Why is it that grilled food is so amazing, especially when grilled on a luxury grill? Several elements come together like high heat, smoke and this mystical feat of chemistry called the Maillard reaction (think that crusty browning that occurs) and all combine to delight your senses.
The grills we supply start where the big box stores end with better materials and construction methods that result in a higher level fit and finish. Features like integrated rotisserie systems, smoker boxes, in grill lighting and counter balanced lids give you more options. Luxury grills are more focused on construction and materials than they are on the whiz-bang gadgetry you’ll see at the big box store.
Don’t underestimate the importance of having enough room to work. Grilling is much more relaxing when you are not trying to juggle a whole collection of plates and bowls as you do it. If your grill doesn’t have enough workspace – and they almost never do – set up a table right next to your grill get an outdoor kitchen from Signature Kitchens
The burner is the considered by many to be one of the most important parts of a grill, if not the most important part. After all, that is what generates the heat and gives your steak the flavor!
There are a number of different style burners from Cast Stainless steel to stainless tubes but not all stainless steel is created equal (see the next topic for more detail).
Material quality and thickness are also big factors in the quality of your burners. Search Amazon to see how much replacing a set of Weber Burners is (or we’ll just tell you it’s around $20 each), it costs much more to replace a burner on a high end grill (in the $100 to $150 range) but this is an area where 100% you get what you pay for.
Stainless steel is one of those words that has become common place when describing appliances. Most people probably don’t realize that there are more than 30 different grades of stainless each having their own unique characteristics. To achieve a specific grade, the alloy must adhere to a strict set of requirement for how much of each element the alloy contains.
Based on the specific chemical composition, the stainless develops different properties, such as toughness, magnetism and corrosion resistance.
304 stainless, as an example, is a high-quality stainless that is used in the construction of the high end grills that we carry. Typically, the grills you’ll find in the big-box stores are made with 430-grade stainless (or worse!), which is lower quality and much cheaper. The main difference between 304 and 430 grade stainless is nickel. 304 stainless must contain approximately 10% nickel, whereas 430 has no nickel.
That 10% nickel content results in a huge difference in price. Grade 430 SS goes for roughly $400 per ton vs $1,300 per ton for 304 SS. This is yet another example of “you get what you pay for”.
Sear burners are a feature among many high end luxury grills. They pre heat extremely quickly and get emit an immense amount of heat, we’re talking upwards of a thousand degrees or more depending on how large it is.
Here’s how they work. A normal burner uses large flames that heat the air inside the grill which then heats the food. This method of heat is referred to as convection. A sear burner on a grill heats up a ceramic plate with a lot of very small flames. This ceramic plate then radiates direct infrared heat.
The infrared burner is much more efficient, typically 15,000 BTUs vs 25,000 BTUs for your standard high end grill burner and even though the number of BTUs is lower the heat that is generated can’t even begin to be compared.
With a sear burner you’ll cook your food very quickly at a high temperature – which is considered grilling. Where as a traditional convection style gas burner will take longer to cook your food. Low and slow is traditionally referred to as a bar-b-que.
Alfresco grills have long been considered the heavy weight champion of the luxury grill segment. Based in Southern California Alfresco has been creating outdoor kitchen equipment dubbed an “Open Air Culinary System” for more than 20 years.
Much like a fine tuned sports car an Alfresco grills provide a product that is engineered to perform. Here are a few of the features we love about Alfresco Grills
The only thing it seems like you can’t do with an Alfresco grill is freeze ice cream. From the more obvious grilling and smoking cooking methods you can also fry and boil on your grill (that’s right – you can fry directly in your grill).
Here’s the list: Searing, Braising, Frying, Boiling, Roasting, Teppanyaki, Grilling, Baking, Steaming, Wok cooking, Blanching, Smoking, Griddle cooking, Cold Smoke Roasting and Rotisserie cooking
The Alfresco grill comes with an integrated smoker box complete with its own dedicated burner. The box is long and narrow and provides enough room for your favorite wood chips a lemon or lime and some fresh herbs like dill or rosemary.
The ways to add flavor to your food whilst grilling are amplified with the use of the integrated smoker box.
Hestan may not be a name you’re familiar with as a relative newcomer to the residential market. They’ve long been known in commercial circles as a provider of commercial kitchen equipment to more than 400 of the highest rated restaurants in the country.
Chief among them and perhaps Hestan’s crown jewel is Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry in Napa, CA. The French Laundry has been heralded by many as one of the best restaurants in the entire world, achieving a the ultimate honor of 3 Michelin stars.
Locally here in Orlando, Disney outfitted several of their best restaurants with Hestan Kitchens including Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian. Victoria & Albert’s is widely recognized as one of the best restaurants, if not THE best restaurant in all of Central Florida.
One of the first things that you’ll notice about the Hestan grill are it’s distinct looks. There are clean lines, and geometric shapes that form the basis of this grill provide a very different look than your average grill.
Hestan is one of the few appliance manufacturers to offer color as an option, 12 color options to be specific for Hestan. While there are some who may be hesitant to opt for a bold color indoors, your outdoor kitchen is a great place to make a statement with your favorite sports teams colors or just to coordinate with other elements on your patio.
You can open the massive and distinctive Hestan grill’s hood with your pinky finger. The patented spring assisted hinges easily hold the hood in place at any desired height for easy access to the grilling surface
Most grill manufacturers mount their rotisserie burner perpendicular to the grilling surface along the back wall of the grill. Hestan has pioneered a unique placement that allows the sear burner to act more like a commercial salamander broiler. This patented sear burner allows you to sear a steak or brown the top of a croc of french onion soup in addition to using it as a rotisserie
No list of luxury grills would be complete without the offering from Subzero & Wolf. Wolf’s line of outdoor grills comes with their iconic red knobs. Wolf’s reputation for quality is well deserved and really delivers precision and control in their outdoor grills.
The style is designed to match their indoor ranges with that distinctive bull nose and pro style handle.
One of the largest grill’s made Wolf’s 54″ grill (OG24) is insanely large at nearly 5 feet of grilling space complete with 4 large and individually contained burners.
The red knobs of Wolf are one of the most iconic brand images in all of appliances and no Wolf grill would be complete with out them.
Founded in 2012, Blaze Grills has quickly been making a name for themselves in the luxury grill market and Blaze is our go to grill when cost is a concern. Blaze has designed their entire line with the belief that everyone should be able to have an amazing outdoor kitchen and not break your budget.
One thing I love about Blaze grills are all of the associated accessories and toys they offer. Typically the domain of the uber luxury brands, Blaze is introducing options like the outdoor pizza oven, outdoor refrigeration and an outdoor griddle at less than half the cost of the other guys.
The burner is the most important part of a grill and the burner on a Blaze is one heavy duty hunk of stainless. Depending on the model a Blaze burner is able to product between 14,000 and 18,000 BTUs (compare that to your average big box store grill that only puts out 10,000 BTU
The journey starts with a single phone call or by filling out our form. Request a personalized consultation with one of our design experts who can help you select the luxury grill that is best for you.
This Naturekast outdoor kitchen brings the power of Alfresco Grills and the beauty of weather proof cabinetry together in a highly functional outdoor kitchen
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Check out the outdoor kitchen of the 2018 builder’s trade show remodel showcase home.
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