Finding a quality gas grill at an affordable price is not always an easy task.
On the spectrum of options, you have the cheap, low-quality units folks buy for vacation properties, but when you go to use them, they either don’t work, half the unit catches fire, or some component of the grill (like the temperature knob) is out-of-whack and the flame chars your meat.
On the other end, there are incredibly expensive, boat-size units that do everything but the dishes. However, aside from the ridiculous price, most backyard cooks just don’t need the size and features these units offer.
So, for those that are looking for a practical, reliable and affordable grill, we have a favorite; the Brinkmann 810-8411-5. Its predecessor, the 810-8410S, ranked third on Consumer Reports’ “recommended” list of mid-size grills.
Both have four main burners, each with an individual control, a side burner for pots, skillets, etc, an igniter, a fold-out front tray for beverages/plates, a bottle opener, two side shelves and each costs only $200 from the Home Depot.
We have been using the 810-8410S grill for the past two years with no problems, the igniter fires up every time, the burners produce even heat, and nothing has cracked, broken – or must importantly – caught fire.
So much of cooking is figuring out how to infuse food with flavor while keeping it moist and tender. On a grill, with its slotted grates and open flame, this often proves difficult unless you plan to smoke your fare, but smoking isn’t for all situations. Fortunately, top culinary shop Sur La Table has developed a solution to this dilemma.
The Moistly Grilled Cast Iron Grill Humidifiers are fire proof repositories for your choice liquid (beer, wine, juice, water) that flank your meat and shower it with delicious steam. A set of two runs $30, and with Spring upon us, now is a great time to fire up the grill.
It seems that every year or so men have to add one more thing to the daily collection of stuff (keys, pen, wallet, watch) we tote around. And in recent years, most of the additions (phone, iPod, bluetooth earpiece) need to be recharged at night. For many of us, that means our bedside tables or dressers look like a high-end garbage dump at the end of the day – expensive items strewn about chaotically. Fortunately, there is another way, and it is appropriately named Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary, by Sirtified, is a valet for the 21st century. Sleek and simple, the white or black box with its felt floor offers a variety of cords and connections – neatly arranged – to charge all your portable electronics, while also leaving room for your money clip, watch, pen and other personal items. While it is pricier than the free, faux leather substitute you received as a groomsman’s gift several years back, we suggest it may be time for an upgrade. $120.
Rental living has several advantages, but relying on a landlord for the safety and security of your belongings isn’t always the wisest choice. Simplisafe, a portable – and customizable – security system designed for apartment dwellers and frequent movers, includes wireless door, window and motion sensors and access to a 24-hour dispatch center. Once purchased, the renter owns the system, meaning that at the end of the lease, the alarm goes with the moving boxes. A panic button, keychain remote, and motion and entry sensors are included in the basic package, and because it is fully wireless, users don’t need a land line or even an internet connection for it to work. From $199, $15/month for the optional monitoring. SimpliSafe.com
Beginning a new year with a big, blank journal can be invigorating, but it can also be somewhat intimidating. Pottery Barn offers those reluctant to open a fat, empty notebook a more reasonable option: a set of twelve small, urbane journals labeled January through December, fifty pages each. In addition to adding order and consistency to your memory bank, these notebooks will look good on display. Although it is faux leather, this masculine set bound in varying grains, colors and textures looks understated and refined – suitable for the office, a personal library, or your bedside table. $69 (plus free shipping).
