The winter season offers but a brief reprieve from the punishing year-round heat dealt across the bulk of Florida’s four annual “seasons.” During these very limited number of cool days, I try to spend as much time as possible enjoying the weather outdoors. Now, I love fishing as much as anybody, but fishing is great here no matter the temperature. That’s why, when it’s cool, it’s another outdoor activity that tugs at my heart strings: cooking. There’s just no better time than now to break out the grill or smoker and go to town!

Grilling, BBQ, or however you define it, has taken on a life of its own in recent years. The explosion of television shows such as Barbeque Pit Masters have launched the passion for outdoor cooking into the mainstream. I’m proud to say that I’ve been a fanatic since long before it was cool, but it’s as good a time as ever to join the club if you haven’t already. Personally, I am a charcoal-and-wood kind of guy. I enjoy firing up the grill or smoker and taking the time to let everything get just right before putting the food on. It’s a process I happen to find very therapeutic — and let’s face it — the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is well worth the wait. Slow and low baby, that’s the ticket!

Got Yourself A Grill

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s no better way to reward oneself than with a new grill. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. From smoked turkey and glazed hams, to steaks and seafood, dive in and enjoy it all. It’s time to treat yourself!

If you’re ready to purchase a new grill or smoker, do yourself a HUGE favor: skip the Walmarts and Home Depots, and head directly to Ace Hardware Titusville’s Grilling Headquarters on 3160 Garden Street. Note that Ace Hardware Titusville now has two locations, but listen, this is NOT your average hardware store. Loaded with fishing gear, boating accessories, performance apparel — and most importantly here, an incredible selection of outdoor cooking equipment — Ace Hardware Titusville is truly a one-stop-shop for recreational outdoor needs. It also happens to boast the largest selection of Costa Sunglasses in Brevard County. More to the point, their incredible selection of grills, smokers, and cooking accessories is second to none.

What’s the Right Grill for You?

When searching for the right grill or smoker, there are primarily two things you should take into consideration before purchasing: your cooking style and product quality.

First, what’s your cooking style?

  • If you want to be able to quickly cook your desired meal in a reasonable amount of time while eliminating the need for charcoal and cleanup; or, as the great Hank Hill once said, you want to “taste the meat, not the heat,” a gas grill may best suite your style.
  • If you enjoy a longer cooking process as part of the fun and like to “taste the heat,” then you may be a charcoal, wood, or pellet kind of person.

The second important consideration is the quality of the equipment. Ace Hardware Titusville Garden St. carries three brands that are widely held as the best in the industry: Weber, Traegar, and Big Green Egg — each of which being best suited for a specific style of cooking.

Weber

Weber is probably the most well know of all of the brands. Founder George Stephen Sr. invented his famous kettle style design back in 1952. If you recall any of the old Tom & Jerry cartoons they always featured these designs. It’s a classic for a reason; if it’s not broke, don’t fix it! This a fantastic grill that has stood the test of time. Weber also does a great job with their smaller grills. If you enjoy tailgating before any big event, Weber makes a smaller version of their famous grill called the “Smokey Joe” that looks just like their full size kettle grill. If you don’t want to mess with charcoal before the big game, their fold down gas grills are easy to manage and work like a charm!

Traegar

Traegar makes a top of the line pellet grill. They actually pioneered pellet grills some thirty years ago. Pellet grills are electric outdoor grills that are fueled by hardwood pellets. In addition to providing the fuel for the grill, the pellets also add flavor. Similar to traditional wood chips, you can purchase the pellets in a number of different flavors such as maple, hickory, cherry, pecan, apple, etc. You can do just about anything on a pellet grill. Smoke, braise, grill, they are incredibly versatile and easy to use. Almost too easy — set it and forget it!

Big Green Egg

The Big Green Egg (BGE) movement that is sweeping the nation cannot be ignored. The company itself started in 1974 but in the last 10 years they have taken on a life of their own. To own a BGE is like being a part of a fraternity. Egg Heads take their cooking seriously and why wouldn’t they? Some of the most amazing food I have tasted has come from these awesome ceramic eggs! The BGE is a kamodo-style ceramic grill. They are easy to light and easy to control the temperature so you can cook steaks hot and fast or brisket, ribs and pork shoulders slow & low. What’s neat about BGE’s is they make just about every accessory known to man for these cookers. I witnessed this firsthand at the Sunshine State BGE Fest the last couple of years. People come from all around to show off their signature items cooked on their BGE’s. I have tasted everything from pizza to smoked pickles. Let’s just say the possibilities are endless.

Be Ready-to-Grill with Ace

A few years ago, my wife got me a grill for my birthday. I was so excited, I went out the next morning to pickup dinner and bought the finest steaks cut fresh from the cow. After getting home, I was ready to set up the grill. I tore into the box to find a thousand pieces of metal accompanied with twenty-four pages of instructions. Needless to say, we did not eat steak that night.

If only my wife got the grill at Ace Hardware Titusville, we could have avoided all the frustration of anger-eating a frozen pizza that night. If you buy a new grill with a retail value of $399 or greater, Ace Hardware Titusville will assemble and deliver the ready-to-cook grill directly to your home. It doesn’t get any better than that, believe me! Ace carries grills with prices starting from $29 to $3,000, so whether you are into cooking with charcoal, wood, pellets or gas, Ace Hardware in Titusville has a grill or smoker designed just for you. Ace is the place for all of your grilling needs!