Gear

Grate Expectations

Your BBQ Essentials Will See You Now

Imagine a grill. Now imagine a bunch of meat on it. See the smoke rise. Watch the drippings fall between the grates, sending majestic bursts of flames skyward. You want that. And conveniently, we just put together this compendium of summer BBQ essentials. So you can have that.

RUB A DUB DUB

The Sauce Your Steak Was Born to Wear

What: An array of smoky, sweet or tangy sauces and meat rubs (and a Bloody Mary mix, naturally) lovingly created by a chef’s grandmother.
Why: Now you can reply in the affirmative when someone goes, “Hey, this is pretty great. Did a chef’s grandmother have a hand in this?”

PROPOSE A ROAST

Grilling an Entire Animal 101

What: A good cookbook read if you’re looking to grill, smoke or roast entire animals. It was written by Ben Ford, LA’s preeminent authority on roasting whole animals and being Harrison’s son.
Why: For those moments when you have 80 guests, a whole pig and no idea what to do next.

YOU’RE FIRED

It’s This or an Actual Flamethrower

What: It’s a lot like a lighter. It’s a little like a flamethrower. But mostly, it’s a new grill toy that shoots a four-inch flame into your coals and then stokes it with a built-in fan.
Why: You want your charcoal lit, and you want it lit now, dammit.

TABLE TALK

A Grill/Fire Pit/Table. Just Because.

What: A grill. That’s also a fire pit. That’s also a table. That can accommodate you and seven lucky, laughing, hungry friends. And each friend gets their own section of the grill.
Why: You’ve got a boatload of meat and seven very needy friends.

THE COLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

Filson Made a Cooler. Get on It.

What: A provisions-containment unit made with pressure-injected, insulated walls. Which means your food will be “professional-grade” cold. Which means your beer will be “professional-grade” cold. Which means your summer will be “professional-grade” good.
Why: If we have to answer this, maybe it’s just not for you.