A Kamado Could Just Seal The Deal On Your Next Kottage Rental!

Hello grilling brother's and sister's across this great land!

Well, Summer's not quite over and it's been great to savour the last few cold pints while hanging with friends and family on the deck! I personally am not going to miss the humidity but as long as my kamado is next to me I'm good to go and go and go!

I had the pleasure earlier on in August to hang out north of Wakefield at a great cottage that my family rented on Lake Pemichangan up near Mont Ste. Marie ski hill and what a great time it was! The water was perfect, the weather was perfect and the family and friends that were up there, well, they were all perfect too! In typical "grateful griller" fashion I loaded a few kamado's in the truck and after a gig I had to do in the city made my way up the country and would you believe it if I told you all that I actually had a dusty old "Canned Heat" disc in the truck and I cranked it all the way into the woods! Yes its true!

This post is actually a heads up to all you avid griller's out there who have a kamado already and even if you don't but you happen to be looking into renting a cottage in the near future you may want to look into wether the place you'll be renting has one on site! It's not only a great introduction into this wonderful grilling lifestyle but it would save you from having to shlep yours to where ever you are traveling to get away! I see this becoming quite a selling point on any property that people want to rent because after all, you all want to eat well while you are away and I can't think of a better perk than to have a kamado on site when you arrive! It'd be like home away from home at least in the food dept.!

My friend Jennifer Heagle who happens to own "The Red Apron" in Ottawa, ( fyi, best dam, not to mention delicious food to go in the city!) owns a spectacular house in the hills, www.gatineauriverhouse.ca not more than 40 min north as the crow fly's right on the Gatineau river! The house has got all the luxuries one looks for if you need to get away alone or with a bunch of friends and family. Golf, nature, water and an incredibly tranquil surrounding in the heart of the woods!

The cherry on the cake here folks is that it comes with a large Big Green Egg on site for all your favorite feasts! While I was up at the cottage we rented cooking up storms of food I thought what a brilliant idea to have a kamado or two on site for whoever is renting. I had to bring my own equipment but take it from the griller, if a cottage getaway week or weekend is what your after in the near future a kamado cooker just might be what seals the deal for you!

Until we meet again people, feed those fires and desires to take it all higher!!!!!!!!! It should be expected by now that I have to throw down some modified musical lyrics as I continue to tell my story on my adventures with "K"! These next few lines are inspired by "Canned Heat" and altered by yours truly, enjoy!

G Love

Goin Up To Kamado Kountry!

We're goin up the country "K", don't you wanna go?

To the land of milk and honey where fire and smoke is gonna blow.

We're goin to a place that we've never been before.

Where laughter and good times radiate from our core.

We're goin to a place where the water tastes like wine.

Steaks seared to perfection, I'll eat yours and you can have mine.

I'm lovin this water, so sweet, so devine,

let's hang out some more and get drunk in good time.

We've gotta leave the city, gotta get away!

All this fussin and fightin, you know we can't stay.

I'm gonna load our leaving truck and with a pinch of Irish luck we won't get stuck,

cos we're goin up the country and the country's where we'll stay.......

Lighting Your Kamado Joe Grill

Care and Maintenance of Your Kamado Joe Grill

Smoking Basics with Your Kamado Joe Grill

Grilling Basics with Your Kamado Joe Grill

Baking Basics with Your Kamado Joe Grill

Assembling Your Kamado Joe Grill

Controlling the Temperature of Your Kamado Joe Grill

Controlling the Temperature of Your Kamado Joe Grill

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

Grateful Griller Asks, Why Are So Many Gaskets Being Gassed?

Hola Grillers from East to West!

I hate to admit it but this summer is flying by! I am hoping as always that you are all enjoying serious deck time and grilling up storms of new food creations on your kamado of choice! I apologize as always about my delay getting my next post up on the blog but I have been as most of you would guess, rocking many a deck and grilling as much as possible myself. Now that the first Grateful Griller Production has been completed for Kamado Joe down in the USA I have had a bit more time on my hands to cook. For any of you interested in seeing those video's just go to Kamado Joe's official site and click on video's or check them out on You Tube by searching Kamado Joe Video's and voila! You will be able to see what's been keeping me pretty busy of late as I continue my kamado crusade around the globe! Links to my FaceBook page and blog will be up asap!

So, today I thought it would be a good day after enjoying a wonderful meal off my neighbors BGE last night to get the message out there to you all and to a few companies, namely BGE and Primo that this gasket scenario/issue has gone on way too long and I'm hoping that it can be fixed in the near future because after all, when a customer wants to put down lots of hard earned cash for a quality kamado the last thing they should have to experience is "gassing a gasket" in the first few days cooking and or grilling on their new kamado! For all of you new comers to this cooking medium the gaskets I refer to are the felt like, fire retardant strips that essentially seal the lids of these kamado's to the bases and also act as a cushion between the lids and bases. They don't look all that important but trust me friends, you need one in order to properly cook and I personally am not happy and have not been happy for a few years now with the gaskets that come with BGE or Primo units and I wish both companies would either produce a better adhesive backing to these felt gaskets or improve the quality control and application process at the time of production.

Now, it is a fact and true that sometimes people can get distracted or lazy and fire their kamado's up to 800 degrees when they are new and just out of the box ( not a good idea) and BANG! You have successfully "gassed your gasket"! Then, there are the times, where the gasket has simply peeled of the unit itself and the cookers have only been fired to 300 degrees which I have also witnessed with my very own eyes but honestly not that often. Not cool at all as far as I'm concerned! It is also a fact that both BGE and Primo recommend breaking your new cooker in by not exceeding 400-450 degrees for the first 3-5 cook outs in order for that gasket and adhesive backing to really adhere to the ceramic surface. I will also point out that both these companies have been pretty good at taking care of their customers needs if they are new to this type of cooker and in most cases have replaced the first one free of charge but after that it'll cost you approx. $25 to replace them every time, OUCH!

My issue after selling these cookers for the last few years is that the bottom line here is that the adhesive backing on these particular models produced by BGE and Primo are sub standard and can or should be improved asap. I also got a great tip from the Canadian distributor for BGE about a year ago that when applying a new gasket one should invest in a substance called Permatex first. It is sold at most big box hardware stores, costs about $8 a tube and by carefully applying this red like substance to the rim of your cooker and then applying the new gasket on top of it it will adhere far better than anything else and you should be good to go for many years to come. I also want to caution everyone that uses this Permatex product to where a latex glove when applying it and store it in a cool dry place away from the children. For the record, it works really well but its the fact that this shouldn't be necessary which pisses me off when this amount of money is being spent but then I get grilling and realize how great the food is and all my youthful angst goes away! LOL! Please also take note that this Permatex product can be used on any kamado styled ceramic cooker.

To date and with all the testing I have done I have been really happy with GrillDome's product and Kamado Joe's not to mention Saffire Kamado who have all done a good job at not only providing a thicker gasket material but it would seem as if there's a contact cement of sorts that keeps their gaskets on and so far so good in the testing department. The other thing I want to point out is that with round kamado cookers specifically BGE who sell their plate setter accessory in order to convert your cooker into an in-direct oven its specifically causing issues with blown gaskets because when the BGE is fired past 500 degrees for interest sake, the very hot internal air travels up the side gaps of the cooker and around the plate setter and has tendency to melt or burn the gasket in three specific places which I have also witnessed a number of times. In my humble opinion the BGE plate setter may need some altering to prevent this from happening but on the other hand at lower and slower temps this device has worked flawlessly for me for years. Whatever happens we will all have to wait and see!

Well, with this mid morning sun starting to intensify, I think I had better get outside and get prepped for yet another day in grilling paradise with "K" and I'm thinking fish will be nice with a freezing cold glass of rose on the deck later today! Until next time my grilling friends I thought these words were fitting and they come from Francis Mallmann, and the book "Seven Fires".

"When it comes time to sit down and eat, it doesn't matter to me how people dress or speak, how they look or sound or even smell. They're all beautiful if they share one simple quality: respect for the meal, the moment and one another- those who cook, those who serve, and those who eat. Such people are always welcome at my table."

Feed the fire........

GG

Grateful Griller Say's, You Don't Need One, But You'll Want One After You Taste The Results!

Grillersssssssssssss!!!!!!!!! Hola, Hola, Hola!

Isn't it great that we have had more nicer weather in the last two months than we had all last summer at this time? I'm loving it and it really gets those creative juices flowing through my system for sure! Over the last week or so as I continue my crusade of sorts to spread the love about the kamado cooker worldwide, I couldn't help but think back to all the great memories I've had at casa "gto" and been able to share with my friends and family thanks to "K". I've lost count not that I ever was counting the number of times that I have entertained various people and friends and parties that went into the wee hours of the night and morning in some cases whereby any one of my cookers was ticking over with some new delicious creation inside of it for all to taste and savour!

I am, as you all know by now, obsessed with this beautiful device called kamado! I am completely mystified by its shape, its parts and its simplicity, not to mention how they work in general. I love the fact that its so simple but yet so complex and all this while be so forgiving to the enthusiastic novice just entering this world of smoke and fire with food cooked this way for the first time. I am, as some of you know a self confessed kamado jedi, knower of all things ancient and ceramic based! LOL!, not at all!!!!! I simply love the investigative path I've been on to find as much information on this topic as humanly possible and I take tremendous joy in asking a lot of questions to the right people on the subject and then simply translating that to the world at large who are interested to know! I've been in sales my entire professional life and have finally found that perfect product that doesn't require any hard sell tactics whatsoever, parish the thought all together! No friends, this is far more than venturing out and simply buying another product that's going to last a few years and then end up curbside, destined for the landfill site. This is about opening a door and stepping through it and entering an entirely new world of pleasure with food cooked, grilled, smoked and even roasted to perfection every time, a world and lifestyle I have coined "grilled to obsession" !

Within this world you will learn entirely new ways and techniques to prep and cook some of the best food you have ever made using natural lump charcoal. Its a process that can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 20 hours and over time one can't help but be drawn into the practice of cooking this way until one day you wake up and realize that you are now part of this club of sorts. Not a snobby or pretentious club, simply a club and or group of people that enjoy great food and great times deck side with a product that makes sense! I have found over the years that the kamado has slowed me down in a good way and helped me see the world in a different light and has also trained me to enjoy and appreciate the process of prepping food day in and day out.

As this post title suggest, you don't need a kamado, nobody needs a kamado, myself included, but when you get to taste the results from these fine vessels, you will want one forevermore! What started off as a passion for one particular cooker being The Big Green Egg has morphed into my obsession for an entire category of cookers that are percolating to the surface at various specialty retailers across North America today and I encourage everyone to do the homework necessary to find the best cooker to suit your grilling/cooking needs because once you invest in a kamado be it Grill Dome, Kamado Joe, Primo, or even Big Green Egg you are investing in a lifetime of food pleasure!

99.999999% of all my existing clients have come from a gas world as it relates to their bbq'ing experiences and I get asked all the time if I'm anti gas and I always reply, not at all! I am a believer in having your entire enchilada and being able to eat it as well and what I mean by this is that I have noticed a trend emerging over the last few years whereby people who own gas grills are craving that unique taste that goes a miss with their gas range, however they have read or experienced the marvel of natural charcoal in combination with a kamado and have to have it! Solution to the problem I say, keep your gas range for convenience and an added heat source and invest in a kamado cooker but don't blame me if you never go back to the gas!!!!!!!

As always friends, keep the fires red hot and enjoy your deck time and perhaps we will get to cook together someday soon but whatever the case, remember there are no limits to what can be created with your kamado! Until next time, let the music play and keep those recipes flowing! This past week has been about re-tracing my 80's obsession with that special decade of alternative music and I happened to be listening to an old Cult album when I realized that their song "Fire Woman" had the makings of another Grateful Griller's saga with my partner "K" in there somewhere so as always the next few lines have been taken from Ian Astbury and the boys and altered by The Grateful Griller himself!

You Are My Fire Woman "K"

Wound up, can't sleep, can't do anything but eat so well since I set my eyes and hands on you.

I'm tell'in you the truth "K", you are my fire woman.

We are twisting like two flames in a slow dance baby,

you drive me crazy!

Come on little honey, let's go make some money,

grilling and smoking our way to the highest peaks, it time we left these valley's behind.

I've savored your beef and sauced that rack,

you've got me trancing like a cat on a hot tin shack!

Lord have mercy, you're my fire woman "K"!

Come on little sister, its time we played some kamado like twister as we dream of parties and food to come.

Your smoke turns to fire, as our grilling games go higher,

look at those balls of fire dancing into the evening sky!

Burn'in out isn't in the cards as we play hop scotch into yards across this great land,

come on and take my hand so I can welcome you all to the promised land of plenty!

Your smoke turns to fire and will travel faster, longer and higher until the message is clear for all to see on the global horizon.

They'll be freakin in France, ecstatic in England and crazy in Cairo!

Off the hook in the land down under when they all get to experience some Grateful Grill'in thunder!

All this time they've been missing while we've been busy kissing our days away!

Chilling, smoking, grilling and blissing over a lifestyle we are preach'in and lesson's we are teach'in for all who care to listen!

Forever feeding this fire and the desire to take our story and game higher,

every minute, every day, every hour, can't you feel the kamado power?

GG

The Lowdown On Lump Charcoal!

Hola grilling brother's and sister's!

I'm hoping as I write this next post that all of you from far and wide are keeping those kamado fires burning in the name of food, family, friends and music and that all your culinary creations have been memorable ones to date! I have been literally grilling my way around Ontario these days between parties and weddings and everything in between. I've been grilling so much in fact that I got thinking just how much great charcoal I get to use and test and all the great flavors I am able to create thanks to some of the most interesting and exotic woods I cook with. On a recent trip to Toronto to hook up with Ted Reader, ( self professed King of the Q in Canada!) he was kind enough to show me the inner sanctum of Casa Q in Rexdale and what a spot he's got apart from all the amazing gear in his backyard! I was actually delivering one of our famous "Grill Rovers" to him for his BGE and Primo XL that he cooks with all the time.

I couldn't help but gravitate over towards this 1200lbs. Oklahoma Smoker that was loaded with I'm guessing about 50 lbs of pork shoulder that smelled sooo good and as it was ticking over at around 210 degrees I was examining it from head to toe and took a quick peek into the wood drawer and low and behold there was a beautiful mix of hickory, cherry and maple if I remember correctly and the smells were heavenly but the best part about this was it was real wood that Ted was smoking with. Now, not everyone cooks/smokes or has ever smoked this way before but wether you are using real wood or all natural lump charcoal the key to the flavor and experience over all is using the real thing, WOOD! Free of tars, toxins, chemicals, additives, preservatives and anything else bad, wood in its natural state takes longer to fire up and cook with but the results are incredible and lump charcoal is a wood bi-product that has been fired in large vats or kilns with the absence of oxygen for long periods of time hence its charred and then cooled and bagged for distribution.

Over the last few years there has been somewhat of a renaissance in natural lump charcoal cooking going on around us and its awesome to experiment with various lump as I do to explore all the wonderful tastes you can come up with every meal you cook! However, buyer beware! Don't just assume that just because a bag of charcoal looks cool and seems to entice you with big bold letters and flashy colors making it sound like you are going to have purely orgasmic grilling experiences, (although I have had a few over the years, LOL!) you have to know what you're purchasing and are you getting good value for that purchase?

Case and point! As it relates to the kamado world two of the market leaders being BGE and Primo have what you would think to be their own branded charcoal that's supposed to be that much better if used with their cookers but the truth is, its good charcoal, not great, but good and last time I investigated the topic it was and perhaps still is being produced by Royal Oak, by far one of the biggest producers globally under what's called an "SMU" or special make up bag/package in order for the company to promote their brand of cooker and the mark ups are steep and take it from me the savings aren't ending up in your pocket at the end of the day. If you like Royal Oak and you live in this country go to the big box store and pay somewhere between $18-$20 per 20lbs. bag but don't whatever you do think that the charcoal coming in the bags advertising the cooker itself is anything more than it is and if it is, ask the question, why? You'll soon get your answer and if you happen to be speaking to someone who knows what they are talking about all the better!

This brings me to another point! If possible, shop at a specialty store that has a variety of charcoal brands where you can do your research and deal with a pro. I have tested many brands over the years and to date I have really liked the following products.

1. Basque "Nature's Own" is a great product! Canadian to the core, this charcoal consists of a maple/ yellow birch mixture and doesn't burn too hot but imparts a great taste on anything you cook, grill or smoke.

2. Ono Brand is an all natural product rich in tradition and its from Hawaii and consists of a very hard wood called Kiavey which burns hot, hot, hot and takes more time to get up to temperature but when you do, you shall love the results and the smell from the wood is so sweet!

3. Groveland Brand is an all natural product of Mexico and is made up of orange tree wood and believe me you can actually smell and taste hints of orange on most things you cook especially meat unless my minds playing tricks on me its wonderful stuff!

4. Kamado Joe Brand is in fact an all natural branded charcoal that comes from the company that produce Kamado Joe cookers but where they are different is in the content or product itself. This charcoal is made up of an exotic blend of oak woods from Central America and also burns quite hot and takes a bit more time to fire but the results have been outstanding considering its the new player on the block. They also have their own non toxic fire starters that light up fast and are very convenient!

5. Maple Leaf Brand also comes out of Canada and frankly I've only fired it up 5-6 times and although its not my favorite by far, many people I speak to and who are clients of mine like it and like the price and the fact you can get it at big box locations for a bargain! Your call but the best in Canada in my humble opinion is Basque and no, they don't pay me to say that! LOL!

6. Big Green Egg and Primo brands are good but there's a price to pay for them! So if you believe in paying a premium, knock yourself out but before you do that you may as well get yourself dialed up with a bag of Royal Oak for close to $10 bucks less at least in Canada!

7. Cowboy Branded all natural charcoal from what I hear based on a new relationship I have with a store here in Ottawa's east end is also well worth its money and although I haven't tested it to date my gut tells me as well as the fine folks at the store that its great stuff and anything food and fire related coming from Argentina is worth its weight in gold for sure! All hale Francis Mallmann, one of my favorite chef's from that great country!

As I close this post out the most important thing to remember folks when and if you happen to enter the kamado world of cooking or simply happen to be grilling over charcoal is keep it a natural and chemical free experience and what ever you do, never use lighter fluid's or harmful products that could be bad for your health or Mother Nature. There are great non toxic fire starters out there that will run you about $6 per box and just recently a marvelous and safe electric product called the LooftLighter landed in Canada and although it comes with a price tag of around $90 Canadian its the best thing to happen to the bbq industry in years and no, they don't pay me for saying that either. When you factor in how many fire starters you'll go through in a year the math leans in favor of this new magic device which is going to literally light the grilling world on fire!

On that note my grilling friends I want to wish you all a wonderful Summer filled with fire, smoke and food for all to enjoy! May your glasses always be full and the memories of all those deck parties with the ones who matter most to you be remembered forever!!!!!!!

Over this past weekend I spent some great time with family in Montreal and as I walked through the streets of the old city it reminded me of my time spent with my wife and business partner walking the streets of Paris together and that brought back a time I visited Jim Morrison's grave site in Pere Lachesse Cemetery which I'll never forget! You can probably guess that since the weekend I have been spinning a lot of old Doors tunes so the final few lines sticking with tradition on these posts were borrowed from Jim Morrison and company and altered by The Grateful Griller.

Feed the kamado fires people!

"K" You Really Light My Fire

You know that it would be untrue "K"

You know that I would be a liar,

if I was to say to you, that we really couldn't get much higher,

when the truth is that what we've created is just about to catch fire!

Come on "K" let's light that fire,

and take our global grilling games higher.

The time to hesitate is done,

we're gonna show the world some kamado like grilling fun!

Try now we can only lose but we'll still get the chance to choose,

to continue down this ancient path together, forever........

GG

Kamado Joe Clears Runway for Grateful Griller's Take Off!

Hola grilling friends!

Well, without any shadow of a doubt the last few weeks have been crazy busy for yours truly as I have had my grilling pedal to the metal so to speak. I got the opportunity to host and produce the first "Kamado Joe" video tutorials that were shot right here in my back yard and what an amazing project it has been as we rap things up over the next few weeks. The sun's been intense, the weather's been gorgeous if not a bit tricky to shoot in and when your wearing black the secret to staying alive is drinking as much water as you possibly can! LOL!!!

I officially launched "Grateful Griller Productions" a few months ago and there are a number of projects in the cooker, ( no pun intended) for the near future to bring as much positive awareness to the "kamado" as humanly possible and by getting the chance to shoot the latest video's my brain has been buzzing with so many idea's that I will get to share with all of you in the coming months in my own unpredictable style!

The set and getting to handle and speak about all the fantastic "Kamado Joe" product has certainly reconfirmed my all out passion for this lifestyle and cooking medium. "Kamado Joe" is going to become, in my humble opinion, a market leader in no time at all simply because its great product that makes sense, looks good and is explained in easy terms wether your a novice and new to this world or a grand master grilling aficionado. After each days rap on set its been great to kick back with a cold one, spark up the kamado, and grill into the late ours of night! I smoked two awesome chickens a couple of nights back and baked a pizza to perfection shortly after and still had enough "KJ" lump leftover to bang off some bacon for the next mornings breakfast!

All that said and as the the title of the post suggests, by going through this video production process of articulating an incredibly positive message about an awesome product being the kamado it really has made me feel like a 747 on the tarmac, cleared for take off so I can spread this message around the world and back. For me, the kamado reenforces the importance of all our senses, especially that of smell and taste because its those senses that are connected with so many great memories on our decks enjoying time with the people who matter most to us, and who can argue? As my line goes, food, family, friends and music! They all make my world go around, how about you?

I want to give a shout out to my main men on set, Derek Thacker, editing guru and Jeff Denesyk, master shooter with the patience of Job! Both these guys have been able to teach me so much about the process and considering the learning curve was so steep the entire experience has confirmed my desire to take my tv game higher! Here's to many more productions in the future with both of you passionate grillers!

Finally, I want to personally thank Bobby Brennan and the entire crew at "Kamado Joe" for their trust and faith in "The Grateful Griller" and the opportunity to work with you all! I hope this is just the start of greater things to come on our grilling roads! So what are you waiting for people? "Ignite your passion for grilling", and get your "K" on and here's to the final cut in the next little while!

The next few lines came to me while listening to some back catalog "Oasis" and it occurred to me that the "kamado" really is my wonderwall. Some lyrics borrowed from Oasis and altered by The Grateful Griller. Peace, fire, smoke, food........

Wonderwall of a Kamado

Today's gonna be the day

that their gonna throw it back to you.

By now we should of some how realized what we've got to do "K".

I don't believe there's anybody who feels the way I do about you now.

Back beat, the word is on the street that the fire in our hearts is hot like the sun,

as we run with our message to the ends of the earth and back.

A re-birth of cool from the ancient Japanese school of food dancing with fire.

All these roads we've rolled down have been winding.

All the lights that have led us here have been blinding,

and I don't believe there's anyone who feels the way I do about you "K"!

Another great party and another great demo,

crazy pace this grateful grilling tempo!

Ottawa today, perhaps tokyo tomorrow, always feeling happy and never any sorrow.

Sparks will fly when the universal eye zooms in to take a look at this kamado book we are working on.

Its like one big song, a low "n" slow dance,

kick back, relax and slip into this kamado like trance.

This is our time to take it all the way!

The inner desire to inspire a global audience seeking fire, fun and a food fantasy.

An odyssey in experimentation where by the final equation equals simplicity and creative process with no need for a hostess because your kamado will deliver the mostest!

You just might be the one who saves me, because after all, you are my wonder wall,

protecting me from the big fall into an empty world of promises of quality and flavor,

and never getting to savour the truth of it all.

Yes indeed, you just might be the one who saves me,

because after all, you are my wonder wall.........

feed that fire grillers...........

G

A Problem We Can't Ignore! Grateful Griller Say's, Invest In A Kamado, Invest For A Lifetime!

Hello Grilling Nation!

I hope you are all grilling up storms of delicious food and enjoying the Spring weather not to mention getting inspired by the fires of your kamado! For the last few years I have been, as all of you probably know, on hundreds of decks throughout the Nation's Capitol and beyond, inspiring my clients and introducing people all over the place to the wonderful "grilled to obsession" lifestyle that I'm obsessed with and love to share with the world. What I have noticed on my travels however, is something that really concerns me on many levels and that's the massive problem with all the old, rusty, worn out not to mention cheap gas grills that litter our planet and end up at the end of the driveway for scrap destined for the dump for sure! I mean think about it for a second, if only 10% of our Nation bbq's (and we know it's more than that) and there's roughly 35,000,000 people that make up our over all population, the math is scary but true nonetheless of the massive situation we need to deal with now! It means that there are millions and millions of useless grills rusting away and polluting our planet!

I think its important to realize that if you venture out to any mass merchant retailer or otherwise in search of a bbq that's going to last you a lifetime, I have some advice for you all, save your time and save your gas money because you are only going to end up being disappointed with your purchase and you are only going to get a few years of life out of the bargain you think you got! Now for the record, I'm not saying head on out and spend triple the amount of money on a kamado, nor am I bashing the gas grill industry because the fact is kamado cookers are not inexpensive and they are an investment for life that needs to be thought out because not everyone can afford a kamado cooker, although , mark my words grillers, the competition is getting thick out there and you have choices and you all have me on your side to make sure you make the right purchase and pricing is getting better and coming down thanks to new players on the scene like Kamado Joe and Saffire who both have very nice cookers at very nice prices not to mention better quality accessories kits than the market leaders like Big Green Egg and Primo.

Remember a few posts back when I mentioned my wife and I spending close to $1500.00 for our BGE, money at the time we didn't really have but the investment for life was what I expected and hoped for and today that same BGE kamado is looking like it did almost a decade ago as are all the other kamado's that I own that bring me and my family endless and awesome not to mention delicious meals day in and day out. The reason they do this is because they are quality oriented products that are simple and are made to last and made to hold up in our ever changing weather and harsh environment. There's no servicing little parts or maintaining tubes or dealing with rust with these marvelous earthen vessels. No grillers, its about the ancient ways and products that existed on our planet thousand's of year's ago, that have been revolutionized for modern day use that are now starting to become popular again and are gaining the attention of the masses!

So, if you, like me, once upon a time, can't afford the investment right away, worry not, but save your money instead of burning it on cheap metal shit ( pardon the expression, but it's a fact) that sells by the boat load in stores all over North America for somewhere between $99-$899 because your not doing yourself or our planet any favor's. Also, don't just go anywhere for your bbq or kamado purchase, find the pro's, the specialists like your's truly who will give you the straight talk and facts before you open up your wallet and part with your hard earned money. In our current fast paced world we need to develop crap filter's that help us make better purchase's because god only knows there are piles of crap for sale out there in the big world!

This goes for the kamado business/market as well. Yes indeed grillers, there are companies out there that claim they make state of the art kamado's which I have personally tested and I have quickly turned them into beautiful planters for the garden if you get my drift, LOL! Now that "kamado's" are gaining attention and this tiny little market is becoming a full blown category I'm expecting Tom, Dick and his brother Harry to be on the scene anytime soon boasting about their skill set and knowledge on the subject when in actual fact the truth is, that they know squat about anything kamado related and are focussed purely on the money, so be careful!

One thing is for sure, you don't buy a kamado, you invest in one and a lifetime of grilling and cooking bliss! That's right grillers, I sell and market a lifestyle which I have adopted years ago as a way of living my life to the fullest and in doing so I get to share this lifestyle with my clients, my family and my friends and "K" as I refer to her as in my "gto" poetry which I use to close my posts is now my vehicle to drive my passionate message around the globe for all to read and be a part of. I also get a huge amount of satisfaction out of being a physical part of the transaction when my clients take delivery of their first kamado cooker and I get to be deck side with them showing them how to become "grilled to obsession"! I feel really fortunate to be making a living and making people happy doing what I truly love to do with my partner, "K".

Until next time grillers, feed that fire and the desire to take your grilling games higher!!!!!!!!!

The latest inspirational "gto" words were inspired by K-OS and DJ Tricky and as usual some lyrics were borrowed and altered by The Grateful Griller!

The Grateful Griller's Kamado Revolution, Evolution

If I understand things right, I'm gonna take it to the global mic.

I'm gonna tell your story "K" and start a "gto" revolution.

Family, friends, food, music,

on decks around the world.

An evolution of your body, yet the cooking secrets are the same.

Airflow dictates temperature as your aroma's penetrate my brain.

Same old song, same old dance,

there I am again in this kamado like trance.

The old ways are new again,

a revolution, an evolution without pollution!

A solution that's plain and simple.

If I understand things right, I'm gonna take it to the global mic,

cos this revolution has just begun.

This is not a love song, its a sonnet, dam it feels good to have people upon it.

I'm just a savvy fool and I'm play'in with the master's tools.

I'm breaking the rules of this one kamado companies coup.

We'll let them form the cults "K".

The Grateful Griller will construct the cathedrals around the globe called earth,

for all to worship your fire, your ash, smoldering hot like the sun.

Man is it fun knowing this journey's just begun.

Feeding the fire and having the desire to inspire!

With outstretched arms, we purchase our food from organic farms,

and welcome people in to feast and at least taste the difference you make "K".

If I understand things right, I'm gonna take it to the global mic.

We're gonna start a kamado revolution together "K".

Come January, February or May we'll always get to say that you provide us all from day to day,

with this food cooked in such a special way.

It makes me grateful for all I have, so may it never stop,

this chillin and grillin on all these decks called home.........

GG on Fire!

xx

The Grateful Griller's Learning To Fly With Kamado Joe!

Hello Grateful Grilling World!!!!!!!

I thought it would be a good time, no, a great one in fact to bring all you wonderful folks up to speed with my behind the scenes testing, grilling, searing, baking and anything else I can do with my Kamado Joe on the "GTO" deck here in Wakefield and beyond. I can't believe its been almost six months since I took delivery of my first KJ cooker and introduced myself to the company and its great people who run the show down in Flowery Branch, Georgia. We have since met up in person down at the HPBA Show in Orlando, FL and what a great time that was! We've since gotten to know each other and I have certainly gotten to know their Kamado very well over the last number of months. Now as some of you if not all of you know by now, I test these cookers and put them through or at least try to put them through various torture tests to see what the results will be and these guys at Kamado Joe have a real winner on their hands without a doubt!

When I say a winner, I mean a real winner! Sure they're the new guys on the block in the kamado world but its down right impressive to see how far they have come in such a short period of time and they have done so without missing a speck or detail when it comes to the way they execute their marketing message and the down right friendly nature of the personnel connected to the company and of course the stellar results that their product pumps out again and again! I make it a point of testing all the kamado cookers I get my hands on in the dead of winter and the harshest of environments cos let's face it, summer's easy and forgiving but when you live in a climate like eastern Canada the weather gods can throw some heavy stuff our way! LOL!!!

What I really appreciated as an obsessed griller from the start with this product is that I spent less time assembling and reading rocket science like, or not, instructions and more time doing what we all love to do, GRILLING and COOKING! So I'm instantly in a great mood (not that I'm ever in a bad one, LOL!) and then the little bit of work that had to be done to get my Kamado Joe fired up took literally minutes and voila! Recycle the cardboard box and plastic wrap, walk to recycle bin, toss and get back to those marinating steaks and beer, deck side with my friends and family.

I'm happy to report that I've been so impressed with my Kamado Joe and after dozens and dozens of fires it really hasn't let me down once. Sure I had a few minor issues with a gasket and a couple of temp gauges but bottom line when I touched base with the company and explained my situation they took great care of me, my needs and no sooner than I could have said Jack Robinson, UPS was on my doorstep with the problem solved!

So, home run so far you say? It gets better with every fire and the performance in our tough climates came through with flying colors. It holds heat well, really well and comes in two different colors and its accessory/component kit is nothing less than top shelf. From powder coated stainless to galvanized powder coated stainless to straight stainless, bamboo shelves and their "greener" story to a two piece lockable stand. Go figure, Kamado Joe's accessories from pizza stones to heat deflectors to their own really hot"n"smooth charcoal actually come in boxes/bags that look great and take you, the customer, through a simple to understand, step by step approach to using your new product!!!!! This for the record is a first for the kamado category in an indusrty called bbq and if anyone thinks I'm wrong, do tell, I'd love to know!

Does it get even better? It sure does friends! Why? Well, Kamado Joe not only want to make you happy griller's for eternity, they also don't force you to purchase a stand and mates because if you have a carpentry thumb you can build your own table or if that's not an option buy one of their tables that come in a beautiful teak wood or stainless version! When I saw this stainless table in Orlando (not that the teak wasn't attractive) I nearly started doing back flips in the aisles around the loads of interested people who were curious about this new kamado company called Joe! Take it from me griller's, head's were turning, mine included!

On that note, I've got to point out that from a pure positive vibe perspective and buzz factor down in Orlando, FL. "Kamado Joe" wins hands down for coolest kamado booth and overall vibe. It was exciting to see and feel their passion for the kamado and deliver it and their story to the people who attended. I can relate a great deal to this kind of feeling and its for this very reason that I got inspired to put pen to paper and tell it as it is. I love this kamado trip I'm on and know in my heart that companies like Kamado Joe are going to rattle this categories cage in a big way and become very successful in the near future for two reasons, these folks have passion for what they do and a great product that's only going to keep getting better with time!

Enjoy the next few lines grillers because they came to me after listening to a great deal of Pink Floyd over the last little while, especially the epic album "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason" and particularly the song "Learning To Fly". Lyrics borrowed from Pink Floyd and altered by "The Grateful Griller".

Into the distance I've travelled with you "K",

through the red and black and stretched to the point of no turning back.

Its been a flight of fancy over wind swept fields with you "K".

Standing on these decks our senses have been real.

Fatal attraction to you "K" has held me fast,

how can I escape or resist your irresistible grasp?

There's no way I can keep my eyes from the circling skies,

I'm just a tongue tied and twisted kamado obsessed misfit on a ride that's only just begun!

Ice almost formed on the tips of my wings,

unheeded warnings, I thought we thought of everything.

No navigator to find our way home,

feeling so empty and almost turning to stone.

Your smoke and fire showing me the way, true faith that its all gonna be ok.

My sole intention is learning to fly with you "K",

condition grounded at times but determined to try.

Can't keep my eyes from those circling skies,

I'm just a tongue tied and twisted kamado obsessed misfit on a ride that's just begun!

Above this planet on a wing and a prayer,

I look back to witness our vapor trail in the empty air.

Across the clouds I see our shadows fly "K",

out of the corners of my watering eyes.

My dream unthreatened by the morning light,

a light so strong it could blow my fiery soul threw the roof of the night.

There's no sensation to compare with this,

suspended animation, smoke, fire, a state of bliss.

I will never keep my eyes from those circling skies,

tongue tied and twisted, I'm a kamado obsessed misfit on the rise.....

Let's all keep feeding that fire called life griller's!

G