own a stainless gas grill or range and have caught wind of the fact that the kamado cooker will and can take your grilling games to new levels!
So, it would appear that even though Kamado Joe and their newest addition called "Pro Joe" aren't the first to the plate with a sophisticated and refined, not to mention high end kamado styled cooker they have most certainly made it clear to those who love this cooking medium that they want into the ring for a chance to declare themselves the newest heavyweight champion of the category! For more info on Kamado Joe check them out at www.kamadojoe.com and as this post title suggests, if you're outdoor chamber and bank account are big enough, this silver bullet just might be for you!
Over the last few weeks my musical tunes and listening pleasure have been somewhat, well, all over the freaking map! So let's just say that the next few lines friends were inspired by Tina Turner, The Velvet Underground and capped off with The Grateful Dead! Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Spring is in the air!
Feed those fires and desire to take all your grilling games higher!!!!!!!!!!
You Are Simply The Best "K"
You are simply the best "k", better than all the rest!
So much so Bobby B, it makes me want to puff out my chest and scream it to the world at large!
Power to the people and the pork, no need here to use a fork!
Get stuck in like Jamio O! Twirl around dosi-doe!
Winter's chill makes me grin and bite, no need here to put up a fight!
Just chill and grill with fire and ice, meat melts in mouth, smoke smells so nice.
Beats bouncin from my truck, no need to get stuck on ceremonies!
Let's start a fire and take this kamado party higher!
Foods of all kinds will blow your minds as we get the steel wheels in motion and cause one hell of a commotion!
A notion we can all have and celebrate a better day and with kamado at our side, what can I say?
We're gonna grill this and sear that, hone these skills and get them down pat!
You're simply the best "k", better than all the rest!
Our gig has become part feast and part fest and no longer feels like a test but instead a light hint of zest!
A punch with some crunch, let's do lunch and dream of all tomorrow's parties, Lou Reed style.
Kamado be mine, kamado be yours, strike that match and open up those culinary doors!
Hit the floor dancing like the devil with an open mind and a huge heart and except this as simply the start of bigger things yet to come on such a long strange trip thus far.........
G keeps truckin!!!!!!!!!!
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