My Other Passion Besides Guilds - The Grill

[Central Florida Folkie]

When we moved to FL from NJ I was super-psyched we had an outdoor kitchen island. It was horrible, I came to find, with a neglected grill and only a set of doors to get underneath it. Last summer, my wife said, “Make it what you want it.” So, after ten years, I finally built my dream island. Bought the Alfresco grill shell on OfferUp for $200 and totally rebuilt/refurbed the guts. Had a guy install the new granite top over the kitchen tile top that was there, then I sawed out new openings for the doors and drawers, cut and installed the Travertine stone with liquid nails, installed a new sink and BOOM! Finally grilling like I love to. Grill has a smoker box which I use all the time, lots of cooking space (it’s a 47 incher) and it’s all fed from a propane line from the tank underground on the side of the house so I never worry about an empty tank. Any other Grill Masters out there?

 

[GAD]

That's some setup!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

My other passion is the fridge. Go to the source!

 

[Central Florida Folkie]

My other passion is the fridge. Go to the source!

 

[Guildedagain]

Guilds and Grills

 

[HeyMikey]

As long as you’re not planning on making Grilled Guilds it looks like you got yourself a nice set up there CFF!

 

[Central Florida Folkie]

Guilds and Grills

Guilds and Grills

That sounds like the name for a great gathering of LTG Forum members somewhere for a weekend event and BBQ!

 

[Guildedagain]

Road trip ;[]

 

[Central Florida Folkie]

Road trip ;[]

I’m game! Weather here is perfect right now…sunny, no humidity, 76 glorious degrees.

 

[Guildedagain]

Someone ship me a Harley, I'll ride it back ;[]

 

[Opsimath]

When we moved to FL from NJ I was super-psyched we had an outdoor kitchen island. It was horrible, I came to find, with a neglected grill and only a set of doors to get underneath it. Last summer, my wife said, “Make it what you want it.” So, after ten years, I finally built my dream island. Bought the Alfresco grill shell on OfferUp for $200 and totally rebuilt/refurbed the guts. Had a guy install the new granite top over the kitchen tile top that was there, then I sawed out new openings for the doors and drawers, cut and installed the Travertine stone with liquid nails, installed a new sink and BOOM! Finally grilling like I love to. Grill has a smoker box which I use all the time, lots of cooking space (it’s a 47 incher) and it’s all fed from a propane line from the tank underground on the side of the house so I never worry about an empty tank. Any other Grill Masters out there?

When you say you bought the shell and rebuilt it, what was it like when you got it and what did you have to do to it?

Just wondering as I was looking at grills a while back but got sidetracked. Starting to think about them again.

 

[Guildedagain]

Starting to think about them again.

Use the Bronco?

 

[Opsimath]

Nooooooo!!!!

 

[Central Florida Folkie]

When you say you bought the shell and rebuilt it, what was it like when you got it and what did you have to do to it?

Just wondering as I was looking at grills a while back but got sidetracked. Starting to think about them again.

Sure! The shell was in great shape since it’s made of 303 stainless - just needed some cleaning with oven cleaner and then polishing. I then bought all of guts for it online: new burners, igniters, grates and warming rack, etc and just put it all together. Doing it that way I paid a seventh of what this grill costs new (which is stupid money for a girl that I would never, pay. A vintage Guild, sure, but not a grill…). Anyway, it was a fun project and now something I enjoy using pretty much every day. If you can find a good used grill on an online marketplace that has a good shell but the guts are pretty much shot, its not difficult to buy all new parts, rebuild it, and save yourself a good amount of money.

 

[Midnight Toker]

Very nice. My brother did a similar island in his backyard w/ a 4 seater L w/ a raised counter at bar stool height. He special ordered a sink in grill that has a small access panel underneath. I plumbed a permanent gas line to it from his house (no propane tank refills!! ) He uses it more than his stove/oven in the house! Over the years since he did the whole patio/grill-bar island and fire pit, his annual birthday/Xmas gifts from me have all basically been grill related. Things like pizza stones, wireless meat probes that connect to a phone app. They are amazing for getting the perfect temp every time. It gauges grill temp, meat temp, and let’s you know to the minute when your desired temp will be reached. Idiot proof grilling….and he needed it!

 

[Central Florida Folkie]

Very nice. My brother did a similar island in his backyard w/ a 4 seater L w/ a raised counter at bar stool height. He special ordered a sink in grill that has a small access panel underneath. I plumbed a permanent gas line to it from his house (no propane tank refills!! ) He uses it more than his stove/oven in the house! Over the years since he did the whole patio/grill-bar island and fire pit, his annual birthday/Xmas gifts from me have all basically been grill related. Things like pizza stones, wireless meat probes that connect to a phone app. They are amazing for getting the perfect temp every time. It gauges grill temp, meat temp, and let’s you know to the minute when your desired temp will be reached. Idiot proof grilling….and he needed it!

Which probes did you get him? I’m due for new ones…

 

[MartyG]

Avid griller here - combination of Weber charcoal grills and smokers, with a couple gas Weber grills. All sizes - all flavors. I have upstairs deck grills and a downstairs grill central. Many times I have more than one going at a time - I think six is my current record, but that was for a family affair. I'm guessing I have a dozen at the moment, down from maybe twice that. Gotta have the right tool for the job - right? I've made some pretty wild stuff, but the pork shoulders and jalapeno poppers are a go-to favorite. Decent grills can last forever and are easy to rehab. I've given many away to rookie grillers and relatives. FYI - I like the Thermoworks products for temp taking. An instant read thermometer is the first thing I encourage beginners to buy. It's all about heat management.

Marty

 

[West R Lee]

Awesome Shawn.......great job. I probably cook as much outside as my wife does inside. Maybe more.

West

 

[Midnight Toker]

Which probes did you get him? I’m due for new ones…

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BMLDL5GM?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[Westerly Wood]

As my wife will tell you, I am not a griller. However, we do have a little electric grill out on our patio, and we cooked up 4 steaks last Friday night, and they were fantastic! Perhaps there is still hope for me yet...