Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet News and Press

TODAY
April 19, 2007

Chef Kathleen Daelemans shows NBC's Maria Menounos some great grills to fit your personality and cooking.

What's Your BBQ Personality?

Your clothes fit your personality, your car most likely reflects your character ... so why not have a grill that gets you?

Chef Kathleen Daelemans of Public Television's "Getting Thin & Loving Food with Chef Kathleen" has spent her fair share of time on the barby and she knows the better you like yours, the more you'll use it.

Here are her tips for buying the best barbeque for you:

Americans purchased over 17 million grills last year alone! Stand up gas grills are leading the pack in sales, covered stand-up grills lead the category in charcoal grills and the debate over cooking methods — gas versus charcoal is hotter than ever.

Buying the right BBQ for your culinary personality is paramount to having a smoking hot summer love affair cooking in Mother Nature’s kitchen. Do your homework. Most grill websites have comprehensive buying guides listing product features and comparisons, safety information and the pros and cons of gas and charcoal grills.

In addition to this readily available information there are some other very important things to consider.

Before you buy your first or second unit read this list of BBQ Best Buy Do’s and Don’ts to determine your BBQ Personality so you can enjoy summer suppers and family reunions all season long.

Determine Your BBQ Personality with These Easy Do’s & Don’ts

BBQ Best Buy Do’s:

• Consider the number of days you’re likely to use the grill you choose
• Consider who will be doing most of the cooking
• Consider the cook’s skill levels and personal style
• Do consider the amount of space you have for cooking and entertaining
• Do consider ventilation and safety

BBQ Best Buy Don’ts:

• Over spend.
• Buy a unit that’s more complicated than you want to deal with.
• Buy a charcoal grill if you’re going to think of firing it up as a chore
• Buy a gas grill for the convenience if you really don’t enjoy the flavor

The Best New Grills of 2007...

For Those Longing to Be Under the Tuscan Sun…

The Outdoor Artisan Pizza Oven

Kalamazoo Gourmet’s outdoor pizza oven transforms any backyard into a Tuscan cook’s paradise. The Pizza Oven is convenient, easy to use and cooks just like a traditional brick oven - there's even a smoker drawer that imparts authentic wood-fired flavor.

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet has taken the classic arch-topped pizza oven design and updated it in stainless steel for convenient outdoor use. The gas-fired countertop design is a perfect addition to any new or existing outdoor kitchen. The Outdoor Artisan pizza Oven features a professional baking stone and a digital thermometer that precisely measures the stone's temperature. An integrated smoking drawer creates authentic wood-fired flavor. Available for liquid propane or natural gas. Large enough for a 17" round pizza. Outdoor Artisan Pizza Oven, $3,990, 1-800-868-1699, www.kalamazoogourmet.com

Kathleen Daelemans is the author of the New York Times National bestseller Cooking Thin with Chef Kathleen, 200 Easy Recipes for Healthy Weight Loss and the host of Public Television’s Getting Thin & Loving Food with Chef Kathleen. http://www.kathleendaelemans.com.