Tyrus Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 4 hours ago, tekobo said: You know you want, need one! Temptation. Is that what the devil whispers in your ear at the moment of indecision. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted September 7, 2020 Report Share Posted September 7, 2020 (edited) Last 2 nights me and Mrs skreef sat out in the front yard around the Solo Stove Bonfire enjoying a few adult beverages. I absolutely love my Solo Stove. As for Friday night twelve step meetings - I decided to quit cold turkey - no more grills for me - at least not until my brain tweaks on a infomercial - eeekkkk.... The other day I did see a Masterbuilt Gravity fed charcoal grill in person. It looks like a lot of fun. Mrs skreef grabbed my arm and jerked me along before I pulled out the wallet. It was a close call........... Edited September 7, 2020 by ckreef 1 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrus Posted September 7, 2020 Report Share Posted September 7, 2020 Those infomercials talk to you Ckreef, it's ok stand strong. The Masterbuilt I've heard is good at lower temps, once you push them I've heard they have a tendency to fall apart around the fire zone. The quality of matierals is reflective of it's price point and it's certainly not built like a Stumps. A person I know that had issues happen to them didn't get a response back from the Company. Maybe it was best Ms Ckreef saved you on this one. Let me ask, did you ever play dodgeball? It's not every time you get hit with the ball so, that being said, until your hit your still in the game, and another grill out there has your name on it. 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekobo Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 I wanted to try out a paella today. I looked up @ckreef's cooks and saw that he used his Nuke Delta grill to good effect. I decided to try out the Solo Bonfire. It worked out well. Sofritto was a bit hectic on a hot, open fire. Added the protein in stages My Spanish friend steams the rice in the last stage with a covering of tea towels. I used a cast iron lid Turned out very tasty. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted December 25, 2020 Report Share Posted December 25, 2020 Fantastic cook. I especially like the baby octopus. Great use of the Solo Stove Bonfire. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted December 25, 2020 Report Share Posted December 25, 2020 Fantastic use of the new paella pan. I bet you can get that pan HOT with a Solo fire. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted December 25, 2020 Report Share Posted December 25, 2020 I'm sure that it made a great crust on the bottom (socarrat). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekobo Posted December 25, 2020 Report Share Posted December 25, 2020 3 hours ago, tony b said: I'm sure that it made a great crust on the bottom (socarrat). I didn't get much of a crust at the bottom. Decided not to chase the socarrat. Now I understand a bit more about managing the fire through the different stages I will have more confidence when I try this again. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted December 25, 2020 Report Share Posted December 25, 2020 55 minutes ago, tekobo said: I didn't get much of a crust at the bottom. Decided not to chase the socarrat. Now I understand a bit more about managing the fire through the different stages I will have more confidence when I try this again. It definitely took me a couple tries to get better using the Nuke Delta grill and paella. I'm guessing in the Bonfire having a bunch of small sticks at the ready would help so you could easily (quickly) turn up the heat without going overboard. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekobo Posted December 26, 2020 Report Share Posted December 26, 2020 10 hours ago, ckreef said: I'm guessing in the Bonfire having a bunch of small sticks at the ready would help so you could easily (quickly) turn up the heat without going overboard. I agree. A stack of small sticks would make all the difference for when I need to up the ante without setting the world on fire. I like the limited smoke from the Solo Stove which is why I chose it over burning the wood under my Argentinian grill. 19 hours ago, ckreef said: I especially like the baby octopus. Funny you should say that. I sent a photo of the cook to my paella mentor who is visiting his parents in Spain at the moment. He replied. "will be adding octopus to my next one as it looks amazing and reminded me that my dad used to add it to his too". That's good enough for me, hashtagauthenticpaellatoend2020. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekobo Posted April 6, 2021 Report Share Posted April 6, 2021 It has taken me a while to try paella again on the Solo stove. I was scared of getting it wrong. I took @ckreef's advice about feeding in smaller pieces of wood to keep control of the fire. It worked out well. Certainly gave me confidence to try again in future. Everyone loved it. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted April 6, 2021 Report Share Posted April 6, 2021 Looks like banana prawns tekobo. Tasty.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troble Posted April 6, 2021 Report Share Posted April 6, 2021 Looks delicious @tekobo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj Posted April 8, 2021 Report Share Posted April 8, 2021 Well, I finally bought a Bonfire, which was delivered last Friday. The KK Shopping Club pressure was too much to resist. I haven't had a chance to try it yet as it has been pretty rainy, super windy, or both here for the past couple of weeks. It sure looks good, though. Now I just have to get the chain saw running... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekobo Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 Acting on @Syzygies' advice, I have tried isopropyl alchohol as a fire starter in my Solo stove. It is pretty dramatic but doesn't always have a lasting effect and the fire often goes out. What I have now found is an even better use for the alchohol. No, I don't drink it. I soak part burned coals in the alchohol and use them to start the fire in my KKs. Wow. So simple. I drop a few soaked coals in to the centre of the KK when I am ready to light it. Apply fire, wind open vents and go away. Come back and the fire is always reliably alight in no time at all. No odour or impact on taste and no need to use a blower at all. A keeper. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syzygies Posted April 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 1 hour ago, tekobo said: It is pretty dramatic but doesn't always have a lasting effect and the fire often goes out. It's less dramatic in colder weather, lights like a gel. I always include a couple of lumps of wood at the base. I'd use all wood, but it burns down too completely, too quickly. I'd use all charcoal, but as you note it doesn't light as reliably by itself. I buy iso four gallons at a time, transfer to typical drugstore bottles, and use perhaps half a bottle at a time. Enough to make a loud noise and lose arm hair in summer. Don't try this at home? 😎 Solo Stove advises against charcoal, as it burns hotter than wood. Think bronze age. They're fearing that I'll fill my Solo Stove with charcoal, which I never do. A few inches at the bottom is enough to cook whatever I'm grilling. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted April 14, 2021 Report Share Posted April 14, 2021 @tekobo fantastic looking paella. I haven't made one in a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syzygies Posted April 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2021 I've been watching Adam Liaw's Ramen School videos. He mentions that ramen shops often warm chashu over a charcoal fire, but who does that for two bowls? I took this as a personal challenge, remembering how quickly I can set up my Solo Stove. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syzygies Posted May 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2021 An update on how I use my Solo Stoves: Solo Stove Campfire I only use this small stove to, say, roast one pepper. Solo Stove Ranger This is my go-to Solo Stove for grilling, anything that fits. Breeo Outpost 19 An adjustable height grate from a Solo Stove competitor, essential for fine-tuning fire control. Harbor Freight U.S. GENERAL 30 In. X 16 In. Three Shelf Steel Service Cart For when you really don't need quality. In this case, some mangling of the cart was required to stabilize the Breeo Outpost. Weber Large Grilling Basket For keeping fragile fish in place while grilling. Sonos Move The defining features of the KK are its thermal mass and its lid. This portable music player takes full advantage of both. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekobo Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 Did a lovely cook on my solo stove yesterday. Quail and pork tenderloin Squash on the KK Altogether with a nice ginger dressing on the squash and pomegranate on the quail. We had the pork tenderloin afterwards. It was a little dry. I’ll probably cook pork tenderloin the KK next time. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...