tekobo

I am going to post details of this cook elsewhere but, in the meantime, here is a photo of yesterday's cook. First time using the double drip pan under my new vertical spike. Indirect on the 32. Lots of stickiness from the balsamic element of the marinade. The double drip tray cleaned up very well. The Husband did the washing and it just took a half hour soak in ordinary dishwashing liquid and hot water and a bit of elbow grease with a curly kate to get it nice and clean again. No biggie.

The only trouble is, they probably only deliver in the UK. That said, I am curious about whether you get these cuts of meat in Mexican supermarkets in the US. That albanico tasted like the best rib meat, just without the bones. I think these cuts will be ideal for juicy porky tacos. To be continued…

That sounds like a good plan @Troble. The combination of good meat, a KK and your experience should make it really difficult to screw up. Enjoy!

Lockdown has brought some great food discoveries. Posh restaurants ship you cook at home kits. I have only tried the one called Aktar at Home. He is a Michelin star chef and his curry box is a thing of wonder - great taste, volume and value. I tried his Argentinian meat box. It was fun not to have to prep for a BBQ and our favourite thing was the morcilla. I disappeared down a rabbit hole, trying to find more and came across this company: https://www.bascofinefoods.com This haul arrived a couple of weeks ago: They are bits of an Iberico pig that I had never heard of/used. Albanico, Pluma, Secreto. The only one I knew anything about were the baby back ribs. And sooo fatty. I looked up the Albanico online and found this cook: https://bbq-heroes.com/recipe/pork/amazing-iberico-abanico-sandwich/ We tried it out. I cooked half of the albanico, first indirect and then smokily and satisfyingly on the lower grate. Asparagus cooked while the pork was resting. Sorry, no pix of the sandwich but here is the piggy sliced up. It was freakin’ delicious. A missive from @tony b made me think “suya!” for the remaining half of the Albanico. I took the easy route and cooked it indoors last night. No char or smoke but The Husband still declared it the best suya meat ever. That intramuscular fat just gave it such a great mouth feel and taste. Marbled pork rocks.

Err…no! Everyone knows chicken wings ARE THE BEST.

Seems pretty quick to me. And pretty. When is the big day and will it be ready in time?

Countdown! You are making me want to do it again. Our COVID restrictions ease a little more on Monday and we will be allowed 6 people indoors and 30 outdoors. A pig cook, when the weather is better, would be a lovely way to celebrate.

Thanks @BigO. I have not managed to find time to watch it all but I know it’ll be a great video to share with a friend who has caught the KK bug. Cool.

Ooooh. Which one are you going for? Instinctively I like 3 or 5 spokes and probably 3.

That looks awesome @cruzmisl

I bought two of these and had them shipped to me in the UK and shipped one on to @RokDok. Total cost less than one Trompo King. I liked the look of @tony b's cook in his double drip pan and I thought this would be perfect for that application. Looks robust but I have not used it yet.

I am now even more excited by your new acquisition. The thought of helping a young man promote his new business is great. That, and getting a bespoke job done that will delight you for a long time is what it is all about. I look forward to seeing your build pics. The main reason I did not go for a split grill was because I wanted the uninterrupted grilling real estate. I think this will work really well alongside your 23. Hurrah!

@Basher, pretty much as soon as I posted the above message I realised that I was forgetting to say that moving the coals around under the grills does allow you to vary the temperature for different parts of your grill, thus negating the need to have independently rising halves. I also went along to the OxGrills website and was reminded of their GridIron grid bed option. It was too expensive when I first bought my grill but may be cheaper now that they seem to be marketing it more generally on their site. If I end up buying one it will be your fault.

Oooh. I am glad I asked. Those all sound like great additions. I start my fire separately but the rack to allow circulation under the fire sounds like a good option. Nothing to add. You have already selected the upgrade that I think is absolutely essential - the V grates with fat collector tray. They are great. The fat that collects makes you realise how much would have dripped onto your fire, tainting your food with the smell. Ah, what just occurred to me is the option to split your grill and have two halves that can be raised and lowered independently. That option would allow you to cook stuff at different temps at the same time. I don't have that and sometimes think it would be useful.

Thanks @Troble. I've taken a look and I know and like a fair few of the songs. Makes me think you would like "Apricots" by Bicep. I suspect the time difference will mean that I can't quite dance along at the right time but will fit in a pre-dance.

Looking gorgeous @cruzmisl! Do we get to see the finished product?

Hey @Basher. That sounds like a very happy birthday in prospect. What variations are you going to have?

you can say that again! Congratulations. Beautiful looking KK, even though you did go for pebbles. You will come around.

A previous macho boss used to ask - who is more committed to your breakfast, the chicken who lays an egg or the pig who died to give you bacon? All I can say to you @Troble is: you are now committed! Looking forward to your cook. Might even listen along to your playlist on the day if you were to share it.

I keep my starter in the fridge and usually refresh it just once before making up my dough. This weekend it was about three weeks since the last time I refreshed the starter and so I decided to refresh it three times before making up the dough. What a difference! My leaven usually floats but it was soooo beautifully light this time. Danced round the kitchen at the sight of this: Yesterday I made the coriander and carraway loaf from Tartine No 3. Tonight I made a seeded loaf. Squashed onto the baking stone from my 23, sitting in my 32. Looking forward to having a lot more room when I pick up @RokDok's extra baking stone for the 32 which he has kindly said that I can have. Cooling. Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow.

Welcome to the UK Chapter @Jimbo78. That looks like a mighty fine KK in a lovely ODK. Would be good to see more of your ODK and your pizza oven. Your KK will fit right in.

I have been stuck on soaking in normal dishwasher liquid and cleaning with a Kurly Kate since I got my KKs. The PBW that I have found here in the UK is expensive and doesn't seem to have the magic effect that guys on the forum report, even when I use double the quantity recommended. That said, I will give it a go again soon. Things that have worked - sticking rotisserie sharp bits in the dishwasher and soaking and washing the rest in the sink. Things I am yet to try - @Syzygies' power washer trip, @tony b's PBW - again, buying a paddling pool to soak my 32 bits in if it turns out PBW does work and finding out if my friend's dad will let me put my grates in his pub's industrial grate cleaner.

Awesome. Way to go! Looking forward to seeing the pix.

I agree with what everyone has said. The 23 is really good and can do a lot and the only thing that is better than the 23 (and is realistic for most people) is the 32. On balance, having owned a 16, 21, 23 and 32 I would agree with @Pequod that if I only had to have one I would go with the 32 every day of the week. That said, the half grate in the 23 is a great innovation. @Basher, you could try using the basket splitter as your default and only using the whole basket when you really need it. I think that this is a great solution for all sorts of situations, even when using the rotisserie. When I was thinking about how to cook my suckling pig, Dennis said that the lengthwise basket split helps to avoid flare ups if you if you have the "down" side of your rotation above the cold side and the "up" side above the coals. I have not tried this but I plan to do so in my 23, noting that there is no lengthwise basket splitter with the 32.

Makes sense. You have a lot more space out there.