Are you looking to buy a new grill? If so, you have many choices. If you have downsized to a new space, smaller grills are perfect for smaller yards and patios, and urban living. Just because you may have less space, this doesn’t mean that you need to compromise. Monster grills might be popular, but if it’s a small yard or outdoor space, the perfect gas grill can add ease and simplicity to outdoor cooking.

Many gas grills are too big for smaller spaces. But, there are options for a full-sized grill in a compact package; perfect for singles, couples and today’s smaller families. Grill the perfect steak; roast a chicken to perfection on the infrared rotisserie. Smaller gas grills offer the perfect balance between performance and flexibility and are ideal for smaller patios and decks.

A grill that doesn’t take up a lot of space is good for townhouse decks, garden apartments, and smaller yards. A small gas grill is popular with new home buyers as well as downsizing boomers. There has been increasing demand from customers for higher-end smaller gas grills.

For more information on gas grills, contact The Fireplace & Grill Center at West Sport.

You’ve marinated the meat, whipped up some sensational side dishes and checked the weather forecast repeatedly for the merest suggestion of rain. On the face of it, you’re all set to grill your way to a blaze of barbecue glory. Until, that is, the time comes to light the darn thing.

If you’ve found yourself fumbling with firelighters as your guests arrive one too many times, our guide to becoming a charcoal grill lighting champion is essential reading for a summer of fuss-free al fresco feasting. Just follow our step-by-step guide.

STEP 1: Make sure your barbecue is stable

For obvious safety reasons, always check your barbecue is standing sturdily on a flat surface and has no wobbly legs, before you fire it up.

STEP 2: Give some thought to your fuel

The best type of fuel to use on your barbecue will depend on what you're cooking and how long you want to cook for.

Charcoal briquettes are uniform in size and burn at an even temperature for longer periods so they’re perfect if you’re cooking for large crowds or roasting a whole joint of meat,' explained an expert from Weber, which makes the highest scoring barbecue in our most recent tests. Lumpwood charcoal, on the other hand, lights quicker, burns hotter and and delivers a subtle smoky flavor. You'll get up to one hour of cooking time from lump charcoal so it's suited to grilling smaller cuts of meat or vegetables that take no longer than 15-20 minutes to cook.'

STEP 3: Get the timing right

Allow plenty of time before you plan to start cooking to get your barbecue to the correct temperature. If there are still flames licking the charcoal, you risk burning the outside of your food while the inside remains dangerously under cooked. You'll know when the barbecue is ready to cook on because the flames will have died down and the charcoal will be glowing red with an ashy grey coating.

Don't forget to allow 10-15 minutes to pre-heat the grill before you start cooking on it.

STEP 4: Consider using a chimney fire starter

You can do things the traditional way, by placing scrunched up newspaper balls in the bottom of the barbecue, then topping this with charcoal on top.

However, using a chimney barbecue starter to light and burn your charcoal can help get things going faster.

The cylindrical shape of the starter means the charcoal lights quickly and evenly as the flames funnel up due to the chimney effect. Once the flames start licking through the top - usually in around 20 minutes - they’re ready to pour into your barbecue.

Using a chimney starter can also help measure out the correct amount of charcoal for what you're cooking. We recommend filling 1/3 of a chimney starter with charcoal for a low heat, filling half a chimney starter for an ideal roasting temperature, or using a full chimney starter for a high heat if you want to sear steaks.

STEP 5: Place your charcoal carefully

If your barbecue doesn't have a lid and you want an even temperature across the cooking surface of the barbecue grill, spread out your coals. If you want a hotter area in the middle for searing, but a cooler temperature around the edges for slower cooking right through your food, leave the charcoal piled up in the center of the barbecue.

If your barbecue has a lid, this will help regulate the temperature inside anyway, so where your charcoal ends up is less of an issue.

For more information on charcoal grills, contact The Fireplace & Grill Center at West Sport.

Source: goodhousekeeping.com

With so many outdoor grills on the market today, it can be complicated when considering buying one. Here are some pointers on finding the right grill for you. First off, gas or charcoal? Many will tell you it’s charcoal or nothing. But, it's a personal preference based on what you like to cook, how often you grill and how much you want to spend.

For example, if you mostly cook steak and burgers, a gas grill is just fine. You can cook those meats quickly, and when they’re done, you just turn it off and there isn’t much clean-up.

If you are more of a brisket and pulled pork person, then a smoker or pellet grill might be best. These bigger cuts of meat are slow-smoked and the smoke flavor that comes from cooking with charcoal plays a big part. A gas grill just can’t give you that.

Also think about how often you barbecue. If you are planning to barbecue a lot, then invest in something durable and versatile. If it’s just once in a while, then there’s no need for a big, expensive grill, in my opinion. Get something simple, and you’ll get your money’s worth.

If you’re feeding a lot of people you need a larger grill surface for larger cuts of meat or a lot of burgers, dogs or chicken. You don’t want half the group waiting while the other half is enjoying their food.

You could also personally have a gas grill, a fire pit grill and a smoker! A smoker is a beautiful thing. Smoked brisket, smoked ribs, smoked turkey. You have to be a dedicated (think 10-12 hours) cook if you want to get into smokers, but the modern ones are a lot easier to use.

Do your research, because there are a lot of brands, styles, sizes and price levels. No matter what grill you choose – charcoal or gas, big or small, smoker, the important thing is that barbecue season is finally here –fire it up and get cooking!

Contact The Fireplace & Grill Center at West Sport for more information.

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Are you looking for the perfect Grilled Lamb recipe for Easter dinner or to celebrate spring? Of course, this is also the perfect excuse to buy a new gas grill! Below, see one of our favorite grilled lamb chop recipes.

Curry- and Ginger-Rubbed Lamb Chops with Apricot-Lime Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 8 (6-ounce) lamb shoulder chops, trimmed
• 1/2 cup Apricot-Lime Sauce

Preparation

1. Prepare grill.
2. Combine the curry, ginger, oil, salt, and pepper; rub paste evenly over lamb.
3. Place lamb on grill rack, and cook 4 minutes. Turn lamb; brush with 1/4 cup Apricot-Lime Sauce. Cook for 4 minutes. Turn lamb, and brush with 1/4 cup sauce. Cook 2 minutes, turning once.

Apricot Lime Sauce

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup apricot preserves
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation

Melt the preserves in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Remove from heat.

My recipes – recipe and image

Contact The Fireplace & Grill Center at West Sport for more information.

From simple to high-tech, outdoor kitchens enhance the comfort, convenience, and pleasure of entertaining or relaxing outdoors with full-featured grills, refrigerators, dishwashers, food prep areas, and cocktail bars.

Outdoor Kitchen

As the grill and smoker are the centerpieces of the outdoor kitchen, the layout and architecture helps set the vibe no matter what’s on the menu. Outdoor kitchens invite the openness of the great outdoors and are similar to indoor kitchens, with expansive counter space and full food preparation areas complete with sinks and plumbing.

The addition of a dishwasher and a refrigerator makes trips inside to clean up or grab a cold drink a distant memory. Depending on your outdoor space and size of kitchen, open air architecture can create a tropical or cozy cabin atmosphere; and bring you all places in-between. Outdoor kitchens provide entertainment and relaxation no matter the season.

Contact The Fireplace & Grill Center at West Sport for more information.

Source: HPBA

Fire tables light up any outdoor occasion as a mesmerizing centerpiece for meals and conversation with the ease of portability and minimal installation.

Gas Fire tables enhance your outdoor meals and late-night drinks with the ambience of the flame and a touch of warmth. In contrast to fire pits, fire tables provide room for meals fresh off the grill (perfect for a deck), while fire pits are better if you are looking for heat with free-flowing flames.

Fire tables use liquid propane or natural gas for fuel and typically have an option for a glass flame guard. The minimalistic infusion of flame and table-top can be complemented with fire glass or lava rocks to match your style.

Where to Shop

Visit The Fireplace & Grill Center at West Sport, your local specialty grill retailer, to discuss how the array of choices available would best meet your needs.

Contact The Fireplace & Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury, MA for more information.

In your home or in your vacation cabin, a handsome stone hearth is often the gathering place for comfy family evenings. But accumulations of dirt, soot and ash can make your fireplaces less efficient and ruin the lovely patina of natural stone.

You can help maintain its beauty and safety with this once-yearly facelift routine:

Clean the firebox.

At least 12 hours after extinguishing the last fire, or preferably before lighting the first fire of the year, lay drop cloths around the fireplace area to protect against airborne particles. Put on gloves and a dust mask and use a small shovel to scoop any remaining ash from the firebox. Place the ashes in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid and store it outside, away from flammable materials, until you’re ready to discard it. Run a small vacuum cleaner in and around the firebox and surrounding area.

Scrub the stone.

Dilute a quarter cup of dish soap with hot water in a bucket and use a small scrub brush dipped in the solution to clean the stone surface from top to bottom. You may be surprised at how much trapped dirt and grit you can scrub out.

Gauge the need for deeper cleaning.

If the fireplace has not been used for a long time, you may find that soapy water is not enough to remove old smoke stains. In that case, dissolve a half-cup of TSP cleaning powder in three-quarts of hot water and try again with a stiff brush. TSP is both a de-greaser and a heavy-duty cleaner, making it more effective than soap alone for eliminating stubborn stains and creosote.

Rinse it down.

Empty the soapy water and refill the bucket with cold water. Use a clean rag to make one or two passes over the entire stone surface, wiping away any soap suds and loosened dirt. Go over it again with a dry rag, then let the surface air- dry before lighting a fire.

Contact The Fireplace & Grill Center at West Sport for more information.

Source: rismedia.com

Come in and see the renovations. We are only open for cash sales right now because we don't have credit card processing. But, come get your propane refills, firewood, and accessories. Plus, we want you to come see the progress!

 

Contact The Fireplace & Grill Center at West Sport for more information.

The temperature regularly fluctuates for the next few months; but let's face it, in Massachusetts we often need supplemental heating, especially at night, even through June. This is the right time to buy a gas fireplace insert. If your fireplace looks outdated and is inefficient to use, consider your options for updating it and making it more attractive. A gas fireplace insert can keep your home warm and cozy for all three seasons.

The firebox of the insert for fireplaces is fitted directly into your fireplace. This transforms your old, open fireplace into an efficient and attractive focal point in any room. With decorative trim and large glass viewing window, an older hearth is turned into a modern looking heat source. Unlike, traditional open masonry fireplaces that allow heated air to go up and out the chimney, gas fireplaces are 75-80% energy efficient because the cast iron or steel sealed firebox prohibits heat to escape up the chimney. Additionally, gas fireplace inserts are cleaner to use, with no mess and no ash. Plus, with the flick of a switch, you have instant relaxation and ambiance.

Right now is the time to view gas fireplace inserts during the renovation sale. Purchase your insert now and save. Contact The Fireplace Shop and Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury, MA.