Campfire grill - Page 2

Insty-Grill · 12-21-2006, 10:19 AM

There isn't much I enjoy more than cooking over an open fire.
The reward for me is 'taste' when done.

I'd like to share a true story.

I've always been drawn to the mystique and power of fire.
I recall watching behind my mom as she would stoke the wood furnace we had back home.
It was always the first thing done early every morning.
She instilled in me a sense of caution and closeness for fire.

As a father we camped a lot with the kids.
I remember first using one of those 'tripod' thingies for cooking.
A friend of our offered it to us.
I recall I was so looking forward to using it at the time.
Everyone seemed to have and used them back then.

The first time I set this thing up I quickly realized setup was no minor task.
But thats ok, because its would be worth it,
thinking it would put me in charge of controlling wear and how the food was to cook.
Well, in actuality things were a bit different....
... I am sure I am not alone with that experience.
I save it for another discussion.

Anyway, it inspired me into thinking theres got to be a better way.
Some ideas like
compact to store
no assembly
minimal setup
no legs in the way
cook while lounging
(not in the fire yourself)
full adjustment
and I mean FULL ,,,now THIS is what I want and need.

Well I shopped and shopped and none was available then.

Every time I sat in front of the fire I dreamed about this.
What if this what if that.
After quite some time I had an actual working model
This got refined.
I liked it so well that I had it tooled and now all my friends use one.

When we group camp everyone brings their own.

Our campfire always has several of these poked in around the fire
These things dance in and out seeking optimum cooking temperature
and keeping things warm. We are always doing a lot of cookn and snackn

I love discussing the details of this apparatus with anyone willing to listen.

The first model is still in my back yard, where I use it all the time.
I never go camping or canoing without one.
I have a modified one in my basement fireplace where I use it all winter long.
The T-Bone I did last was to die for.
Heres a pic before garnishing.

Bogatee · 05-19-2007, 09:51 AM

Hey folks,
Was checkin out your site, good to see there are alot of fellow outdoor chefs around. My fiance and I have been camping/backpacking for over 10 years now and we love to cook on a fire. At home we use a gas grill but its just not the same. We are getting married this july and are having a backpackers wedding about a 2 mile hike to a pristine alpine lake. We will have about 50 ppl there and cooking for that many in the woods will be a challenge.
I been lookin around for large campfire grills but there seems to be limited options, at first i was thinking of the kind where you put a stake in the ground but not the one stake, Ive seen the kind with 2 stakes across the fire from one another with eyelets on the top of each. THis is for an additional pole that goes to both stake that you can hang hooks for holding pots above the fire or using for a rotisserie. Havent been able to find a distributor though. WHile looking, I found a nifty Grill, Its called the Gratemate, found at Gratemate.com. sits in fire on four legs and has chain that raises and lowers the grill, with extra side grill on one leg that doubles as cook-side table with hooks for utensils. Thought it was kinda cool, ya'll should check it out. Hope to check in on this site periodically for recipes and info, mayb meet some like minded ppl. Thanks for listening to my blabber lol. Enjoy the day!

Uncle Bob · 05-19-2007, 10:44 AM

Welcome Bogatee......

Insty-Grill · 05-20-2007, 10:54 AM

Welcome Bogatee......

Congrats on the wedding!

I tried finding the 'Gratemate' to compare areas, features, etc.

Did you know, when I put 'Gratemate.com' in my browser, I got a dating service????