“Big Green Egg” grill among holiday must-haves

Among the season’s most popular gift items remains the Big Green Egg, reports Goodwood Hardware and Outdoor co-owner Tracie Comeaux. About two years ago, pitmasters in the Capital City began embracing the strange, pricey ceramic apparatus, which is literally egg-shaped and painted an avocado shade of green. At first blush, says Comeaux, many consumers scoffed at the lack of surface area, and didn’t want to fiddle with learning how to use it. Then, word spread about results, she said. “Once people got over their fear, they really got into it,” she says. Not unlike a traditional kettle grill, charcoal is placed at the bottom of the unit, then lighted. In the case of the Egg, it has to be natural charcoal, now widely available at grocery and big box stores. The ceramic surroundings absorb and holds the heat, which prevents the charcoal from dying too quickly, and provides for faster, convection-type cooking. Searing is achieved by allowing the grill to reach higher temperatures, says Comeaux.  In fact, the temperature gauge located on the outside of the Egg drives much of the cook’s action. This season, new accoutrements are available including plastic shelves to attach to the grill’s exterior. Returning accessories include ceramic plate setters, which accommodate bread and pizza. Big Green Egg’s come in small, medium and large sizes, and there’s also a chiminea in case you simply want to use want to keep warm. The oven retails for $869 for a large  grill and starter kit, and $499 for a small grill and starter kit at Goodwood Hardware and Outdoors.—Maggie Heyn Richardson (Image courtesy biggreenegg.com)