An Indiana company markets Sportulas, the perfect way to honor your favorite time while grilling. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
I don’t know why exactly, but men seem to be strongly associated with grilling and cooking out. For some, it may be the only time they enjoy their landscape, the deck or patio and the great outdoors.
That makes grills and their accessories good choices as possible gifts for Father’s Day for your dad or others who fill that role. We talked to a couple of known grillers about what they like about grilling, what they like to cook and cook on.
“I have been grilling for most of my life, but seriously barbecuing for about 30 years. There are important distinctions between someone who grills and someone who barbecues,” said George Vlahakis of Bloomington, where he is associate director of communications and media relations at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.
Many Weber grills come with rotisserie units. (C) Bekelund/Dreamstime.com
“Here in Indiana, many folks fail to appreciate the difference. Many Hoosiers cook their meat hot and fast over hot coals. I became aware of the value of cooking low and slow in the mid-1980s, when I briefly lived in the Deep South. I realized that many of us in Indiana cook our meat to death and then bathe it sauce. A good grill or pitmaster knows that time is the most important ingredient for obtaining flavor.”
For a long time, Vlahakis said he failed to appreciate the superiority of his Weber grill over its many cheap imitations. “Other grills can be used to grill meat, but a Weber is more versatile and the steel used to create its grilling capsule is designed to retain heat.
“There’s nothing more enjoyable than pulling meat from a pork shoulder, away from the bone, combining the outer bark – meat from where your rub was applied prior to cooking – with the rest of the shoulder meat, placing it on a bun and then seeing your friends wipe their lips with delight and a napkin,” Vlahakis said.
Big Green Eggs have the reputation of doing everything but the dishes. Photo courtesy BigGreenEgg.com
In Indianapolis, Rob Banayote, owner of Banayote Photography, has been a fan of a Big Green Egg for about five years. “I like the Egg so much. It’s sturdy. It’s reliable. Flavors it gives off are great and it’s consistent with heat. I can cook a brisket for 12 hours without having to add more charcoal.”
The photographer’s favorite things to cook include burgers, steaks, ribs, pizza, meatloaf, corn, peppers and onions, Italian sausage, even chili. “I would say my favorite would be pizza because the kids love it and request every time they are home.”
For grillers with a favorite sports team, consider Sportula tools from You The Fan, based in Warsaw, Indiana, as a Father’s Day gift. Spatulas, forks and tongs are laser cut or engraved with the licensed logos of your favorite teams from college, NFL, MLB, NHL and branches of the military. These high-quality tools are available at area retailers, YouTheFan.com and Amazon.