Steve's
review of the Black Dog Grill from the August 2005 issue
of
National Barbeque 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.
