remi

I can second the recommendations already given. For a long and slow cook, it is completely fine to use a full basket. Then you use foil +/- a drip pan on the lower grate to set up your indirect zone. Obviously make sure you are using dry and good quality charcoal- but I have used at least 5 different brands of lump, and this method works just the same with all of the brands I have tried. With a full basket, light one small area of charcoal (grapefruit sized as Dennis says) and walk away. I usually have my vents wide open, and as soon as I see the dome temp shift above 100F, I set my vents to my desired temperature. Set and forget.... never mess with or check anything ever again. Always at temp for a low and slow within 60min. Like most frequent users, I have a good sense of where 225/250/275/300/350/400F are on my top-hat in terms of degrees of turn. In more than 3yrs of very frequent use, I have only had the fire die once. On a very windy night the charcoal seemed to burn from where I lit out to the left-hand edge, and burnt down all the charcoal in that area, seemingly with no way to get back to the rest of the bed. Truly bizarre, and a one-off. If you're still not sure- set up a call with Dennis, he will set you right. This should be a non-issue... in fact, the absolute ease of temp management is what sets the KK apart. Like many here, I've never used a controller/ fan/ bellows- and don't see any need to.

All these meals you are all cooking look so amazing... I'm out of action for 1-2 months at least as I broke my leg almost 2 weeks ago, and as the only KK user/ cook in our house I'm going to have to live vicariously through you guys until October or so. So keep the great photos coming!

Was gifted a Pepper Cannon for my last birthday by my family- it rocks! These also look like a good option.

Time for a bit of a ‘mixed grill’ tonight. Corn, yellow squash, small red capsicums, large mushrooms, country suasage links, smash burgers, chicken satay skewers, lamb kofta skewers and a couple of scotch fillet steaks. Nice mix for us and the kids- ended up using most the the 32BB lower grate real estate. Great success as always…

Done!

It’s been a busy month or so with visitors- and we have my father in law staying for a few days this time. For tonight, it was a tandoori marinated lamb leg, cooked indirect at 400F until medium rare. Served with lemon wedges, coriander, habenaro mango hot sauce, fragrant raita, salad, rice and roti. Everyone happy as per usual with a KK dinner!

Yep- Movida and the sister restaurants are all great.. the dining scene in Melbourne is outstandingly good. I am very very lucky!

Very true- whereas in Australia, being an immigration nation, most people cook all sorts of cuisine in their weekly routine... and no one gets too precious about anything food related, which is great.

I usually cook paella inside, but when I’ve got some time it is so much nicer on the KK. It was a beautiful autumn evening here, and kids were sorted- so it was the perfect time to cook tonight’s paella on the KK with some post oak for smoke. Originally paella was cooked on a pan over fire, so it feels right. Simple one tonight with chorizo, chicken, Roma tomatoes and green beans/ flavoured with saffron, paprika, stock and rosemary from our garden. Spicy pimenton in the adult one. I also love cooking the whole thing outside as you set up your ‘mise en place’ and then just relax. I’m smokey as all hell though, so need a shower. Nevertheless it was so so good- worth the extra effort.

Looks lovely- but can I ask a question? I've never understood how a griddle is any different to a large flat frying pan?

Wow- they look divine.

My wife’s overseas this week, so to make the last few days a bit easier meals wise I thought I should bbq on the weekend. The kids requested pulled pork… done.

Had some family over for dinner tonight. Cranked out a Bistecca Fiorentina for the adults (each steak around 900gram)… sausages and burgers for the kids. Made some home made chips, salad, some no-knead bread… amazing. Everyone happy.

I feel like there are issues here which are perhaps not being completely understood by those commenting? The charcoal in Dennis' short rib cook did not extinguish- his only concern is that the burn was uneven. As Dennis L has said, in a low and slow/ indirect cook there is no reason to be concerned about how even a burn is... the end result is exactly the same. The heat distribution is even in an indirect cook- the whole KK is heat soaked, and which bits of charcoal are lit doesn't much matter. I've certainly never sat there 'reading the charcoal' after a long low and slow cook! As Dennis L has said- different issue if you are cooking with direct heat when you are grilling over the charcoal. In that case you've usually lit lots of spots, and things progress hot and fast, and you can see the fire (as you are grilling), so you won't have a problem! I've only ever had a single episode of my charcoal actually going out on a low and slow cook (a different issue from Dennis' problem above). In that case it was a low and slow cook, and I had lit a fist full of charcoal roughly 1/3rds from the left edge of the basket- and quite bizarrely it burnt gradually towards the left of the basket, and having burnt all of the charcoal in that spot, then there was no way back to get to the other 2/3rds of the basket.... So now I'm more likely to light towards one edge when cooking low and slow (especially if overnight when I never get up to check!)

My parents are visiting us and the kids from interstate. Whipped up @Troble’s Polla a la Brasa on the Roti, with pickles, coleslaw, roasted smashed potatoes, salad and green sauce. A big hit as always! IMG_8326.MOV

After more than 3 years out in the weather, I finally got around to sanding and refinishing my side tables with Tung oil. Good as new!

Yep- if I'm wanting a reverse sear, I utilise the half moon grate and leave the splitter in for a 50:50 split (I have a 32BB). If I'm having a very long low and slow I use a full basket just in case, and use a drip tray under to make things indirect. If I'm using the Roti I'm taking the splitter out and arranging the coals in a line across the basket, leaving the front half of the basket empty. So in effect I'm rarely using foil as I'm either having a 50:50 split with a cool side, or cooking indirect with a drip tray under!

Hi Dennis- didn't mean your post, was referring to the original post from a new user with one message and suspicious language!

Guys- I would be pretty certain that this is a bot post...

One of the locals were telling me that the government is planning to put wires underground in some of the central parts of Bangkok, but that people have complained as it is an iconic feature of Bangkok, as seen in @David Chang and my photos...

Unsurprisingly, I ate very well and had a great time in general. Remi IMG_8065.MOV

Don’t get too upset @Troble, but in the quest to utilise the leftovers, we had Al Pastor pizza tonight. All the trimmings on my side, but just the meat and cheese for the kids. They loved it. I’m a firm believer that almost everything can be made into a pizza, and even more so into a toasted sandwich (I had an Al Pastor Toastie for lunch!).

Well, we finally had the time to have the neighbours over for dinner: given the success last time, I thought I’d knock out another Al Pastor. Picked up 4.5kg (10lb) of pork butt on my bike, marinated up and we were good to go. They loved it- and with 10lb of pork we’ve got plenty of leftovers for the week’s meals. @Troble, I’m going to find an excuse to go to San Diego for a conference, and buy you a beer! Remi

Thanks- appreciate it!

Thanks- any specific food tips welcome, I was just planning to wander!