Kevin Gillespie Joins Founding Partners to Introduce KUDU Innovative South African-Inspired Live Fire Cooking System – Sure to Fan Flames of Desire Among Backyard Cooksters

Few are better qualified to blow the lid off the American barbecue experience than chef Kevin Gillespie, a guy who titled his first cookbook “Fire in My Belly.” Atlanta restaurateur Gillespie has joined founder Stebin Horne and his business partner, Stewart Vernon, as owners of the innovative KUDU Safari Braai outdoor life fire cooking system. The multifunctional grill, griddle and fire pit combined in one heavy gauge steel dream come true ignites flames of passion and kindles grill thrills in backyard fire enthusiasts. Gillespie explains, “With the KUDU, you are cooking without a lid and regulating the heat by creating distance from the heat source, enabling cooking on multiple surfaces simultaneously. From a culinary standpoint, I have yet to discover something I can’t do on it!”

Gillespie and Horne met a few months ago and immediately bonded over barbecue as Horne shared about the South African communal cooking technique called braai, where South African farmers weld a cooktop onto their old disc ploughs to cook for friends and family. Read more about the fascinating KUDU Nation story and cooking techniques. For Gillespie, who created the backyard beer garden Communionat his Decatur restaurant Revival, outdoor cooking is not about getting the food to the table gas-grill fast, it’s more akin to inviting friends to be a part of the experience – firing up the grill, cooking amazing food then gathering around the fire to watch embers glow. KUDU does all of that in one steely unit. While similar professional-grade wood-burning grills run toward the $5K mark, KUDU is being introduced at an affordable $750. Gillespie summarizes his excitement, “I don’t put my name on a lot of products, but I’m proud to attach my name to KUDU.” Ignite the fire. Buy KUDU here.

Appetizing Aperture

It's time to break out those Fire & Flavor grilling planks for simple outdoor cooking. The all-natural cedar, alder, maple and oak planks are perfect for grilling your appetizers, meats, and veggies to a create a delicious smoky taste perfect for your meats and veggies. See what you can cook up by trying recipes on the Fire and Flavor website and their recipe for planked brie with pistachios will be sure to impress!  

Grill Like a Legend -- Fire & Flavor Saddles Up with John Wayne Enterprises to Create All-American Grilling Collection

Timeless, on screen and off, John Wayne embodied the American spirit of authenticity, honesty, optimism and devotion to his country. The Duke loved a good steak, grilled to perfection, according to Ethan Wayne, John Wayne's son and president of John Wayne Enterprises. Athens, Ga.'s own Fire & Flavor is collaborating with John Wayne Enterprises to create a new collection of John Wayne Stock & Supply grilling items -- all made in the good ole' U.S.A. Home grillers will be able to purchase the all-natural, highest-quality spices and charcoal in March. Seasonings lead to bolder chicken, pork and beef. Oak and hickory briquette charcoals allow for quick lighting and sustain long burn times for slow cooking of larger cuts of pork and beef. Saddle up partner and head to this link to round up your posse of grilling items.

What's New On Pinterest: Gearing Up To Grill

You've earned them; now show us your stripes. Lengthwise on zucchini, crosshatched on eggplant, precise grids on chicken breast and burgers. Gosh. We'd hate to hide those perfect scores under a bun. Check out our "Gearing up to Grill" pins on Pinterest. 

Big Green Egg-cellence at Atkins Park

If you're like me, you can't get enough of patio dining now that the spring weather has finally arrived. Luckily, the folks at Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia-Highland feel the same way and have begun offering a weekly Big Green Egg "Chill & Grill" patio cookout. Every Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the restaurant's Sous Chef Justin Carr will prepare seasonal à la carte appetizers and entrées on the Big Green Egg that will change each week. The “chill” comes from a weekly selection of wine and craft beer chosen as ideal mates for the night’s menu. You can start teasing your taste buds every Monday when Atkins Park posts the week’s Chill & Grill menu on their Facebook Fan Page.

Atkins Park Tavern: 794 N. Highland Avenue; 404-876-7249.

It's Grilling Season...Grab Some Grate Chef and Pass the Bacon Salt!

The season known as “fire up the grill for the summer” starts sometime between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. There are no greeting cards to celebrate the season; however, Bacon Salt™ and Grate Chef® have the seasonings and supplies you’ll need to set the thrill of the grill off to a “grate” start.

Get Ready With Grate Chef
First, be sure your grill is prepared to do its job by cleaning the grate with non-flammable, Grill Wipes® disposable towelettes (MSRP $2.99/package of 6) that are loaded with restaurant-grade grilling oil that simultaneously cleans and oils your grate. Use the patented Chrome Steaming Grill Brush® (MSRP $19.99) to give your grill grates a good-as-new look with the power of lemon juice. Lemon acid and steam remove residue and recondition the grate – and the brush lasts through four seasons! Polish up the outside of your “baby” in one easy step with Stainless Steel Wipes® (MSRP $2.99/package of 6). Now you’re ready to light the grill! The Fire Starter® (MSRP $2.99/package of 6), an environmentally safe, non-toxic charcoal-lighting option uses packets that heat up to an odorless, tasteless 1,500 degrees in approximately 10 minutes. Purchase Grate Chef products nationwide in grocery and hardware stores, and specialty stores such as Barbeques Galore, Inc., Bed, Bath & Beyond and Linens ‘n Things. For more information or to order products, call 877-900-8415.

Pig Out in Good Health!
Everything tastes better with J & D’s Bacon Salt! It’s not an oxymoron to include the words “health” and “bacon” in the same sentence when we’re talking about J & D’s Bacon Salt. The zero-calorie, zero-fat, vegetarian and kosher seasoning adds the delectable taste of bacon to whatever you’re grilling or putting on the side. Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow (the J&D) have packaged their perky peak of the pig seasonings in four flavors – Original, Hickory, Peppered and Natural – that will put new oink in your salads, sides, meats, sandwiches…and even popcorn. Bacon Salt is taking the nation by storm, having launched successfully in more than 2,000 retail and grocery stores and by receiving a hog’s share of media coverage. Justin and Dave have even created a charitable giving initiative called Operation Bacon Salt, which provides free Bacon Salt to troops serving in countries where bacon and other pork products are not permitted due to cultural reasons.