Posts Tagged ‘cooking grids’

Charcoal Grilled Chicken Under a Salt Rox Blox With Rosemary & Lemon

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

Take an everyday staple like salt and accentuate the flavor and eye appeal of your food by cooking and serving on a Salt Rox Blox.  Salt Rox Blox are carved from 500 million year old Pink Himalayan Salt from the Himalayan mountains.

For a Perfectly grilled whole chicken with crisp skin and moist white and dark meat finished at the same time – try this simple technique.  The chicken should marinate at least 6 hours, but over night is preferable for maximum flavor.  The heat and weight from the Salt Rox Blox ensures the chicken will be perfectly seasoned, cook evenly, and the skin will crisp to grilling Nirvana.

For the Chicken:

1 (4 to 5 – pound) Chicken

With the chicken breast side down on a cutting board, using a chef’s knife or a pair of kitchen shears, cut the chicken on either side of the backbone from the neck to the tail.  Repeat on the opposite side and completely remove the backbone from the carcass.

Turn the chicken breast side up on the cutting board and with the heel of your hand press down in the center of the bird to crack the sternum.  Press down hard enough to flatten the chicken into two equal attached halves.  Place in a shallow dish for marinating.

For the Seasoning/Marinade:

2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons rosemary, chopped
½ teaspoon red chili flakes
1 lemon, zest and juice, + a little juice to drizzle at the end
2 tablespoons Extra-Virgin olive oil + some to drizzle at the end
1 teaspoon fresh black pepper

In a mixing bowl combine the garlic, rosemary, chili flakes, black pepper, and lemon juice & zest.  Then whisk in the oil.

For the Salt Rox Blox:

1 each  8” x 12” Salt Rox Blox
1 Tablespoon, Safflower oil

Preheat a Big Green Egg, Weber Kettle, or other charcoal grill to medium heat, building the fire on one side of the grill.  Place the cooking grids on the grill and place the Salt Rox Blox inside directly over the fire to preheat for 30 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing some of the excess olive oil to drain off.  Brush the side of the Salt Rox Blox that will be placed on the chicken with the oil.  Place the chicken skin side down on the opposite side of the hottest coals.  A good trick is to have the drumsticks the closest to the direct heat, as they will take a little longer to cook.  Place the hot Salt Rock Blox on top of the chicken and cook skin side down until the skin becomes crispy and browned, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Set the Salt Rox to the side and turn the chicken over to finish cooking another 15 to 20 minutes.  The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.  Remove the chicken to the warm Salt Rox and cover with aluminum foil.  Allow the chicken to rest 5 to 10 minutes before carving to allow all of the juices to be reabsorbed.

Carve the chicken into serving pieces and drizzle with a little more lemon juice and olive oil.  Serve right on the Salt Rox Blox.

The Hearth and Grill Shop is your Outdoor Grill Super store for Charcoal Grills and both Natural and Propane Gas Grills.  Come by this Saturday to see The Best Chicken Under a Salt Rox Blox in action as we cook on a Big Green Egg.

Chef Jeff
The Hearth and Grill Shop

How to Buy a Stainless Steel Gas Grill

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Be it a Cart model, free standing, stainless steel grill or a Built-In grill for an Outdoor Kitchen, choosing the correct Stainless Steel Grill can be daunting with the number of manufacturers, grades of stainless steel, and possibilities available. We at The Hearth and Grill Shop have answered thousands of questions about Stainless Steel Grills and have sold hundreds of Stainless Steel Grills. With that experience we have come up with some tips and thoughts to consider when purchasing a stainless steel grill.

Stainless Steel Portable Grill by Firemagic

Stainless Steel Natural Gas Grill by American Outdoor Grill

Outdoor Stainless Steel Built In Grill by Firemagic

High Quality 304 Stainless Steel Grill

All that is shiny, is not necessarily, the best in a Stainless Steel Grill on the market today and if the price looks to good to be true? – There may need to be an investigation into the grade of stainless steel used. A good quality stainless steel grill and components are a must for dependability and performance. Just because a gas grill is stainless steel, does not mean that it will last or keep from rusting. 430, 430 rolled stainless steel and higher grades are in the market at lower costs; however, if your decision for stainless steel is based on durability, settle for nothing higher in grade than 304 stainless. Manufacturers, such as, FireMagic and American Outdoor Grill use both mirrored and brushed 304 Stainless Steel throughout their grills, resulting in excellent performance, durability and long warranties. FireMagic and American Outdoor Grill are available in natural or propane gas and are field convertible.

Small to Large Stainless Natural Gas Grill

Most manufacturers that produce quality 304 stainless steel grills, readily offer the grade of stainless steel being used, but if the grade of stainless steel is not evident on the grill you are interested in, try the “magnet test”. Take a simple refrigerator magnet and see if it will stick to the grill in question. If it is stainless steel and the magnet sticks, it is NOT a grade of stainless you will want to purchase for the long run. 304-grade stainless steel has a significant amount of chromium and nickel in it and will not rust. Because of the blend of metals and less steel, a simple magnet will NOT stick, but that is exactly the material you are looking for. 304-grade stainless steel is not an inexpensive material, however, you get what you pay for. Keep in mind that the cost of the grill is significant, but the cost of replacing a lower quality stainless steel unit in a few short years with a new one, will most likely be much more. If you purchase an inferior quality grill for an outdoor kitchen and have to replace it in a few years, because it has rusted out, most likely the next grill you choose will not fit back into the original opening. Which means you will not only have to pay for a new grill, but you will also have to spend money to retrofit your island.

Manufacturers place warranties on products based on how long they think that product will last or they will create a warranty on a higher end product that they are willing to consume, to sell the product. Grills are great example of this. Less expensive grills found at the box stores will feature warranties that cover materials for 2 or 3 years and that is about how long that grill will last. A lifetime warranty on a grill does not mean that it will last forever. It really means that the manufacturer feels comfortable enough with the quality of the parts that they will not have to be replaced consistently. To some degree, warranty replacement parts have already been factored into the original sale price of the unit. Lifetime warranties on the housing of the grill, the burners, and cooking grids are the best place to start.

Stainless Steel Gas Grill Storage Cabinet

High Quality Stainless Steel Cooking Grids

High Quality Stainless Steel Accessories for Built In Outdoor Grills available from the Hearth and Grill Shop

This one may have not come to mind, but we hear it consistently. A customer builds an outdoor kitchen ten years ago and it has served them well, now they would like to upgrade to a newer grill with more features. They pick out a new grill, but now have to modify their grill island, at great cost, to fit the new grill. FireMagic built-in stainless steel grills have been manufactured for over 70 years. With that experience they understand that even if you change model numbers and features over the years, do not change the cut out dimensions for the components. A FireMagic E660I will fit in the opening that was required for a FireMagic Regal II from 15 years ago. If you purchase a FireMagic Stainless Steel Grill today and one 10 years from now you should not have to modify your island unless you choose a larger or smaller grill.

Have your grill and components professionally installed by the company you buy them from or a certified gas technician. There may be the need for an electrician and potentially a plumber depending on the components. If you are considering an island under a covered area there may also be the need to incorporate a Stainless Steel Ventilation Hood. Again, the quality of the material will determine its durability and performance. Built-in grills and components will require over size gas lines for installation with gas shut-offs. Existing gas lines may not be adequate for the additional gas required by components. After installation, have your grill routinely serviced by a certified technician. The warranty on the grill may also improve by having the grill professionally installed and you can be sure that your investment will be working at maximum performance and efficiency. Having the grill routinely serviced will keep that grill performing at peak levels and increase its longevity. The Hearth and Grill Shop not only sales the best grills on the market today, but we also install and service them as well.

Jeff M. Lunsford
“Chef Jeff”
The Hearth & Grill Shop

Harissa Chicken Grilled over Hardwood on the Big Green Egg Recipe

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

Harissa, a staple in North African cuisine, is a fiery, yet delicious chile sauce popular throughout Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia. It can be served as a condiment or a dip for a warm crusty bread.  Harissa can made from fresh or dried chiles and spices.   In this case it is a dry mix infused into a mixture of garlic, olive oil, and yogurt. Harissa is perfect for Tagines & Couscous to give the dish it’s prominent pungent chile taste.

Harrissa with Fresh Chillies

For the Chicken:

1 (4 to 5 – pound) Chicken

With the chicken breast side down on a cutting board, using a chef’s knife or a pair of kitchen shears, cut the chicken alongside the backbone from the neck to the tail.  Repeat on the other side of the backbone and completely remove the backbone from the carcass.

Turn the chicken breast side up on the cutting board and with the heel of your hand press down in the center of the bird to crack the sternum.  Press down hard enough to flatten the chicken into two equal attached halves.  Place in a shallow non-reactive dish for marinating.

 Harissa Chicken Grilled over Hardwood 

For the Seasoning/Marinade:

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2  Tablespoons of Harissa, either from fresh chiles or a prepared powder, such as, the one from See, Smell, Taste spice company.    www.seesmelltaste.com

1  Tablespoon of olive oil

1 Cup of plain yogurt

Salt to taste

In a mixing bowl combine the garlic, Harissa, olive oil, and yogurt together.   Liberally rub the mixture over both sides of the chicken, as well as, under the skin.  Cover and refrigerate over night.

Preheat a Big Green Egg, Weber Kettle, or other charcoal grill over medium heat to 325 degrees, building the fire on one side of the grill.  Place the cooking grids on the grill to preheat.

Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing some of the excess to drain off, and season both sides with salt.  Place the chicken skin side down on the opposite side of the hottest coals.  A good trick is to have the drumsticks the closest to the direct heat, as they will take a little longer to cook.  Cook with the skin side down until the skin becomes crispy and browned, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Turn the chicken over to finish cooking another 20 to 30 minutes.  The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.  Remove the chicken to a warm platter and cover with aluminum foil.  Allow the chicken to rest 5 to 10 minutes before carving to allow all of the juices to be reabsorbed.

Carve the chicken into serving pieces and drizzle with a little olive oil and enjoy.

The Hearth and Grill Shop is your Super store for Charcoal Grills and both Natural Gas and Propane Gas Grills.  Come by this Saturday to see The Best Chicken recipe in action as we cook on a Big Green Egg.

Enjoy!

Chef Jeff