Been looking for a quality compact table top charcoal grill to complement a BGE and Yoder for doing a quick steak over a hot wood fire using a minimum of wood. Am tempted by a PK, but then tried this old $59 Weber Go Anywhere grill I pulled out from storage. Some similarities in shape and size, but certainly can't measure up. Yet the results were quite good. What am I missing?
If not cooking outdoors, I am cooking on the stovetop with my 14" carbon steel wok, 12" CI skillet, or in the oven with my two Lodge CI pizza pans, or two dutch ovens. I've also got a nifty Lodge carbon steel grill pan that rocks for veggies outdoors.
You are probably missing durability, heat retention and air flow control compared to a PK. Nothing wrong with the little Weber, I’ve had a couple of grills like that over the years for camping.
Large Big Green Egg, Weber Performer Deluxe, Weber Smokey Joe Silver, Fireboard Drive, 3 DigiQs, lots of Thermapens, and too much other stuff to mention.
I was using a Weber Smokey Joe to complement my BGE. It worked pretty well.
When I got the Weber 22†Performer, I stopped using the Joe. Weber 22†with S&S or some such to keep the coals to one side does the same thing as the Joe.
The more I think about it, the more impressed I am by the versatility of the Weber kettle. Add enough stuff to it and it will do just about anything.
Grill/Smoke/Roast = SnS Grills Kettle + SnS Deluxe Insert & Drip n' Griddle
Grill/Smoke/Roast = Hasty-Bake Gourmet Dual Finish with HB rotisserie and Grill Grates
Smoke = Weber Smokey Mountain 22.5"
Pizza = Blackstone Propane Pizza Oven (Stacy's, but she let's me use it sometimes)
Indoor Cooking = LG Studio 30" gas range
Camp Cooking = Coleman 2 burner white gas stove
Thermometer = FireBoard FBX2 with 2 ambient and 6 meat probes
Thermapen Mk IV = Light blue
Thermapen Mk IV = Black
PID Controller = Fireboard Drive + Auber 20 CFM Fan (FB gen 1 fan)
PID Controller = Fireboard Drive + Fireboard 20 CFM Fan (FB gen 2 fan)
Knives
Wusthof Classic Ikon set: 9" carving knive, 2X 8" Chef's Knife, 7" Santoku and three utility knives
Kamikoto Kuro set: 7" Santoku, 6.5" Nakiri, 5" Utility
Amazing Ribs Brazilian Steak knife set
Favorite wine = whatever is currently in the wine rack
Favorite beer = Sam Adams Boston Lager or Shiner Bock
Favorite whisky = Lagavulin Distiller's Edition 16 year old single malt
Best Cookbooks - Meathead's "The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling", Chris Lilly's "Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book", Aaron Franklin's "Franklin BBQ", Raichlen’s “Brisket Chronicles”
Current MCBS - Momofuku
Current fanboy cookbook - "Chasing Smoke: Cooking Over Fire Around the Levant"
If I could only gave one grill, and I could only afford a little bit for the one grill, I would have a Weber 22†with an SnS. It is not that big, easy to get going, not expensive, and 90% of the capability of something really high end like the Hasty-Bake.
You may just have a mild case of MCS. I find it is generally driven by wanting something better, easier or to try cooking on a different cooker. I can resist the latter driver easier than the first two.
For a compact table top charcoal grill, that little weber looks pretty good. A PKGO though is bigger and overall a better piece of equipment. I'm a big PK fan and think their products, though more expensive, beat weber hands down (IMHO).
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