BBQ Accessories Comments turned off

Tales from the Tongs – The American Tale

By joeadmin on May 31st, 2012

G’Day , how are you going?

As for me l  met a very cranky Mr Raymond Miller on the weekend, an American from Texas, with relatives arriving from his hometown next week.

He explained to me that he was looking forward to taking them to an American BBQ restaurant in Sydney.

Anyway he decided to have a captain cook at an American BBQ place    and was very unsure about the food being classic American cuisine

I myself was not too surprised that an American style BBQ place in Australia may be a little disappointing to a Texan.

Ray explained his experience  

“Joe, the meat at this place was as dry as dog biscuits and not that flavoursome, if you go to a Texas BBQ house the meat is  tender, smoky, and moist, it falls  off the bone, it melts  in your mouth and in fact it’s so moist it just falls apart when you look at it , why the difference Joe   ? 

Honestly, Ray had my gastric juices buzzing;

“Well Ray it could have something to do with the whole smoking technique, the old fashioned smoked BBQ flavour is a technique that has been mastered by the yanks and perhaps  us Aussies are still learning the ropes ”

And then Ray goes and surprises me, he places his hand on my shoulder and says;

“And so Joe, that’s why I am darn well here!”

“Why are you here Ray?”

I don’t normally ask customers why they are here by the way .

“I believe that you have a piece of barbecue equipment that will permit me to live my dream of an authentic American BBQ eating experience”

“Are you talking about the Weber Summit E650”

“That’s the one my friend, the 6 burner BBQ with everything I need to bring my dream of a true American bbq to reality”

The BBQ that Ray had his eye on is dead set flash with so many features including side burner, rear rotisserie burner, smoker burner and smoker box. And to show how serious Weber is about the quality of the bee’s knees of BBQ’s they have given a lifetime guarantee as their word of honour.   

Then came the invitation:  

“Joe I have my folk staying in Australia for a month although they could stay longer once I start cooking up a storm with my new powerhouse BBQ,    I want you over for supper my friend, I want you to experience true American BBQ fare so you can spread the word”

“Thanks Ray , that sounds awesome “ I said , although the word “Supper”  was not that cut and dried for me

“What time is supper?” i asked

“After 7pm my friend”

“I will be there with bells on” I said and immediately knew that I would be going to bed that night full as a goog .

Next   you will hear about the Rays American BBQ supper where as Ray says

 “y ’all  see the mystical communion of fire, smoke and meat. “

Hooroo till next time.

BBQ Accessories Comments turned off

Tales from the BBQ Tongs

By joeadmin on April 19th, 2012

Well my friends I began my lonely night as a ghost buster and finished it as a possum buster. The thumps and bumps were not the presence of a ghost, demon or spirit, but rather a brushtail possum.

 So I googled possum problem and found:

 “Svana- The Possum Wizard.

 By 8am the following morning Svana had baited, trapped and humanly removed the furry intruder and by 9.30 that morning I had all sorts of possum trivia under my belt like they know how to play dead and they are extremely clean and regularly groom themselves.

Now the story of the possum is one thing but Svana’s story is the real deal.

You see when I told Svana that I was sleeping at the showroom to prove that a ghost did not live at Joe’s BBQ showroom because all the staff were chicken, she surprised me by saying “Where I come from Joe believing in the supernatural is quite …well…. natural”

“Strewth Svana ,and  where do you hail from?” 

“I come from Iceland Joe, the land of fire, ice, trolls and the hidden people.

“ the hidden people eh? You mean Icelandic possums? ” 

Svana was suddenly in stiches, laughing uncontrollably and there’s me was not even trying to be funny

“No Joe it’s a Icelandic legend that is actually believed by most Icelanders you see   the hidden people live in boulders and hilltops and the story is that God told Eve wife of Adam that he wanted to come to her home to meet her many   children, Eve then started getting her children ready by washing them and putting their best clothes on ready for Gods arrival at the house. However there were three children whom she was unable to prepare as she ran out of time.

Eve did not want God to see her dirty children so she placed them in a wardrobe. But God found out and according to legend God said

“What is hidden to God will be forever hidden to mankind as well!”.  The children were made invisible to humans and it is said that only people with a good heart are able to see  them. 

“And Icelanders believe this over the top malarkey?” I said

“Some do, some don’t, but most do” 

“Blimey Svana, you Icelanders are a superstitious lot”

“Well you know Joe we have a saying in Iceland its always be kind to strangers. You never know who or what they might be.

Just quietly though Svana knew heaps about BBQ’S.as well as trolls and possums  

When she laid her eyes on the special price of our Gasmate Vega 4 burner BBQ she knew it was a bargain

   Joe that’s nearly $400 cheaper than the one I saw last week, are you sure you haven’t put on the wrong price tag?” Svana said .

I explained that the new model was on its way and that we wanted to make room for the upgraded Gasmate Vega.

I asked Svana what type of BBQ she owned.

“This would be my first” she told me

 “In Iceland we did not  do much outdoor cooking as there not a great deal of sunshine,  I have so many Icelandic recipes in my head and would love to adapt them to an Aussie BBQ

I asked Svana what she would choose to cook first

“ Definitely the traditional fish balls and the Icelandic flatbread”

So my friends I have some zeds to catch up on so I will leave you with another one of Svana’s Icelandic superstitions

‘if your head itches or if the cows lick the trees rain is expected” 

Hooroo,

Joe.

BBQ Accessories Comments turned off

Tales from the Tongs

By joeadmin on March 2nd, 2012

Hooley Dooley! The team here at Silverwater have been quite nervous of late, as some very strange and creepy noises have been heard by quite a few of the staff;  always after 5pm when it starts to get dark.

They told me about these loud thumping noises, screeches and even the sounds of fingernails scratching a wall.

I was not too concerned as the building has its own set of creaks and groans which become louder once the last customer leaves the building.

But then last week the team asked to see me for a chin wag.

They announced that they thought we had a haunting on our hands and that I should I look into the history of the building just in case something tragic had happened or some ancient burial site was here before the building was put up thirty years ago.

Being a true blue Aussie Sceptic, I tried my hardest not to laugh and really resisted   knocking their fruit loop theories.

Instead I offered to become Joe The Ghost Buster for one night.

 I agreed to sleep at the showroom overnight and investigate this noisy intruder who likes to hang around top notch barbecues when the sun goes down.

What happened that night, who I met, and what I found out about the “Hidden People”

Will all be told in my next blog.

Until then,

Hooroo my friends.

BBQ Accessories Comments turned off

Tales from the Tongs

By joeadmin on February 20th, 2012

G’day blogophile’s, hope your Christmas and new year was a ripper

As you can imagine our Christmas Eve at the showroom was flat out like lizard drinking but I was so glad that it was me that assisted a bloke called Ignacio. He had an ace accent, the type ladies swoon over, I asked him where he originated from,  It turns out he is Argentinian and so  naturally I said “Dont cry for me “ and he laughed and said “ You’ re a dag” which made me wonder how many Argentineans would know the Australian word for funny person? 

Anyway he wanted to have a captain cook at our Weber charcoal kettle with the gas ignitor and so  I gave him all the good oil on this grouse charcoal barbecue. You see Ignacio believes that a fair dinkum barbecue has to involve charcoal .

He explained that barbecuing in Argentina is called Asado and that maybe I should consider shipping the whole of the Joe’s BBQ business to Argentina “Why do you say that brother “

“ Because Argentinians eat more beef than any other country , they eat it every day “

 “Strewth, so if you are a vegetarian you don’t go to Argentina for your hols eh?”

“Exactly!  so Joe tell me about this Weber charcoal kettle”

I gave Idacio a run-down on all the spiffy features of this beaut barbecue which I reckon maintains the tradition of  charcoal cooking but upgrades the experience by speeding up the cooking time , all because it has a gas burner sitting under the fuel basket.  I told Idacio that he could use hardwood, lump charcoal, briquettes or heat beads.

Then Idacio tells me; “Do you know Joe, the first recipe I am going to cook on this Weber charcoal kettle is the famous  Bueno Aires Heart Stopper”

“Hooley Dooley Ignacio what’s in a Bueno Aires heart stopper “

Ignacio explains that its skirt steak loaded up with bacon and eggs

“That sounds like a typical jackaroo”s breakfast “ I tell Ignacio

“Well I am not sure what a Jackaroo is but what makes it unique is a very special sauce called chimichurri sauce”

Ignacio explains that this special sauce is like our tomato ketchup but with one major  difference, its green and made from garlic and parsley.

Before I bade Ignacio goodbye I managed to convince him to to send me some pictures of the  Bueno Aires heart stopper and the chimichurri sauce”
     

 

By the way I googled his name and you will never guess what Ignacio means?

Fiery  !

SEE YA NEXT TIME.

JOE

Barbecue, Grill, Barbeque, BBQ is still a rose by any other name. Comments turned off

Tales from Joe’s Tongs

By joeadmin on December 12th, 2011

G’Day Guys. Well I managed to get a Weber Q 200 to my Ethiopian friend Adina who promised me a grouse tale of how Ethiopian bread called injera can make people keep their promises.

Once I got the Weber Q 200 to Adina’s pad I realised why she was stoked with the Weber Q200, it was perfect for her smart unit with a balcony that watched over beaut views of a lakeside park.

It was deadset easy to picture Adina mingling with her friends on her balcony whilst her Weber cooked up an Ethiopian storm.

“Strewth Adina this is a perfect home for your Weber Q200, “

“Actually Joe this one of two homes, it will either be standing on my balcony or in the boot of my car, which reminds me I will need one of those Weber mobile trolleys, now that its summer, I want to try and use my Weber like it’s the only source of cooking I have, I just love an alfresco bbq, by the way will the Weber mobile trolley fit in my car? “

“You’ve got no worries Adina its collapsible and will easily fit, do you know I am always stoked when a customer buys a Weber Q200 for all the right reasons”

“Oh Joe so I am so glad I have all the right reasons“

“I should tell you Adina  that you   have chosen one of the most fair dinkum BBQ grills, you can start cooking straightaway with the ignition switch , the  heat is immediate and evenly distributed   and  the space is awesome …enough to feed eight people”

“For me personally Joe the 5 year warranty, its portability and the fact that it won’t rust convinced me to invest in a Weber Q200”

“So Adina, I am all ears, tell me the tale about the Ethiopian bread”

“ Well you see this Weber Q200 that you have brought to my home  ,supposing  I did  not have the money to pay for it today, you could take it back to the shop or I could promise you that I will pay the money by the end of the week , if you decided that it was ok for me to make payment at a later day you would invite me to eat injera with you  so you would feel confident about me keeping my promise,  the Injera  becomes like a witness or binding contract to my promise”

Adina’s  corker of a story, had me admiring the power of a promise in Ethiopia  whilst  reckoning  that in Australia it had Buckley’s chance of replacing a shared beer and a handshake.

Barbecue, Grill, Barbeque, BBQ is still a rose by any other name. Comments turned off

Tales from Joe’s Tongs

By joeadmin on November 8th, 2011

G’Day Mate , Joe here, I am as happy as Larry to tell you that my mate Nabil (not Larry) called me today and said he was bringing over a dish that was one of the most popular dishes in his culture, Nabil is Lebanese and always looks bushy-tailed, I reckon he would have to be sixty in the shade but he looks like he is in his early fifties, so I reckon whatever he is eating is pretty darn healthy.

He asked me to prepare a charcoal barbecue as he reckons there is no better way to cook his food surprise, so I’m in like Flynn and I’ve dusted off my  Chef Camper On the Go Charcoal Braai .

The word “ Braai is afrikaan for Barbecue. Although I would not use the word Barbecue near a South African, as it might make them a bit agro.

Us Aussie’s are lucky to have these stainless steel beauties because they are built like an outhouse  for very extreme weather conditions.

I always say to the missus “you’ve got your big handbag with the big silver G,  I’ve got my Chef Camper On the Go Charcoal Braai under my arm .

When Nabil arrives with his surprise dish, I am not surprised at all

“Mate, that’s just chicken cubes on a skewer, not very adventurous brother”

Nabil shakes his head and says two words “Shish taouk”

I say “Don’t think I don’t know a Middle Eastern swear word when I hear one”

Nabil says “Relax my friend it means chicken kebab, but these have been sitting in :  Lemon juice, garlic, thyme, paprika, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and sumac.”

 “What the heck is sumac ? ” I ask.  Nabil says “well first of all you say SOO-mak and it’s the fruit of a shrub that grows throughout the Middle East, it adds a beautiful lemon flavour to meats and salads” 

“Stone the crows” I say “can you buy it here?”

“Of course, in all good supermarkets as you lot say”

I discover that he  has had the  chicken pieces sitting in a kind of  herbal spa for  5 hours and even though its raw poultry  the aroma is making me hungry and i am thinking  about  eating a galah and bark Sandwich already  .

 Instead I check on the Etosha charcoals and know they are ready for Nabils Middle Eastern chicken as they have turned a light grey ash.

 “Well Nabil you’ve told me about your middle eastern shrub let me tell you about this   Etosha charcoal, it also comes from a bush but this bush is a real ratbag, In Namibia pronounced Namibia (I give him that look that says I can have tickets on myself too) which by the way is a country in south Africa, this bush has the craziest name

Nabil it’s called The Namibian Intruder Bush which I have to say has more cred than your Sumac Shrub”

“So it’s an invader bush“ Nabil says

“Yep but leave it to the South Africans to turn a challenge into an opportunity.”

The kebabs were mouth watering grub, dunking them into Nabils garlic sauce made even more scrumptious along with the flavour of Etosha charcoal.

I also felt a joke coming on “what do you get when you put a Aussie, a Lebbo and a south African at the same barbecue……. ?

Barbecue, Grill, Barbeque, BBQ is still a rose by any other name. Comments turned off

Barbecue, Barbeque, Grill or BBQ. Nothing compares to our beloved Barbecues, Barbeques, Grills or BBQs. They all mean the same thing : Fun, Food and Memories in the backyard.

By joeadmin on August 18th, 2011

The iconic Barbecue or  BBQ Grill.  From Australia, where it’s called the humble barbeque to America, where they call it a Grill. South Africa, called a braai to South America, where it’s called  asador or gaucho. The happy emotions that a BBQ  stirs up are unmistakable. No wonder the Barbeque is part of so many cultures ! Mom and dad with the kids running around in the backyard… Is it ready yet Dad ? Family and Friends : All our fondest memories are often around our Barbecues or  Grills. It’s all the same despite the different spellings. A rose by any other name is still a rose. We love our barbies downunder. Sunny Skies, Beaches, Backyards and Barbecues !

Some say the origins lay in Guyana or the Native American culture. The way Americans spell BBQ is BARBECUE or its plural BARBECUES.  Lots of Australians now use this form of spelling the word. Its history dates back to prior to the American Civil War back to the deep south and Southern States, where the humble pig was the main form of food being barbecued in coal or smoke pits or smokers. Today in Modern USA, its become almost a religion where the World BBQ Championships are held. Grill Masters are now called Pit Masters and they closely guard their dry rubs and methods of slow grilling large cuts of meat over long periods of time. Barbecue or Grill Restaurants have become institutions with their followers. BBQ Ribs  take away anyone ? BBQ Recipes are well guarded secrets.

BARBECUEING is traditionally done in smokers or Barbecue pits where meat is cooked over long periods of time at between 95 degrees celcius to 150 degrees celcius.

BARBEQUES, as we call it in Australia is the same meaning. Ancient Aborigines used to cook meat over hot coals in a hollowed out myall tree called BOREE LOG. The very first ancient Australian BBQ.

Today, Barbeques in the Aussie backyards are commonly called Barbies for short. Grills or to Grill is another form of the use of the same lingo. Traditionally, BBQ GRILLS refer to charcoal grillings over charcoal or solid fuel briquettes. Grilling is done at much higher temperatures of between 200 to 260 degrees celcius. Lamb Chops, Steaks, Sausages and more.

Gas Grills or Gas BBQs are the device most used today all over the world, resulting from people wanting convenience but still wanting to grill or BBQ their food outside over the heat. This form of hybrid barbecues is todays modern gas barbeques like Weber, Beefeater, Evedure, Gasmate and more. Indirect Grilling takes place at about 150 to 210 degrees celcius where the meat is cooked not directly under the source of heat but away to one side, in the same cooking chamber.

Still in increasing demand is the grilling of food by BBQ form over hot charcoals like the Brazilian BBQ or the South African Braais. The Weber Charcoal Kettles has cemented a place for themselves for those with a little xtra time wanting a taste difference. South American Asado style… yum !

So, it’s all the same whether you call it Barbecue, Barbeque, Grill or BBQ. Our Barbecues, Barbeques, Grills or BBQs are still as popular as ever. Why ? They create a fun, unique way for us to enjoy good food and good company. Whilst still being the most fun you can have in your backyard. Bring the entire family together over a barbie, nothing comes close, or brings people closer !

 

 

Outdoor Heating Comments turned off

What makes an effective Outdoor Heater ?

By joeadmin on July 13th, 2011

We get asked this question quite often, since many customers dont know exactly what best solution is right for their backyards.

Outdoor Heating is crucial to us, since we as Australians are accustomed to entertaining outdoors. This current Winter has brought us lower temperatures than the previous years and Outdoor Heating solutions are now high on the agenda.

The very laest in Gas Outdoor Heating

This latest solution from Bromic, the specialist heating and refrigeration experts, gives a solid heat throw of 3.5 metres and will maintain a temperature of about 30 degrees celcius thereabouts. Wind rated to 18 km/hr. More than just a table warmer. You’ll see this at Darling Darbour in action in the restaurants. These heaters are required to be hard ( copper piped plumbed) in Natural Gas. Modern Flame and Safety devices are built in with one on/off switch in control.

Outdoor Area heater with easy clearance factor

These popular Outdoor Area Heaters have been on the market for the last two years and prove to be quite handy. Where traditional Patio Heaters need about 1.2 m top clearance from combustibles ie. pergolas, these units only sit about 1.5 m high and will fit anywhere. They look great, provide a great radiant heat in a radius of up to 2 metres. A 9kg cyclinder will last about 10hrs.

Electric Heaters on the market are faced with strong heat loss factors in the backyard and  are required to be placed near the heating vicinity to function.

They are purely radiant and when placed in confined areas with limited heat loss factors, will function.

So, to best answer this question, we need to clarify the following :

- What area do I want to heat in the backyard ? just the outdoor table setting or the whole area under my pergola.

- Do I want to heat the area seldomly or on a permanent basis ?

- Is this a fixed Outdoor Alfresco area or we entertain in different areas ?

- Is the area I want to heat covered ?

If you are intending to heat a small radius area for a short while, then the traditional Patio Heater will be the answer. Its also the most cost effective.

If you want to heat a small to medium radius area in the backyard through the winter and at times in summer. The answer is a Area Heater or Column Heater will suit and do the job. You may even need 2 or 3 depending on your area size.

If you want a permanent solution, then choose one of the Outdoor Gas Tile Heaters that need to be wall or ceiling mounted. Depending on your budget, wants or needs and decor, these is a solution for all.

If you only want to heat a very small area, buy a traditional brazier that will burn hardwood or charcoal and you have an immediate solution that is cost effective and can be put away for next winter.

So, in summary outdoor heating solutions have to be right for what you want and need. Still not sure, give us a call on 1300 30 3934 and our friendly staff will talk you through the right solution.

Wood Heating Comments turned off

What makes a Lopi Wood Heater different ?

By joeadmin on May 12th, 2011

Why a Lopi Wood Heater gives you something different to the normal wood heaters on the market. No other wood heater can deliver such performance and quality like the Lopi Wood Stoves in either freestanding or inbuilt models.

Take a look at some of the details why it performs so well under all conditions :

What makes the Lopi Wood Stoves better ?

It takes the best engineers and craftsmen to make the best wood stoves. Lopi has them at their factory in the USA. The most durable unibody construction on the market.

The Doors : The Lopi door is held in place by cold-rolled steel punched through the firebox and welded on the inside to hold the door permanently straight.  Proof :  I, Joe ( weigh in at 117kg ) can sit on the open door.

When you opt for the brass doors, you get solid brass doors, not a micro-thin gold plating common to many other brands. The solid brass will last for life.

The Firebricks: Lopi use real kiln-fired refractory firebricks in the firebox and baffle. This is the same material used to line commercial boilers and furnaces.

The Single Air Control : makes it easier to fine tune to your heating needs by regulating both the primary and secondary air to the stove. The control is spring loaded to unsure an engineering seal  to the bottom of the firebox. The result is a sealed air conrol which will not let any additional air into the fuirebox.

The Cast Iron Frame : This frame glass retainer insures a permanent air-tight seal around the glass. This cast iron frame fits and inch deep into the door, so the door will never warp or flex.

Want to take a closer look, their on display and burning at all our stores.

Cheers,

Joe

Wood Heating Comments turned off

How to get the most from your Wood Heater

By joeadmin on April 5th, 2011

Wood Heating is still a very popular choice of home heating options. It delivers the lowest cost of home heating in comparison to electric heating, central air conditioning or gas heating. No wonder so many Australians prefer and enjoy this form of heating. Its also the most efficient form of heating.

When used correctly, wood fireplaces can produce a great source of natural bathing heating that cannot be duplicated. The warmth and crackle and ambiance of a wood fire is irresistable to many.

A great fire from a great heater should look like this and burn clear

 

However, like most appliances if not used properly or guidelines aren’t followed, wood heating can cause inefficiences.

Here are some basic tips to ensure you get off to a great start this winter season:

1. Select the right well seasoned Hardwood timber for your fire. Well season hardwood timber logs will burn longer and give more burn time per log than logs with a high moisture content. Some examples of great timber to burn is Ironbark, Yellowbox, Stringybark or Redgum. Good seasoned timber will feel heavier and sound more hollow if tapped.

2. Only use softwood timber kindling, or some newspaper for kindling, not green sticks. This will ensure your fire will catch on quicker and get hotter quicker.

3. Always leave an inch of ash at the bottom of your fire which will help lighting and maintaining the mass of the fireplace.

4. The aim is to get a Roaring Fire going as quickly as possible. To do this, you must leave the door adjar when starting to light your, Leave all Airvents fully Open and Bypass Dampers Fully Open. This should be left at this position for about 15 minutes. After this 1st 15mins, Now shut the door and leave for another 15mins. After the 2nd 15mins, close the dampers. After 3rd 15mins, move the Air Vent or Air Control to the closed position, or on older fires leave min air open. You should now have a great fire going.

5. Use this process to load more timber. Always load timber in the north to south position which will give you a better burn. If you have a compliant modern wood heater, it should give you a minium burn load of approximatley of up to 6 hours  to 8 hours.

6. How do you know if you’ve used the right wood and the correct burn process and have the right wood heater = It should not smoke and the emissions from your chimney should be clear. No smoke emitting from the top hat of the flue – your neighbours should not notice anything.

By following these basic guidelines and if you have a compliant wood heater – see our selection of : Efficient Wood Heater Range for your home. You should burn clean and enjoy your wood heater that will bathe your home in a natural warmth.