[Miffy]

Now that summer is pretty much here we thought we would crank up our BBQ.

Need to get gas so we took the valve thing down to Warehouse to get some gas. None of their gas bottles would fit so we went to a BBQ shop.
Non of the gas bottles would fit our UK valve.
So we asked about buying a new valve.

We were told there that our valve and pipe connection was illegal!!!!!
Apprantly the pipe from the valve to the BBQ needs to be permantely attached to the valve. They use a special glue to attach the pipe to the valve. Also the pipe into the the BBQ itself needs to be secured via screw in attachement not just a 'juliane' clip which our UK one is.
So you can't just buy a new valve and shove it on the pipe you have to get a pipe and valve set, but the pipe bit won't attach to our BBQ.

SO no BBQ for us the labour weekend :no

It looks like we will either got to a gas company to get the valve / pipe / BBQ attached proberly or buy a whole new BBQ :wah

Will keep you all informed on the out come.
It might prove better to sell your BBQ in the UK and get a new one here. :yes

[Bubbles]

Thanks for the info Miffy but Nah, personally I'll carry on useing good ol' charcoal. :nice1

[Avalon]

Im about to enter into the deep and mysterious world of BBQ's myself. Never had one in the UK.

There are so many available - ive no idea what im looking for. One thing I have found - charcoal BBQs seem quite expensive here.

However - looking forward to learning some new cooking.

[kiwidebs]

Thanks for the info Miffy but Nah, personally I'll carry on useing good ol' charcoal. :nice1

My brother and my Dad consider themselves BBQ experts and both rubbished the idea of gas BBQ's years ago. I notice both of them now have state of the art gas barbies with lots of burners, a spit and, on my brothers one, a built in wok. I don't think my Mum roasts chicken anymore - it just goes on the spit!! My Dad swears by his - and as far as I'm concerned, charred food is charred food however it comes about.

Debs

[Miffy]

Gas Barbies are the way forward.
With theire roasting spits, hot plates, and hoods.
Some of the BBQ over here are twice the size of a normal oven!

[StevieD]

Ah, the humble BBQ! So simple yet causes so much trouble :)

[dave k]

Sorry, charcoal fer me all the way. Gas bbqs are just big boy's toys :p

[Avalon]

The thing I just dont get about Gas BBQs is that you dont get the "BBQ flavour" that you get from Charcoal.

Am I missing something????

[selchie]

I think BBQs are a crafty way to get the men to help with cooking http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/verkleidung/costumed-smiley-014.gif, and adding gas makes it even easier. We're charcoal fans in our home, especially mesquite. Don't know if it's available in NZ, though. We might have to make some applewood charcoal when we get there.

About which kind of BBQ to get: if you like charcoal, I recommend a Webber-type design. Webber is a popular brand in the States, don't know if they are found abroad. They are spheroidal: bowl-shaped pan and bowl-shaped lid. I guess that helps distibute the heat evenly. I think the (approx.) 2-foot size costs about $80US. In ours, my OH smokes fish and even cooks the Thanksgiving turkey. Yum.

Rather than buying "poof juice" (aka white man's fire) to start the charcoal (icky tastes), I recommend getting a BBQ chimney-shaped starter. It looks like a big can with a handle. There are vent holes in the bottom and a ventillated pan inside. You put your charcoal in the top, newspaper in the bottom, light the paper, let the coals get glowy, pour them out, and Bob's yer uncle.

[Avalon]

Weber is available here. Only you are looking at about $300 nz for a 22" barbie!

May want to look at:
http://www.bbqfactory.co.nz/
to compare!

Im currently eyeing up at Masport Weekender 6 deluxe 6 burner gas BBQ. And yes - its significantly bigger than my oven!

[sizzlingbadger]

We ended up getting the Masport Lifestyle 4 BBQ. It is really good and cooks enough food to feed 5 of us.

BBQ Factory are expensive though. If you can have a look in Mitre 10, you get fly buys as well.

Gas bottle is around the $40 mark and then $15 to fill it up.

[selchie]

$300NZ for a Webber? Ouch! Maybe we should bring a spare when we come over.

[jen]

no kidding . . . we just picked up a used webber at a garage sale for $20! Maybe we'll have to clean it up and see if we can ship it.

Our bbqing skills are sadly underdeveloped & I'm hoping that 'teaching the ignorant immigrants the NZ way to bbq' will be a good icebreaker with our future neighbors and coworkers :)

[Debbie]

Is there any guildance on shipping BBQ's over. They are fairly impossible to get spotless and since they are stored outside and have contact with meat I had thought that MAF would be very anti-them. I had planned to leave ours here as thought the MAF cleaning fine would make it unviable to bring them but seeing the cost of replacing in NZ Im thinking again.
It would be great if we could bring our's over as OH has a collection of them. Anyone any advise on the best way to bring a BBQ over. Has everyone just steam cleaned theirs.
Debbie

[clg]

Avalon, did you buy the 6 burner weekender? We are eyeing the same one and wanted to get your input if you pick one up.

Thanks!

Chris

[Avalon]

Chris,

Not yet im afraid - had to meet some new people and go to a party this weekend - then trekked to Riversdale beach for a picnic today (it was grey and cloudy but what the hell). Somehow shopping just got left off the list (wihich is wierd!)

I may be popping to Mitre 10 Mega on tuesday and BBQ factory on Tuesday (there arent any in the Wiararapra) so I can actually see one in real life - ill let you know what I think!

[clg]

Well, we went ahead and got one yesterday. Seems quite nice great price compared to others like it, we have not fired it up yet but after we get the canister filled we are plannning on breaking it in later this week.

Thanks for the input!

[Avalon]

Chris,

Could you let me know where you got it from and the price? I have to budget quite carefully, so If I can knock a few bucks off that would be great.

[Miffy]

Is there any guildance on shipping BBQ's over. They are fairly impossible to get spotless and since they are stored outside and have contact with meat I had thought that MAF would be very anti-them. I had planned to leave ours here as thought the MAF cleaning fine would make it unviable to bring them but seeing the cost of replacing in NZ Im thinking again.
It would be great if we could bring our's over as OH has a collection of them. Anyone any advise on the best way to bring a BBQ over. Has everyone just steam cleaned theirs.
Debbie

We just scrubbed and cleaned the grill.
Maff didn't want it espcially cleaned.

[tigerlily]

Can anyone tell me if I will run into the same connector problem for the fuel if I bring over my gas grill from America?

Thank you!

[DB]

The real problem is not the compatibility of gas bottle connectors, but of the incompatibility of gas.

A UK barbie will operate on one of either propane (red cylinder) or butane (blue cylinder), but you cant buy either of those gases here in NZ. Well, you can, but I was quoted over 400 bucks for a fill for a 9KG bottle of propane!!!!!

What you can get readily (just about every garage forecourt) is LPG, which is a mixture of butane and propane. So the official answer is that you cant operate a UK BBQ off readily available gas in NZ.

I brought a UK patio heater to NZ, and have sucessfully connected it to LPG, and although it sounds a little odd (different gas pressures) it operates reasonable well, though not as well as it could on the right gas of the right pressure.

If you are competent to make gas connections you can get what you need from several chains, but if you need to ask, then you dont know enough to do the job with a sufficient degree of safety.

[tatch76]

Movers here today and loading up the grill from the U.S.
I've heard that the LPG will work fine, but should be able to let you know in about 8 weeks!

[clg]

Good luck with the move Tatch, where are you headed?

[Miffy]

*sigh* we are going to have to scrap the BBQ :wah :wah :wah

If we get a gas expert to fix convert the pipe going into the BBQ its doubtful that the LPG gas will work. :(
Ian SAID to sell the BBQ when we were still in the UK but I veto'd that and insisted that we take it. (that makes it 1 all on the take it vs sell it stakes between us)

So this weekend we will be buying an new bbq. just as well I got my UK tax rebate cheque through the post .... the good lord gives with one hand and the take it back with the other

[Smiler]

Miffy

What was Ians score of 1 for?:D


D

[Miffy]

He sold the Dyson :mad: I wanted to bring it with us :yes
Said it wouldn't pass maff as it had dust / dirt in it.

Sold it on e-bay, he cleaned it up to take the picture and then AGAIN to sell it. By the time he was finished it was sparkling almost like new.
Would have passed Maff with flying colours, with a gold star.

I now have a stupied little philips thing, found it in the rental house, no suck on it, has a messy bag to change, no suction what so ever, holes in the piple, heavy, noisy, did I mention the lack of suction?
pah!

so we are "one all" on the what we should have / shoudn't have bought with us :laugh

[Smiler]

Miffy

We're thinking of buying a hoover. What's the suction like on the Phillip's smaller models, please?

:laugh :laugh

D x

[Miffy]

:laugh :laugh



The bloody BBQ saga continues ....

Going to buy one at the weekend so went to all the BBQ shops (bbq warehouse, 4 seasons, mitre 10 & the warehouse) found a great one in the warehouse, big, but not crazy big and at the right price. BUT everyone else in Dunners must have found it it also before us. As they have run out and awaiting a new deliver "soon" :mad: :wah

Maybe when mitre 10 mega opens soon they will have some deals going on ....

[Avalon]

Well, im now the proud owner of a Weekender Delux 6, and we are christening it tonight!

Fingers crossed that I dont destroy the steaks.

[clg]

You will do fine with it Avalon. We just broke ours in a couple days ago and it really worked great. I am very happy with it so far!

[Smiler]

Heard an advert on the radio for a BBQ for $5000 :eek: and that was special offer . GULP!!!

I bet our lovely all singing dancing one we left in the UK is sitting on my parents patio with the cover on, being used to stand plants on. :wah :wah

D x

[Avalon]

Clg,

Early indications are that I can cook a mean steak on the Barbie!!!!! It was soooo yummy.

I now feel like a true New Zealander!