Recently bought a new grill for my trusty black garden Blob….it cost more than my Blob did - which I’d purchased from the PX near Goch some 30 years ago!

Recently been to Weber BBQ school. After all these years of incinerating bratties and friks my outdoor cooking has gone in to warp drive. Now working my way through Tom Kerridge's outdoor cookbook all done on the trusty Weber kettle and washed down with wobbly.

'tis that time, sadly....
 

'tis that time, sadly, when the wonderful black orb plus garden table and chairs have been relocated to the back of the home within which my Teutonic Tourer (20 years old and still going well!) resides.

For some reason (too hot / too wet / too bone idle), I didn't manage to get round to firing up the beast this year. But a quick visual check reveals that it's still all tickety-boo and ready for next Spring! Hopefully the unopened bag of charcoal will still be OK then too!

In today's RAF, are people still importing the wonderful world of Weber to the UK after trips various to the USofA?

We only managed one BBQ this year, but Christmas Day turkey will be done in true fashion at my son-in-law's .......... like all of our four extended tribes they are true believers. And yes, we are invited.

BEagle
Only got 2 in UK one at Easter ironically and another in May. Other times out of the country or weekends wet or doing something else. Says a lot about UK summer in the Northern UK 😢

Cheers
Mr Mac

My daughter in Wales still uses my GV 80 Weber. My flat in HK is too small to accommodate it.

I'm currently debating whether to cook my (US) Thanksgiving dinner turkey in the oven, or in the smoker...
Normally the smoker would be the choice, but I just had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder, and have very limited use of my right hand/arm - making cooking in general more difficult (along with just about everything else I do). The oven will be easier, and my wife is more apt to be helpful...

But I thought everyone knew that "It's grim oop North"?

Actually, my brother in Yorkshire asserts that this isn't actually true!

BEagle
Unfortunately this year the weather from July onwards has been pretty poor and not just at weekends apparently according to Mrs Mac. I have to say that when I have come back its been wet and grey, and not just the Weber under used, the Toy car has only done about 1k miles this year as well. Mrs Mac has spent few long weekends in Munich as a result with me, to actually see some sort of summer weather, where we have a small Weber, but Gas powered on the roof terrace, as Charcoal is just too much trouble.


Cheers
Mr Mac

I managed a good dozen BBQ's this year at Akro Towers in Yorkshire. There aint such a thing as bad weather, it's poor clothing. Having been to the Weber BBQ school I've upgraded my kettle to one with a temperature probe and enhanced smoke generator and aim to achieve that holy grail of BBQ's. the Texas brisket.:ok:

Those imported Webers are much higher quality than the ones on the UK market these days. Our RAF import is well used and 20 years old!

When I replaced my last Black Orb with a newer version, it came with an integrated ash-catching jobber. Excellent - no more wrestling with that wretched hub cap thing. Just riddle a couple of times, take off the pan and dispose of the ash...

But it's no longer available on th 47cm version - only on the 57cm which uses considerably more charcoal. Why oh why, Weber??

So that it is big enough for a standard size steak in Texas?

Ahh... but have you got one of these??

I have only ever used the 22 1/2 inch weber, which is more than enough for a couple of steaks, for using indirect heat to roast a turkey, or to cook many burgers for a larger event where we have plenty of people over. One need not use a large amount of charcoal if there is only one steak to grill for the two of us (The Missus and I): while the steak is "resting" we put the veggie skewers on to grill while the coals are still hot.
That is awesome.