When it comes to practical household stuff, whether it's trimming trees or repairing a nice wrought iron bench and painting it rather than buy a new one, I am right most of the time.
Julie's learned to acquiesce on most of these matters, often as early as the third or fourth discussion!
However, when it came to the choice of whether to buy a gas or charcoal grill, she was steadfast. No matter how many times I insisted we get the bottled flame, she kept saying, "Great, enjoy it. I'm buying a charcoal grill."
I was adamant about the quick-start, relatively clean nature of the instant-on death machine. She kept saying, "there's nothing like the taste of a real charcoal grill."
So the other night we went to Home Depot. I had a revelation. I didn't like the gas grills — if you spend anything less than $399.95, what you get is a disposable, cheap looking contraption. And the expensive ones were too tricked-out looking. I was waiting for the blue neon undercarriage lights to come on.
Julie walked over to the $39.95 Aussie Grill. A simple box with a red lid, two wheels and foldable. Even before I looked inside and saw the perforated charcoal tray, I fell in love. The simplicity! The elegance! The chance to use matches!
Then she delivered the coup de grace.
"We have to get the charcoal starter," she said.
"What's that?"
She showed me — a 19th century-looking, brushed black mini-chimney with a handle — you put newspaper in the bottom, charcoal above it and then light it — the tight space and air holes gets the charcoal ready to cook in about 10-12 minutes.
My god — a retro-gadget! Now I have a suburban brontosaurus roasting pit, not just a grill.
And the food tastes better, too.
This is my public mea culpa to my wife, who was right [I told her so in the store at least seven times], and to whom I'm glad she stuck to her wood burning matches on this one.
Declare your artistic independence today by buying The Stoic Artist — a field manual for creating the productive artistic life!
Article comments
1 - Bill Sherman
Ttoally agree with yer wife. We've burned through more than one Weber kettle grill over the years and - sorry, Hank Hill - charcoal definitely tastes better than gas. . .
2 - Eric Olsen
It's cheaper to buy, makes much more cool smoke, makes fine gray dust you can either throw in the garden or use to adorn your flesh like Primitive Man, it is very unlikely to blow up other than when you go back for that refresher squirt with the lighter fluid, and is as low-tech as you can get. I vote charcoal!
3 - Jim Carruthers
Sigh, you've all made Hank Hill cry (well, at least inside where it counts).
Since I have neither backyard or balcony, my exposure to the grill is distant.
However, I have always used charcoal, and liked the electrical starter, because you could always use it for branding.
But the convenience of gas, and the less toxicity of it appeals.
4 - Eric Olsen
But toxicity is half the fun.
5 - Jim Carruthers
But toxicity is half the fun.
Yeah, huffing is fun, until ... uhm, I forgot.
Yeah team!!!!!
6 - Mike Barnes
I've been a big fan of charcoal grills for a while but had the same problems with my home depot specials wearing out too damn fast. About a year ago i was using 'stumble upon'(and awesome tool that lets ya randomly go to pages that interest you)and I found diamondbbq.com. These guys have a charcoal grill that starts as fast a gas one and is ez to clean up. I got mine at the beginning of summer and used the hell out of it and is still just as good as the day i got it. Worth checking out I.M.O