WES Blog

With the arrival of summer’s sultry days, grilling season is fast upon us.

Everywhere you look there are great new grill recipes, grilling gadgets, grilling sauces and, of course, the grills themselves. But none of these will do us any good if we have no idea how to use them.

So we talked to grilling expert Jamie Purviance and asked him for some tips.

Over the past few years, he's noticed some big changes in the way we grill.

``The repertoire's expanding quite a bit,'' he says. ``It used to be that the focus was on the meat and the main course, and the deserts and appetizers and side dishes were done in the kitchen. Now people are trying to do more and more of that kitchen stuff on the grill.''

We're grilling more ethnic foods and more vegetables, and we're using the grill more than ever for all sorts of entertaining. And that ties into the fact that grills, especially gas grills, are changing. They're practically outdoor kitchens, with rotisseries, extra burners and built-in refrigerators.

Along with the sophisticated grills are a whole bunch of sophisticated toys, such as silicone basting brushes, grill pans, griddles, smoke boxes for fragrant wood chips and the very handy Looftlighter. Charcoal purists will love this gadget, which blasts charcoal or wood with air heated to more than 1,000 F, igniting it in seconds without the need for lighter fluid.

In fact, charcoal is another big trend, especially with smoking food.

“Grilling is as thrilling as learning a new sport.''

Charcoal Purists

"If you're a charcoal purist, it's only a matter of time before you're going to get into smoking,'' Purviance says. "Think about getting a smoker or a Kamado Joe.'' The advantage of a smoker is that it maintains a low temperature for a really long time without the need to feed the fire. Also, get to know your charcoal - briquettes give you consistent, long-lasting heat, while lump charcoal has a more natural aroma and higher heat, but is more erratic and faster burning. The best results are if you use both.

One of the hottest trends in grilling these days is going meatless.

Where not so long ago lighting the grill meant steak or burgers, now it can mean anything from salad to dessert. After all, our grills are becoming outdoor kitchens, so why couldn't you cook anything on them you'd cook inside?

Original article by Joanne Sasvari

West Sport has great gifts for men. If you are looking for something unique, different and useful, look no further than the looftlighter. This electric fire starter is the fastest, cleanest, safest, and easiest method for lighting your barbeque grill or wood fireplace. No more trying to figure out how to light a charcoal grill. With the looftlighter, you simply plug it in, then touch the nose of the lighter to the wood in your fireplace or the charcoal in your grill. You will see sparks in 15 seconds, and your fire will be lit in less than 60 seconds.

If you love grilling on charcoal, but hate to wait for the grill to light, the looftlighter is the perfect choice. No more lighter fluid, and no more waiting! Be grilling in minutes! Whether tailgating, grilling in the back yard, or lighting the fire in the living room, the looftlighter is the best choice for the men on your holiday gift list.

West Sport in Sudbury, your neighborhood fireplace and outdoor grill shop, has all the holiday gifts and stocking stuffers you need. While holiday shopping this weekend, why not shop local? Shopping locally promotes our communities small businesses and helps keep dollars in our local economy. And with all West Sport has to offer, there is no need to go elsewhere on Black Friday.

We are offering specials on all Hearthstone products; get $400 off all Hearthstone products. Along with the tax credit, you could get $1900 back on any qualifying Hearthstone products. Also, on November 27th, American Express is holding their first ever Small Business Saturday. This is a day to honor small businesses. Card members will receive a $25 statement credit when they register and spend $25 or more at small businesses that accept American Express. The Fireplace and Grill Shop at West Sport is just that kind of store. We are a locally owned and operated small business that accepts American Express cards and we would love to see you get a credit for supporting us. We are a business that employs our neighbors and reinvests our money close to home.

Come on in for stocking stuffers such as the new Looftlighter which is sure to be a big hit, or grill utensils, fireplace steamers, wood charcoal, and fireplace screens. Or make larger purchase for you and your family for the holidays, such as a team grill for dad, fireplace inserts and more.

Businesses like West Sport in Sudbury, located on route 20 between Marlboro and Wayland, are run by entrepreneurs and are the heartbeat of our communities and local economies. Help support local business this holiday season.