In other news the Australian invasion continues with many Australian companies finding a good market in the United States and Canada. Interestingly enough, many people who have grown up with American style grills are seeking out Australian style grills. For those of you who don't know, Australian style grills typically have no lid and the burner or charcoal pan is much closer to the cooking grate, making for true grilling. Manufacturers like Outback, Sunshine and Aussie Grills have found a big market outside Australia and seem ready to capitalize on it.
The big news in high-end grills (those above $2000) is the expiration of TEC’s patent on the Infrared Burner. This burner that can generate temperatures above 1000oF is now part of dozens of new grills, including Altima which gives you the option of replacing a standard gas burner with an infrared burner. Solaire was created by a fireplace insert company to capitalize of this patent expiration and began shipping products literally within hours of the expiration date. Several more have come along and I bet that more will in the near future. Alfresco has introduced what they call the SearZone, an infrared burner to the side that lets you sear meats before finishing them off over a standard gas burner. Of course you’ll need a lot of cash to get your hands on one of these. The Alfresco runs around $2,700.
The high-end grill market continues to grow and everyone seems to be trying to cash in on the potential of selling grills in the $4,000 to $8,000 range. Weber has been showing off some impressive stainless steel units that are a full step up from their Summit series. While there is no word on distribution or price I would think with their experience and distribution networks that this grill will become a major player on the scene.
