Get Grillin’ This Summer

Summer is the perfect time to break out the BBQ and turn dinners in to cookouts and make the most of your outdoor living space. Great meals start with great barbecues so we chatted with local grillmaster Chris Austin, the Marketing Manager of Barbeques Galore.

Austin says he has seen many grilling trends come and go but adds that barbecues are multifunctional tools. Sure, you can start with a classic hamburgers and hotdogs meal but the world of grilling expands far beyond that.

Barbecues Galore stocks their own grills plus brand name barbecues and outdoor living accessories like coolers, dinnerware and sun umbrellas. He compares their selection to that of a car dealership and adds that shopping for a grill is similar to buying a car.

“It’s just like a car – you know if you’re just a commuter or a soccer mom you don’t need a sports car with 600 horsepower and all bells and whistles. We also don’t want to get somebody a grill that doesn’t have features they’re looking for,” said Austin.

Grill features include everything from baskets for roasting vegetables to rotisserie attachments. These add-ons make it easier to make a complete meal on the grill – try making pizza on the grill with a pizza stone or charring fruits for dessert. Austin adds that grill enthusiasts can use a smoke box to experiment with different wood chips and flavors.

In addition to the foods you plan to cook, another thing to consider is fuel source. Austin explains that many grills can now use multiple fuel sources like charcoal, gas and wood pellets.

“Multi-fuel grills are really catching on because people are able to do anything they want with one grill,” he said.

He adds that wood pellet grills have been around for quite some time but they’re a great way to experiment and add flavor to food. Wood pellets are made from heating and compressing wood and come in many different flavors like cherry and mesquite.

“[With wood pellets] you get the flavor of the wood but it’s much less harsh on the environment and burns cleaner,” he said. “You can infuse your food with flavor. Choose different flavors of wood to go with certain types of meat – apple wood is very mild or you could go with something harsh like mesquite wood,” he adds.

The final thing to consider when buying a grill is your space. Rollaways are ideal for small spaces or apartments while outdoor kitchen set-ups make the most of backyards. Barbeques Galore can help customers plan their outdoor kitchens as well as find a portable grill for tailgating.

Austin adds that grilling is a year round pastime in California but summer is the best time to cook outdoors and fire up the barbecue. Get grillin’.

Barbecues Galore is located at 160 North Rosemead Boulevard. Call (626) 568-1422 or visit www.bbqsgalore.com/pasadena.