I have seen quite a few mentions of the Mike and Maaike Baja BBQ Firepack (NotCot, Core77, MoCo Loco, Josh Spear, et al) and I am really interested in seeing one in action. According to the Mike and Maaike site, the firepack is:

“made from 100% recycled biodegradable paper pulp, the package contains 2 lbs of natural lump charcoal and features an integrated chimney that creates perfect hot coals without the aid of chemicals or lighter fluid.”

That sounds fantastic. But I have yet to find a price or details on where to buy it, beyond “gourmet supermarkets.” However, I have found a few links about eco-friendly outdoor cooking that might be useful as I wait for the Baja BBQ Firepack:

• Buy eco-friendly charcoal
• Get Your Grill On at Sierra Club
• Use a Bucket Grill to conserve space and energy
• Use solar power! Make your own solar oven or buy one from Sun Oven

The spike in temperatures this weekend has convinced me that I need to start looking into outdoor cooking options quickly. I LOVE to cook, but the kitchen and living room turned into a sauna last night while I was making dinner. I need a new grill and I need it now! It’s the first piece in the puzzle that is my dream outdoor kitchen. After years of messing around with hibachis and other portable charcoal grills, I want a nice big gas grill with side burners, possibly with charcoal or smoking capabilities. I know I am starting to sound like Hank Hill (”Taste the meat, not the heat.“), but I can almost smell the grilled salmon, corn and kebabs.

My top 5 grill choices, based on features and reviews:

• Ducane Meridian 24″ 3 Burner Natural Gas Grill
• Weber Summit S-650 Natural Gas Stainless Steel Grill
• Napoleon Prestige V Freestanding Gas Grill
• Vermont Castings The Grand Signature Series 5 Burner Gas Grill
• Viking C4 Outdoor Cooker with 41″ Side Cart, 2 Side Burners and Charcoal Cooking Capsule

The sad reality of course is that I am a bit limited by space right now, and any one of the above grills would totally dominate the space we have. So, they’ll have to be on the wish list for a while, while I consider a more practical option like the Weber Spirit. It seems more suited to smaller spaces and it’s definitely easier on the budget.