Risky business

Courtney Mueller -- Casual Living, 7/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

The specialty grill business is getting tricky, with manufacturers who want to stay out of the big box business designing and customizing unique grills and grill islands to attract consumers who strive for that outdoor kitchen they saw in their latest shelter magazine. Retailers, who compete directly with the Home Depots and Targets of the world, are opting to fight or flee. Those who fight are finding their niche is at the high end of the market, an area so far seemingly untouched by the mass.

As recently reported in The New York Times, home improvers are moving outdoors when it comes to remodeling. After bathrooms, kitchens and master bedrooms are redecorated, "outdoor spaces are beckoned as a final frontier." As a result, according to the report, the high-end grill market accounts for 3% to 4% of the grills sold last year: "And like luxury car owners, many people who splurge on a grill that can simmer, bake and fry are looking to impress."

Here Casual Living takes a look at some new grills that have hit the market at the high end.

An Evo flattop grill allows homeowners to cook directly on a tabletop or an added height. With contemporary styling, the grill features a solid steel cooking surface, heated underneath by two independently controlled circular gas burners totaling 48,000 Btu of heat, an enclosed burner system and no exposed flame.

Clean BBQ grill liners eliminate messy cleanup after a cookout. The disposable barbecue liner fits over grill grids to permit the free flow of hot gas and flames around food and protects food from dirty grill bar deposits, preserving the natural flavor and eliminating the need to scrub after each use.

From Twin Eagles, the Modular Series allows consumers to customize their own outdoor kitchen area, from grill bases and an outdoor bar to side cookers and storage drawers.

A grill and smoker rolled into one appliance, the extra large Big Green Egg is ceramic, resulting in a cooler exterior with less chance of burns, and is generically modeled after an Oriental kamado cooker.

A stainless steel wok from Outdoor Kitchen Concepts expands cooking options on the grill to include sautéed vegetables, stir-fried meats and more.

Cal Spas' Master Chef Series 900 grill is characterized by spacious countertops for dining and a variety of options that include three-, four- or five-burner grills; an exclusive convection grill; single or double side burner; stainless steel sink; drawers; cocktail center, LED lighting and much more.

Weber has introduced the first Weber Q stationary grill. With push-button ignition, the grill has two stainless steel burners, 393 square inches of total cooking area, a built-in thermometer, two porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and removable folding work tables.

Home chefs can create a fine steakhouse meal in their back yards with the Texas Sizzler III infrared gas grill from Golden Blount. All stainless steel construction and a handful of complementary accessories highlight the grill.

New from Fire Stone Home Products, the Legacy electric grill caters to condominium and townhouse dwellers as an alternative to an open-flame barbecue. Six large burners are featured on a Teflon-coated aluminum searing plate, and other highlights include a temperature monitoring system and convection heating.