Born to Grill: An American Celebration

Rating:
Summary: An OK Cook book but not my best... yet
Review: Born to grill is a handsome cookbook with some interesting recipes for the outdoor grill. Truthfully, I have only used one recipe which was "grilled frys". Simple enough to execute for Mother's day steak dinner, I followed it step by step, including the cooking times pointed out and the requisite heat source. Result was not great.In fact I was disappointed in the results. The potato's were way overdone and not visually appealing like I had anticipated. This would not be the book I would buy for a new or veteran grill chef. Spend your money on "BURNING DESIRES" by W Park Kerr. I have used this as my grill bible. The recipes are dead on and I have yet to be let down. Also have a problem with the authors who I presume have some experience in outdoor cooking but also write travel books. It's either one or the other for me. Cook or travel.

Rating:
Summary: Loose Grips on the Grill
Review: Born To Grill: An American Celebration is a comprehensive, highly recommended compendium offering more than 300 sizzling, satisfying recipes for the backyard cook and griller. From Pale Ale Porterhouse, Old-Timey Big 'Un Burger, and Calypso Chicken Breasts, to Sizzled Shrimp with Lemon Noodles, Vegetables Verde Quesadilla, and Grilled Banana Split, these are wonderfully presented, fun, imaginative, delicious and nutritious dishes that would grace any meal, indoors or out!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful BBQ companion
Review: I am not a great fan of these authors' smoker cookbook, but that has not had an impact on my appreciation of this volume. It has become very well marked up by splatterings of bbq sauce over many months of frequent use, as I'm sure it will be for anyone else who delves into the vast array of recipes it contains.

Rating:
Summary: Good recipes, but close-minded attitude
Review: I highly recommend this book for the recipes, but I was very turned off by the "open grill only" attitude of the authors. The authors believe in charcoal or other open flame methods only, and thumb their nose at Weber-style grills which employ the cover of the grill in cooking.

This in itself was not terrible, but the authors made a feeble, almost cynical attempt at "also providing" covered cooking methods and times, and it appears as if they went off of a chart as opposed to actually doing it for themselves. The times are generally completely out of whack with what my grill actually required (I use a Weber Silver B, which is not the most powerful grill out there but is certainly more than adequate for any of the recipes I tried). Some of the instructions are incomplete or downright contradictory!

So, recommended for charcoal users; everyone else, beware.

Rating:
Summary: Good recipes, but close-minded attitude
Review: I highly recommend this book for the recipes, but I was very turned off by the "open grill only" attitude of the authors. The authors believe in charcoal or other open flame methods only, and thumb their nose at Weber-style grills which employ the cover of the grill in cooking.

This in itself was not terrible, but the authors made a feeble, almost cynical attempt at "also providing" covered cooking methods and times, and it appears as if they went off of a chart as opposed to actually doing it for themselves. The times are generally completely out of whack with what my grill actually required (I use a Weber Silver B, which is not the most powerful grill out there but is certainly more than adequate for any of the recipes I tried). Some of the instructions are incomplete or downright contradictory!

So, recommended for charcoal users; everyone else, beware.

Rating:
Summary: Tasty recipes & other stuff, too...
Review: Love this book...well orgnanized by type-of-food. As a beginner/intermediate griller, I get a lot out of it since the book supplements the (savory) recipes with tips and tricks on grilling techniques; e.g vegetable grilling techniques in "Getting Fresh in the Garden," and tips on picking the best cut of meat in "Serious Steaks." The cider-and-brown-sugar salmon (with spice rub) is one of my favorites...also love their beer-braised onion recipe in the burger section. I'll be heaping burgers high w/ these from now on.

I'd also never tried tricky scallops before and the timing was right on -- plus the paprika-rub spiced them up. If you're just starting to grill, check this book out - recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Loose Grips on the Grill
Review: Some catchy ideas and tasty combos, but nothing simple here. And if you don't live in Tucson or El Paso, where do you come across "Consorizo," "carambolas," or squash blossoms on your run to the gas station? To their credit, the Jamison's give you alternatives that might show up at your local market, but don't wait to the last minute cause there's nothing here that can be done in that amount of time.

When you have the time, and need the quantity, there's some good stuff here. And the Jamison's have a very useful chapter on ingridients you can make and store (and even have the grace to include them in most of the 300 recipes! Nice going!). The instructions are seldom ambiguious and often entertaining and the layout inviting. Also enjoyed the lack of zealotry. The book reads like a cookout should feel.

Rating:
Summary: Tips and techniques and great new recipes.
Review: This is a great book for anyone who wants to get the most out of their grill. The Jamisons give detailed instructions for using all types of grills and great new recipes to put these into practice, including sassy new marinades, grilled pizzas and bold accompaniments. This one's a winner!

Rating:
Summary: The true bible of grilling
Review: We have used the recipes in this book for a grilling demonstration day at our store for years. The book contains recipes for out of the ordinary menu items you wouldn't think of cooking on the grill. The last recipe I prepared was for Tortilla and Tomato soup, it was incredible. I'll never be able to eat Campbells again without thinking of these flavors. The other nice thing about this book is that it still covers the basics like dogs and burgers with advice on how to make them the best you've ever tasted.

Beside most of the recipes is a highlighted section on optional ways to prepare them. These suggestions give you the chance to alter the recipe each time you prepare it.

The section at the end on side dishes lets you put together a complete menu of grilled items and those prepared on the stove. This is one stop shopping for dinner ideas!

Rating:
Summary: The true bible of grilling
Review: We have used the recipes in this book for a grilling demonstration day at our store for years. The book contains recipes for out of the ordinary menu items you wouldn't think of cooking on the grill. The last recipe I prepared was for Tortilla and Tomato soup, it was incredible. I'll never be able to eat Campbells again without thinking of these flavors. The other nice thing about this book is that it still covers the basics like dogs and burgers with advice on how to make them the best you've ever tasted.

Beside most of the recipes is a highlighted section on optional ways to prepare them. These suggestions give you the chance to alter the recipe each time you prepare it.

The section at the end on side dishes lets you put together a complete menu of grilled items and those prepared on the stove. This is one stop shopping for dinner ideas!