| I have often wandered down the grill accessory isle | | | | I remember the first time that I tried to cook on my |
| in one of the many sporting goods stores that I | | | | new charcoal grill. It was a disaster. The steaks were |
| frequent and wondered where all of the grilling tools | | | | completely raw in the middle after sitting on the grill |
| came from. There are accessories to do everything | | | | for over an hour and on top of that they tasted like |
| on a grill from making grilled cheese sandwiches to | | | | lighter fluid. My wife begged me to never try it again. |
| checking the temperature of your charcoal. Wouldn't | | | | The first thing that I did was to go out and purchase |
| it be simpler if we just went back to the beginning | | | | a new set of tongs, some name brand charcoal, and |
| when all we needed was a spatula, tongs, and a grill | | | | new lighter fluid. The second try was just as awful. |
| brush? | | | | Why? Because I thought that nifty little gadgets |
| I know backyard chefs that even have special | | | | could make up for my inexperience and lack of grilling |
| spatulas for every task; one for grilling fish and | | | | technique. |
| another for grilling burgers. Sure it makes the job a | | | | One of the greatest lessons I have learned over the |
| little easier, but does the food really taste much | | | | past few years is that tools can't make up for |
| better. I would rather have a perfectly cooked fish | | | | technique. The ability to build and maintain a three |
| filet that was falling apart a bit than one that looked | | | | level fire and know when to cook over each level for |
| good but didn't hit the spot. Sometimes we depend | | | | the perfect doneness is the key to making great |
| too much upon the tools when we should be | | | | Barbecue. |
| focusing on technique. | | | | |