Grilling Grate at the JACK!

Every avid griller and BBQ fan needs to attend the Jack Daniels Invitational BBQ Cookoff at least once. Lynchburg, TN (pop 261) is home to the Jack Daniels Distillery, and each fall hosts 25,000 visitors to THE JACK. This year marked the 21st annual cookoff, and my first visit. The town has one traffic light and a picturesque downtown. The contest is held in a public park complex just behind the town square. Every parking spot in town is vacated so vendors from across the US can set up shop on the sidewalks of Lynchburg. I got very lucky to jump in at the last minute and had a slightly hilly spot at the main entrance to the contest. The crowd was amazing, I met people from Canada, California, TX, Switzerland, and the UK all who came for a grand weekend in Lynchburg. I had a blast grilling pizza, quesadillas, and garlic bread. I ran out of food just in time to make the rounds at the end of the competition and visit friends before the winners were announced. This contest is an invitational, meaning only the best of the best are competing along with an international contingent that was especially impressive.

Put the JACK on your calendar for a fabulous October weekend in the TN foothills!

First Weekly Winner of Make Your Mark with GrillGrates Contest

Brad,
I love to cook, and find it relaxing and fun. Sometimes my hobby gets away from me as I have 5 different grills and a pig cooker that I pull behind my pickup truck. I was watching a BBQ video and saw a link on YouTube where you are doing pizza on the grill. That sent me to your web site and I was very interested in your product for my 22” Weber charcoal grill. I figured this will fit my Weber and also park on my gas grill grate. I sent the web site to my wife, with the thought of getting them for Christmas. Well, she ordered them and I was there when they were delivered on Thursday so she said just go ahead, this Christmas gift is early. (Timing is everything!) My battle plan was to bake a stuffed chicken roaster in the oven on Sunday for dinner. Then I got the bright idea that I would test your “no flames” theory with a stuffed roaster. I figured if I had no flames with a greasy stuffed chicken, this Grill Grate would prevent flame up with whatever I put on my Weber. I fired up my Webber, and put my BBQGuru (draft control) on the grill, setting the temp at 350. I put two stuffed roasters on the grill and walked away. I checked it several times, and had no flames at all.
My roasters turned out great, and I have attached a few pictures. Just looking at the chickens, you would not know they were baked on the grill and not in the oven. The outside of the chickens were crispy, and the meat was juicy and tasted really great.
My wife and I are already referring Grill Grate to all of our friends, which already started Sunday evening!
Thank you!

Steve S.
Harrisburg, PA
Oct 13, 2009

PS- I love the fact that this GRATE Meal was not about sear marks at all!

Big Green Egg Bests Apple!

My first Eggtoberfest this weekend led me to a not so startling conclusion. The Big Green Egg Company just may have the world's most happy and satisfied customers of any company- period. Apple has been the pinnacle of rabid, enthusiastic customers and I've been an Apple customer, fan and enthusiast for over 20 years. But nothing compares to the pure joy and celebration that owners and fans of Big Green Eggs displayed this weekend. Every Egger I know is an evangelist, and this weekend's 12th annual 2 day event was a customer celebration like I have never seen before. The product is certainly outstanding, and now I've learned that the company is equally as impressive as its product. BGE reminded me again what a pleasure it is to work in this industry.

I want to thank Egghead Paul for his help and cooking with me this weekend and a special thanks to Jodi Burson of BGE for including me in their outstanding event! Egg over apple, I'll have to try that one!

Eggceptional Grilling with the Big Green Egg

I am probably the only cook grilling this weekend at the Eggtoberfest who does not own a Big Green Egg. However, Egghead Paul- my grilling compadre took pity and brought me his BGE from home so I could practice, and I don't think he wants me to embarrass him in front of all of his EGG friends. First of all, I'll never call the BGE crowd a cult again! I'm hooked, totally sold and trying to figure out a way to keep Paul's Egg on my patio a little while longer.

We're both excited to be able to cook at the Eggtoberfest on Saturday. We'll be grilling grate along with 200 members of the BGE family. Thanks Paul and thanks BGE!

Kickin Chicken Thighs, Eggceptional Burgers, Garlic Bread and Steaks! I love my job!

Make Your Mark with GrillGrate Contest

I love it when a customer has a brilliant idea! Audrey M from Maryland emailed photos a of grilled crabcake and the suggestion for a Great Grill Marks Contest! Audrey gets a T Shirt and an extra GrillGrate panel and MamaMary's Gourmet Crust coupons for that suggestion!

Make Your Mark with GrillGrate Contest- One weekly winner for the next 4 weeks will get the same prize as Audrey did along with Tweets and Facebook glory. The first winner will be announced Oct 18, the second Oct 25, the third, Nov1 and the last on Nov 7.

A grand prize winner will be announced before Thanksgiving and wins the Greatest GrillGrate Gift Bag, a T shirt, GrillGrate apron, and more.
Post pictures or Video on the GrillGrate Fan Page on Facebook
Post Video on GrillGrate YouTube Channel (post a video response to the featured video)
Email photos or video clips info@grillgrate.com

Contest Notes: All previously submitted photos may be entered, but must be re-submitted.

On your MARK!

Competitive BBQ Teams WINNING with GrillGrate!

The secret is getting out! United Steaks of America BBQ Cookoff Team from Dallas has posted two recent wins using GrillGrates as part of their arsenal. Congrats Guys! They also were the first to purchase our new professional GrillGrates for the Weber Kettle. That was how I found out about their wins including a first in Steak and a 2nd and 4th in Tulsa last weekend.

Randy Twford- a veteran competitive BBQ is also using GrillGrates. He took 2nd in PORK at the Pork Expo using GrillGrates. Randy also uses GrillGrates for his steaks. Thanks for the pictures Randy and good luck at the Royal this weekend! I've got some GrillGrate SWAG coming your way Randy and thank you again for your testimonial last weekend- the background noise drowned us out, but I loved hearing about your success with GrillGrates!

A KCBS judge told me last week that he has suggested to a few of his favorite teams to use GrillGrates- not just for the fabulous searing but to achieve a juicier product as well. He only wanted to let his favorites in on the secret... well this is one secret I am anxious to get out!
GrillGrate, Eat Well! and WIN!

A Smoking GRATE IDEA from Craig 'Meathead' Goldwyn

A few weeks ago I received this picture from Meathead who runs AmazingRibs.com. He introduced me to Candy at BBQRS Delight who manufacturers a wide line of hardwood pellets for smoking. He put a few of Candy's pellets in the bottom valley of the GrillGrates and reported a superb result. Meathead called GrillGrates and BBQRS Delights pellets peanut butter & jelly we go together so well. What a simple and effective way to add smoking to grate grilling!

Candy and I have exchanged products and now I am really impressed. The smoke flavor on our gas grill was amazing. I gave up using smoker boxes on my gasser because it was just a pain to soak em, hide the box and hope it smokes. These little pelets work- and what an assortment! She has a nice Christmas variety pack on her website.

Candy also competes and right now she is at the Mac Daddy of them all- The Kansas City Royal. Good Luck Candy! and use your GrillGrates for your chicken entry! And a special thank you to Craig Goldwyn aka 'Meathead' for your enthusiasm and support of GrillGrates! GrillGrate, Eat Well!