On the same page with Bobby Flay!

Page 22 of New Jersey Savvy Magazine! Nice Grilling and Chillin' article. Thanks for spotlightling two NJ boys. I grew up in Liberty Corner, NJ- aka Mayberry RFD.

I'm not looking for a throw-down with Bobby, but sure would love to grill with him!
Grill Grate, Eat Well!

Attention Big Green Egg Owners!

We are now offering modified GrillGrates for the BGE Large and BGE XL. The standard rectangular grates work well on BGE's but I've heard from enough Eggers that want to cover more surface area and a couple of handy customers just cut off the corners and helped me see how nicely 3 GrillGrates fit on the large BGE and I figured out all by myself how 3 of the the 20 inch commercial GrillGrates fit beautifully on the XL. Just the corners need to be nipped. Over 300 square inches of GrillGrate surface on the XL.

Of course we're offering special pricing to customers who have already purchased GrillGrates for their large Eggs. Just email me a photo of your EGG with GrillGrates and I'll offer you a special low price on a 'Left and Right' to add to your collection! The left and right will list for $24.99 per Grate. Please email me: info@grillgrate.com or call 877.380.2527. The BGE XL set will retail for $129.99

There is only one way to improve on the best grill available: GrillGrates!

Using the right oils at right time, right purpose

Here I've been suggesting olive oil as the best oil to season GrillGrates and I'm wrong. Our genius med school daughter emailed me this chart that is worthy of printing and laminating. Olive oil is perfect for low heat (up to 350F) but will burn and smoke beyond that. High-heat canola is better and its smoke point it 460F. That is also why PAM and Weber's Grilling Spray are better they are made of commercial grade canola oil. As it turns out that is just the beginning of all the information Spectrum packs into their Kitchen Guide.

The chart from Spectrum Organics is downloadable as a PDF is also a great guide to comparing OMEGA 3-6-9 Sources, and different oils for different uses. Now I know.

Fixed Up with FaceBook

I've had several friends and customers strongly encourge me to be more active with Facebook. BUT -last June FB locked my account over a billing dispute, and I'll spare the details. One year later I get a survey from FB and I reply about my issue and all is forgiven and good. SO over the past couple of weeks I have been poking around FB and updating the GrillGrate Fan page, and seeing how much I need to learn again...

However, I get Facebook a lot better now. (Remember us over 50 year olds are a little slower with this social networking stuff) I need help updating our GrillGrate page and I am anxious to provide another place for GrillGrate customers, fans, and friends to interact. Heck even though the page was locked to me for a year we already have 60 fans. Thank you Facebook for giving me a second chance and thank you to our customers who want to see GrillGrate on Facebook.

All American Independence Day

We display Susan's grandfather's flag every 4th of July and each year on 9/11. American patriotism, pride and values are what makes the 4th of July such a great holiday. And we chill by the grill with friends more than any other time of the year.

There is no better way to celebrate our freedom than a small town parade! We only have to walk a block and under cool blue skies, everyone was smiling and being American. I got up early and went fishing and caught one of the old men of the pond so the day got off to a good start. Then I had to snake my way around downtown and I got home just in time to walk down to the parade. I still had my camera in my pocket and enjoyed taking a few pictures. I wanted to email the bass photo to the owner of the pond so I figured I'd post a few photos.

Big-time grilling and chilling coming up this afternoon at Tommy Boy's house hanging around his Man Cave and lazing in the pool. Tom even got a fresh keg of Stella! Happy July 4th America!

Burgers, Beer & Brats for Grate Grilling for July 4th!

Celebrate America’s Independence with Johnsonville Brats, burgers and your favorite beer! Over the past several weeks we've been grilling a lot at friends houses (mostly those with pools) and its always the same- "bring what you have to grill." We call that Kitchen Sink Grilling. Last weekend it was potstickers, quesadillas, corn and a couple of packgages of Brats. There never seems to be any brats in the left-over pile to divy up though!

Gathering around the grill with friend's over the 4th of July is an All American Tradition. If you are invited to a barbecue this holiday weekend, pick up a couple of packages of Johnsonville Brats, they are a welcome addition to any grill! Johnsonville has a fun contest going on too- create your own VILLE. Check it out

God Bless America and our Troops!
GrillGrate, Eat Well. Have a happy and safe holiday.

Update: Tips for Getting the Most out of your GrillGrates

1. Twist First, Flip Second: It only took me 30 years to learn this one! Get killer sear marks and only turn the food once. Mike Mills from 17th Street Bar & Grill showed me how the restaurants do it. Lift the food, twist (i.e.from 10:00 to 2:00) and place back down on the GrillGrates. The GrateTool makes this technique a snap. Then turn to reveal beautiful cross-hatch sear marks (this gives you the presentation side) and finish to desired doneness and remove. One twist followed by one turn.
2. Warm up Your Grill to Grilling Temperature: Avoiding high heat burn-off keeps your grill from getting too hot (700F and higher) and the possibility of a burned meal. Gas Grillers tend to heat their grills to max temp (and then get a beer) and turn their grill into a blast furnace to burn off any debris and prepare the grate. A hot grill takes a while to cool down to 450-500F. Warming up the grill to grilling temps will save a lot of fuel and you won't burn off all that wonderful seasoning on the GrillGrates. The raised rails clean-up very easily during warm-up, so there is no need to burn-off the remains of your last meal. Warm up, clean-up, Grill Grate!
3. Use Grilling Spray: GrillGrates have more surface area than regular grills. With Hard Anodized GrillGrates, use Weber Grill Spray or Pam for Grilling especially in the beginning. The sprays are built for high temps and aid in the non-stick until the GrillGrates become seasoned. Olive oil can also be used to prepare the raised rails. Over time the non-stick of the raised rails gets better and better.
   
4. Clean Hard Anodized GrillGrates as little as possible in the beginning: This will aid and speed up the seasoning process. The entire Grate will blacken except for the raised rail grilling surface. Use a grill pad or brush to wipe the rails clean. Beyond that, just keep debris out of the valleys.
5. Bring on the Marinades and Sauces because you can with GrillGrates: No more starting bonfires with marinades. You can marinate early in the grilling process. The valleys sizzle and steam the marinade back up tot he food. Enjoy the sounds of a sizzling sauce and taste the difference too. Extra marinade burns on the bottom of the GrillGrates, not of your food.