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Steve's
review of Black Dog Grill from the August 2005 National BBQ News:
The
Black Dog Grill is a true joy to use. I’ve been cooking on it just
about every night for the past several weeks. The large cooking surface will let
you cook enough food for a small army.
This
sturdy well-constructed charcoal grill comes in a choice of two sizes. The one I
tested is the Model 28 with over 510 square inches of cooking surface. T The
spacious cooking area has a domed lid so deep that large roasts and turkeys are
easily accommodated. This works well for both direct and indirect cooking. You
can even set this beauty up as a smoker.
I
really like the Black Dog’s easy to clean porcelain coated grates and that the
fire grate raises and lowers even while you are cooking so that you can increase
and decrease the cooking heat easily. The two large front doors for easy access,
plus a sliding tray make clean out a snap. I also like the handy side shelf, it
is a convenient resting place for food going onto and coming off the grill.
It’s also great for hanging my grilling tools or for holding the sauce I use
for basting.
Did
I mention that the Black Dog Grill's spacious lid has a thermometer built in so you
can tell the cooking temperature? These guys have thought of everything. Because it’s on wheels, despite it’s weight (about 120
pounds,) it easily moves wherever you want it to go. I can’t say that I’ve
really found a downside. If there is one it’s that it won’t work well on
small apartment patios.
On
a recent evening I cooked a mixture of grilled vegetables and chicken. What was
really sweet was that I was able to build a hot fire so that I could sear the
eggplant and mushrooms, thus retaining their juices. Then when I was ready to
cook the chicken I just lowered the fire grate so that the flame was further
from the chicken. This allowed it to cook more slowly so that it would not get
charred on the outside and still be raw on the inside, a common outcome with
chicken grilled at too high a heat. The result was a perfect dinner.
I’ve
also had satisfying results grilling steaks, pork chops, fish and seafood on the
Black Dog. I haven’t done any smoking on this unit yet because of my busy
schedule but I can’t wait to smoke some trout.
Because
of the generous size of the fire chamber and its well-designed versatility
it’s possible to cook with the Black Dog
Grill is its overall versatility.
If
you are looking for a sturdy, well designed all purpose wood and charcoal fueled
backyard cooker and have the space on your patio, I heartily recommend Black Dog Grill for years of cooking enjoyment.
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