Grills, Smokers and Choices

“The big one tastes just like the little one.”

Today was a beautiful sunny day in London. Slightly breezy, but when the sun comes out, you don’t even think to complain. In London it looks like spring all through the winter, but when the tulips are planted in central London, now that it’s “summer time”, everyone knows what time of year it is: spring. And what’s better than a plain old patio? It’s our cultural topic of the week, of course!

BBQ

In the world, there are four main types of patios. Patios have:
A) a table and chairs
B) a barbeque
C) a table and chairs and a barbeque (both a & b)
D) none of the above.

There are other variations too, like being affixed to a garden, but the key ingredients are listed in the above multiple choice list. To be a properly equipped patio the correct answer is C). A) and B) are acceptable substitutes, but there is no excuse for D).

Now that we’re clear on that, first, I’d like to rub in the fact that it’s still snowing in Canada. I realize that it’s probably not THAT cold, but it’s still colder than here and that’s what’s worth talking “aboot”. As it still stands the international conception of Canada is that it’s just a vast, mountainous country covered in snow and cold – sometimes, like this week, they’re right.


Today after work, my friend and I met up with my flatmates on our patio. We brought frankfurters, a loaf of bread (in lieu of buns), ketchup, mustard, mayo, and black pudding (which is surprisingly good…try some.) and had a good ol’ fashioned cook-off. It was, like I mentioned before, slightly breezy (which eventually drove us inside because of being too cold) but overall, it was pleasant. The barbeque was only about 30cm wide and 40cm long, but did the job and made the apartment smell nice. My shirt still smells like cooking meat. Delicious.

Second, I saw something tonight that I’ve never seen before: a disposable barbeque. Like a disposable camera, the one-time-use barbeque serves as an excellent alternative to having no barbeque at all. The proper barbeque is on the way, jut like the table and chair set they ordered. It should be here sometime between the hours of 9am and 9pm between the days of now and sometime in the future.

Third, in purchasing a barbeque, one huge decision must be made: Propane or Charcoal. (or electric, but that’s lame) As most people know, Hank Hill sells propane and propane accessories and prefers propane-grilled steaks. Propane offers a consistent, reliable heat source and are relatively easy to start, run and turn off. Equally, charcoal, especially in combination with hickory or other smokers, offer a nicer, richer flavour. Heat control is less accurate and because there is not an unlimited supply of coals, the heat eventually runs out. So realistically, the choice is between ease and flavour.

Fourth, my flatmate is Australian. This evening it was confirmed that Australians do, in fact, “throw another shrimp on the barbi”, but not really. They would actually throw another “Prawn…on the barbi”.

Last but not least, next time you cook up a steak you are going to have to choose whether to fry it up quickly and make do or to flame broil it on the searing hot grill. So, above all remember this: barbeques are sweet. End of story. Oh, and also, drinking beer on the patio is also fun. So do that too.