Charcoal Grilling

[Aviator]

What about the Kamado style charcoal grills like the Big Green Egg.
Folks who have them embark on a lecture about them at the very mention of the word "egg".

[JReazor]

What about the Kamado style charcoal grills like the Big Green Egg.
Folks who have them embark on a lecture about them at the very mention of the word "egg".

I would love to pick up one of those. They're a little out of my price range though.

[Tritium]

What about the Kamado style charcoal grills like the Big Green Egg.
Folks who have them embark on a lecture about them at the very mention of the word "egg".

I've had a large BGE for about 6 years now. It's a great all-purpose grill, but I wouldn't recommend it for someone that wasn't seriously into grilling. It's expensive. heavy, fragile, and requires a desire to learn how to make it sing. If that sounds like fun, they're worth every penny.
It's the antithesis of the gleaming, even more expensive, miles-of-brushed-stainless gas grills, and will produce better tasting food.

Get a Weber Kettle. It's a classic and the perfect tool to use when learning to cook on charcoal.

[Gat]

I'm no expert but I found the Char-Griller Akorn (available at Menards, Lowes, Meijer, etc) to be a good alternative to the BGE.  It is all steel construction, double wall insulated so it holds the heat well.  I got mine for $220 after a mail in rebate (standard price seems to be in the $250 range).

I have had mine since March and use it at least once a week.  It's great for long smokes as well as grilling steaks and burgers.  I also use it to make pizza with the kids.  Since I brought this home we rarely use the gas grill.

Watch out though as charcoal grilling/ bbq'n is addictive!  I recently picked up a Weber Smokey Joe for camping and I'm looking for a larger kettle for around the house.  I also want to build a UDS one day...