The perfect grill for a spring road trip

I don’t know where my parents found it, but they bought this portable charcoal grill for my little brother a couple of years ago. When he moved into his dorm room at CU in the fall, he left the grill at home in the garage.

When I uncovered it behind some boxes a few weeks ago, I promptly snatched it. (Hope he’s not reading this.)Actually, I’m guessing he’ll find out where it is regardless. This grill isn’t one you want to misplace.I actually prefer it to my full-size gas grill at home, although my apartment complex doesn’t allow charcoal grills.

As far as portable grills go, this one from New Braunfels smokes the competition.You get the same great flavor that you’d find with a full-size Weber, and the convenience of a lightweight Coleman camping grill. The whole apparatus weighs about 15 pounds, and has a grilling surface of around 20 inches.Texas-based New Braunfels specializes in steel smokers. I couldn’t find the grill my parents bought for my brother on the Internet, but every grilling website rated the company’s products as some of the best in the industry.

There is the adage that food always tastes better when you’re in the outdoors, and I can’t disagree. I will say, however, that there is a vast difference between gas and charcoal when it comes to barbecuing. The portable Coleman grills are great for drive-up camping, and the convenience of using small tanks of propane beats charcoal. Still, the trade-off for flavor isn’t worth it – which is why my own Coleman is now gathering dust in my storage space.Just remember, before you fire up the grill at your next drive-up camping spot, check the fire danger and read all regulations concerning the use of grills.