WES Blog

It may be time to consider a wood burning stove or pellet stove. With winter fast approaching and all the experts talking about the expected price of home heating, the time couldn’t be better.

Heating your home with a pellet or wood stove is so efficient; you can significantly reduce your home heating bill. But, best of all, you can increase your home’s value too. Enjoy the new atmosphere in your home, enjoy the renewed warmth in your home, and add a focal point to the room, all while reducing your heating bills.

The Boston Globe reported today that Massachusetts households will face higher heating costs this winter as fuel oil prices recently hit their highest summer levels in three years.

Heating oil prices in Massachusetts averaged $3.73 a gallon last month, up $1 from the same time last year. If prices stay where they are, the average Massachusetts heating bill will go up by about $225 this winter.

Leave yourself some discretionary spending money this winter; visit us at West Sport, located near Framingham and Natick on Route 20 in Sudbury.

Memorial Day is the official kick off to the summer grilling and BBQ season. We celebrate the start of summer as we celebrate our nation’s heroes. But, are you still looking for the perfect Memorial Day menu?  You know you can cook every part of your meal on your grill, including dessert! Here are a few of the best grilling recipes from The Grill and Fireplace Shop at West Sport.

Side Dish: Grilled Garlic Parmesan Zucchini

• 3 zucchini
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat an outdoor gas or charcoal grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil the grate.
Cut the zucchini in half crosswise, then slice each half into 3 slices lengthwise, making 6 slices per zucchini.
Mix the butter, garlic, and parsley in a bowl, and spread the mixture on both sides of each zucchini slice. Sprinkle one side of each slice with Parmesan cheese, and place the slices, cheese sides up, crosswise on the preheated grill to keep them from falling through.  
Grill the zucchini until the cheese has melted and the slices are cooked through and show grill marks, about 8 minutes.

Main Meal: Blue Cheese Burgers

• 3 pounds lean ground beef
• 4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup minced fresh chives
• 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 12 French rolls or hamburger buns

In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, blue cheese, chives, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, salt, and mustard. Cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Preheat grill for high heat. Gently form the burger mixture into about 12 patties. 
Oil the grill grate. Grill patties 5 minutes per side, or until well done. Serve on rolls.

Dessert: Grilled Peaches and Cream

• 4 peaches, halved and pitted
• 2 tablespoons clover honey, or brown sugar and cinamon
• 1 cup soft cream cheese with honey and nuts
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preheat a gas or charcoal grill for medium-high heat.
Brush peaches with a light coating of oil. Place pit side down onto the grill. Grill for 5 minutes, or until the surfaces have nice grill marks. Turn the peaches over, and drizzle with a bit of honey (or brown sugar and cinnamon). Place a dollop of the cream cheese spread in the place where the pit was. Grill for 2 to 3 more minutes, or until the filling is warm. Serve immediately.

Home and gardening experts are seeing increasing trends that are integrating outdoor living spaces more and more into daily life. This is mainly due to the increase of "staycations" due to the sluggish economy. Locally, there is a growing demand for outdoor living areas. Homeowners are adding outdoor living spaces such as outdoor kitchens and patios, with all weather furniture and fireplaces.  Outdoor fire pits are big now, and so are Kamado Joe and Primo Smokers.

A week-long family vacation for four to Walt Disney World can cost $5,000 or more. Instead, homeowners are opting to increase the functionality and value of their homes with outdoor living areas. These spaces also provide relaxing backdrops for time with family and friends.

This type of project can be easily budgeted as well. Homeowners can put in the patio and outdoor grill area first, and then add the sink and counter space or the more expensive furniture later on. As long as it's well planned, it won't look piecemealed together.
 
West Sport in Sudbury specializes in upscale exterior living spaces and can handle everything from helping with grill styles and needs, to cabinet and counter configurations, to outdoor kitchen plans and installation. Larry, the owner of West Sport says "You should have an idea of what you want in your outdoor living space and to be sure to make the area big enough to handle it. Often people want to fit a table and chairs, a grill and a fire pit, but then they don't have room to walk around."

West Sport prides themselves on their breadth of products and new showroom. It provides an area where customers can visualize and touch the products. The showroom features many components of an outdoor kitchen, fireplaces and fire pits; and a new patio is being built in order to showcase pavers and patio benches.
 
"Bring us a general idea of what you want or would like to have," Larry says. "Come on in and look at the stuff; touch it, feel it, and see what you like and what will work for you."

Spring is merely days away. The sun is out and you can feel it in the 40 degree air. It’s time to start grilling. There is a certain joy in picking out the right grill, and a definite joy when you get to go home and fire it up.

Charcoal grills are actually the most used type of grill and they come in many styles. Over the years, due to their popularity the charcoal grill has changed and evolved.  The Kamado Joe and the Primo charcoal grills are grills for those who are serious about taste. These grills use a combination of a ceramic shell, natural lump charcoal and air flow to create a superior charcoal grilled taste. You can also sear food at high temperatures and it will still retain its moistness. These grills can be used as an oven, a grill or a smoker. And a wide range of accessories are available. Charcoal grilling has the ability to enhance the food flavor and some people believe it is the only way to grill. There is another reason that the Kamado Joe and Primo grills are better than the traditional charcoal grill; they are ready to use in 15 minutes.

Propane or gas grills are very popular, and are also very versatile. Of course, they run on propane, and heat up and are ready to use in minutes. They offer a quick and easy way to cook outdoors and also give a good flavor. Depending on your lifestyle, this may be the only way to go for you and your family. If you want to sear meat or cook on a slow rotisserie, there is a perfect gas grill for you. You can even cook your entire meal on many gas grills with the addition of the side burner. There is a gas grill for all occasions, from 3 burner grills to 6 burner grills, and everything from built in models to portable grill models. Gas grills also come with different cooking surfaces and these surfaces give you the ability to cook many different ways. Grills by Beefeater, Broil King, MHP and Napoleon are all top of the line, and offer styles for most budgets.

West Sport in Sudbury can help you decide which grill style is best for you and your home and our grills are being delivered daily. Come in and visit us today.

Spring is a week away and daylight savings has arrived. The days are getting longer and the evenings are brighter. It is time to start thinking about gas grills. For the outdoor BBQ enthusiast, watching this time of year approach is like waiting for your favorite holiday as a kid. But, you must have the right grill for all your grilling needs.

There are quite a bit of products to choose from, and various features on all the different products. Gas grills can run on propane tanks or be hooked up to your home’s natural gas line. With so many products and features, we thought we’d take some time to help you out. But of course, you can stop in and let us help you decide what you are looking for too.

Firstly, know what you are looking for in a grill, including the different accessories. What do you want it to be able to do? Do you want a side burner? Do you want a rotisserie option? How big do you want it to be, and how much space do you have? Will you be grilling all kinds of meats or just burgers and hot dogs? Keep in mind that enameled cast iron grates and burners are often recommended by grill experts.

Now, when you are considering the size of the grill, you want to make sure that you not only check the over-all size, but the BTU’s as well. BTU is the way of measuring the size of the cooking area. Lower BTU means less space, while higher BTU means more space. So if you're planning on grilling for multiple people, you'd be better off with the grill with the higher BTU.

At West Sport in Sudbury, we have a large selection of gas grills and everything gas grill related. From portable gas grills to top of the line, chef’s choice grills and everything in between, we can certainly help you create the backyard grilling experience you are looking for. We carry products from the top gas grill and smoker manufacturers on the market, with the customer service and expertise you have come to expect and should demand. And we offer free assembly and delivery on all the grills we sell.  Contact us!

The Fireplace and Grill Shop at Westport in Sudbury has been servicing contractors and builders in the Massachusetts Metrowest area for 30 years. As a reliable and customer service oriented retailer of wood, gas and pellet stoves, fireplace inserts and gas logs, as well as chimney venting and caps, we understand your customer’s needs and demands. If you are a contractor looking for a reliable vendor of hearth appliances, look no further.

With service and installation specialists in house, as well as a fully stocked showroom, we can supply the products necessary and, if needed, fulfill the installation requirements. Additionally, West Sport has the knowledge and product breadth to help you help your customers make the best decisions for their new homes, additions or renovations.

If you are a builder or contractor in Sudbury, Weston, Wayland, Concord, Hudson, or Stow or any of the surrounding areas, we are experts offering everything for the outdoor kitchen; also, chimney lining, venting and caps; as well as wood, pellet and gas stoves, fireplaces and inserts. Your one stop shop for everything grill and fireplace related.

We often write blogs about supplementing your heating bill, or different ways to heat your home, but we have been talking to many folks around the Sudbury, Wayland, Weston and Concord area that just want an easy way to use their fireplace. Many of you use your fireplace and hearth more for ambience, heat is an extra advantage. So this blog is for you all.

Gas logs and custom made glass fireplace enclosures are an easy and beautiful way to use your fireplace. Gas logs are hand made from ceramic to very closely resemble real burning logs. With the click of a button you can be relaxing with in front of a fire at any time of day. From the designer series to the glass and contemporary series, there are styles of gas log sets to meet every home style and décor. Our gas log collection lets you experience the splendor and warmth of a wood fire without the hassle of wood.

Our custom glass fireplace doors can further beautify your hearth and express your style. With an additional benefit, they dramatically increase the efficiency of your hearth. So even if your hearth is used for ambience rather than heat, glass doors can transform your fire into a work of art and add efficiency as well.

Like we always say, we have something for everyone here at West Sport. If you tell us what you are looking for and what your needs are, we can provide ideas that you may not have thought of. Come in and let us help.

Well the NFL playoffs begin next weekend and so continues the great past time of tailgating! Whether you are tailgating in Foxboro or in the backyard, you can still have the best tailgate party ever; you definitely do not have to be at the game to have a great time.

First things first, call friends and family and have everyone bring their best tailgating food. Not everyone is a New England fan, which makes the party more fun as all the guests show with their game faces on and their tailgating gear; logos, chairs, shirts, hats, coolers. There is an unwritten contest on who shows the most spirit with all their tailgating and team logo apparel.

We have a way for you to win the contest. Show your New England Patriots team spirit with the team grill. We bet no one else will show with one of these! Have a couple of great tailgate grilling recipes up your sleeve.

Your house will be the place to be, and having the finest tailgating grill is imperative. Once your grill is roaring, the outdoor fire pits are lit, and the beer is chilled, you are ready for kick off.

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner, and with the New Year the home energy tax credit expires. We can help you. You have until December 31, 2010 to purchase your wood or pellet burning fireplace, fireplace insert, or stove if you want to take advantage of this tax credit. At West Sport Grill and Fireplace Shop, we have everything you need to take advantage of this money savings. But, we are also offering $200 off every Hearthstone pellet or wood burning stove, insert or fireplace. We feel that Hearthstone will meet or exceed your expectation which is why we have decided to offer this additional money savings. Burning wood is one of the most romantic, beautiful and satisfying ways to heat your home.

Wood burning stoves, inserts and fireplaces can be very economical, while also offering the additional benefits of a beautiful flame, relaxing warmth, and a romantic ambiance.
Environmental concerns and strict EPA regulations have helped wood stoves grow in popularity. EPA-certified stoves now burn 72-82% more cleanly than those of the past. Wood has a much higher BTU capacity than gas, and wood is also a renewable resource. The tax credit is being offered for all hearth appliances that use renewable energy- this means wood or pellet burning. You can count on wood and wood pellets being around as a reliable and clean source of fuel for years to come. With rising fuel and gas prices, wood stoves are a much more economical way to heat your home. And you will stay warm even if your power goes out.

Happy Holidays from West Sport, this is our gift to you, as our neighbors. Come in and save $1500 dollars before December 31.

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.