What does Dad really want to do this Father’s Day? He wants to chill…and grill.
Cooking outdoors has a primal appeal to it. There’s an element of excitement (fire!), sharp tools, and the intoxicating smell of sizzling meat. Grilling a meal means having free time with the family in the comfort of the backyard. It’s a recipe for success, unless you get burned with a bad grill.
A man-sized menu filled with grilling goodness starts first as a feast for the eyes. Creating the ultimate outdoor kitchen will give you the power to take control of getting the cooking done right. No matter what else goes in it, the centerpiece of such a space is still the grill.
Turn up the heat by upgrading to a Lynx, Alfresco or DCS stainless steel gas grill, recommends Erik Brokaw, salesman at Earl B. Feiden Inc. Earl B. Feiden’s provides sales and service on everything from entry-level appliances to the more premium custom products, and Brokaw practices what he preaches.
“After being cooped up inside all winter, it’s great to get out there and grill. I cook everything out there,” he said.
These brands really burn up the competition because of their top-quality optional features including Infra-Red sear zones. These high-intensity burners can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees, giving you the ability to cook hot and fast.
Wielding a grill that has a length of more than four feet at such a high temperature ups the ante for anyone in attendance.
“It’s a lot of grill,” said Brokaw. If your dream is to rival the master chefs in cities like New York, Chicago and L.A. for a place in the chronicles of grilling history, this is the machine for you. If you’re more comfortable with something a little less massive, then the more common 30” to 36” sizes may be what you’re looking for.
With auto-ignition burners, double-insulated lids that are cooler to the touch and grease management systems that make tinfoil taboo, there is the versatility to get just what you want.
“Using tinfoil in these machines can be a travesty,” said Brokaw. All you need to do is season a new grill grate with salad oil to cook on it, he explained. The more you use it, the more smoky flavor it’s going to add to your food, and you’ll get those gorgeous grill marks that everybody loves.
With a grill that’s so easy to use and to keep clean, there’s even time to consider alternative ways to cook outdoors. Features like pizza ovens and rotisserie rods let you say, “Why not?”
Availability in a variety of sizes, as built-ins or in a free-standing cart, means that the price on a grill like this can range from $1,999 to $5,000.
Adding a bar area, complete with sink, ice bin and refrigerator gives you everything you need right at your fingertips and really makes an outdoor kitchen feel complete. Brokaw can send out the specifications of your space and the products you’d like to the manufacturer and they can even come up with the design layout for you. In just a few weeks, you could be grilling to perfection.
“When you get down to it, you can make a real outdoor family area and prepare the whole meal together as a family,” said Brokaw.
“Dad would really enjoy a new grill instead of a tie for Father’s Day.”
