The deed is done … I have bought a BBQ.
I had wanted one with a lid, as friends told me that I would then be able to BBQ things like legs of lamb and whole chickens, but the store I went to this morning (long bus ride out to the burbs) mostly had the typical open style ones. At first I had my eye on this covered one, but not only was it expensive (110€) it seemed more like a BBQ oven, was kind of small, and you couldn’t adjust the grill height. Then I thought I wanted this one for 50€ because it had a nice cart attached to it, a grease catcher and air vent, and was on wheels. But no lid. In the end I went for the cheapest one on offer. It cost 15€, is basically a large metal bowl on a tripod, and will probably not last the summer. Or it may last ten years.
The reason for going with this very basic “starter model” was because it occurred to me that I have no idea if I’m going to end up even using the thing much. I mean, I love food cooked on the BBQ and I love the concept of cooking outdoors and enjoying meals up on the terraza. But how often will I actually do this? What with having to lug everything upstairs, then deal with all that messy charcoal and the even messier cleanup.
So I think it makes sense to spend this first summer with a terraza using a cheap basic model to discover what my BBQ habits will end up like. I mean, it’s going to do the job for simple things like meat, burgers, ribs, sausages, kebabs, etc. If I find it lacking then I’ll look for something better either next year or during the summer sales.
Also, because it only cost 15€ I could also get a new microwave (49€) and an extra fan (needed for the small bedroom), all of which will be delivered tomorrow morning. Along with a big bag of charcoal. I’m thinking the first BBQ will be on Sunday – join me?
A cool and overcast Sunday morning seemed the perfect moment to have brekky up on the terraza with the laptop (less glare) and the boys. I was a bit nervous about the low swooping birds that kept catching Loki’s attention, but he seemed content to explore every inch of the terraza as if he had never seen it before. And then quick as a flash he was off chasing a dragonfly and almost went “over the top” in the process. My heart still catches just thinking about it. And so he was put back inside, at which point Azar decided he didn’t like being out there without his buddy… but it was fun while it lasted.
