Buying a BBQ

[CeeDee]

Acouple of years ago we bought a BBQ for our apartment, we found them quite expensive and ended up buying a small table top type which has been ok. This year we want to buy a bigger one (many of our friends now come to Calis and the table top one is no good).
So any advice on the following would be helpful;
Best place to buy ?
Solid fuel or Gas ? (is gas easy to get hold of, and how much more expensive is Gas type)
Would the shop deliver to the apartment (too big/heavy to carry in 40 degrees heat)

thanks for any help on this matter

Chris

[Jacqui Harvey]

We bought ours in a shop on the road just along from Tansas, it's a place that specialise in Barbeques.  We had thought about a gas one, but they are quite expensive, the ones we looked at where all over 150TL  the gas ones don't seem to be popular in Turkey.  However, we think that the food tastes better and more authentic when barbequed over coals.  I don't know if this shop would deliver, but you could always ask.

[stoop]

We bought a gas one from the same area as Jacqui mentioned above. We got fed up of the poor quality charcoal taking an age to light and then ending up looking more like coal and spitting red hot bits at us. It came with lava rock and really does the job - especially when there are a few of us eating. As at home I can't really notice any difference in taste but have found that I don't tend to burn food any more as the gas is much more controllable (and the warming tray helps too).

He didn't deliver but we took it already made up in the back of a taxi.

[Jacqui Harvey]

We got one of the metal funnels that you start the sticks and coal burning in and then tip it onto the pan, works a treat, also buy the packs of fuel that burn up quickly, we never have any bother.  We used to have a gas BBQ here in Scotland but we got rid of it and went back to the coals as we much prefer the taste. Don't see much point in gas, you might as well cook the food indoors and then bring it out to the table.  Have to say my husband is an expect at bbq's and never burns anything.  It's strange how men are born to bbq!!

[stoop]

Difference cooking from indoors is that the taste comes from the fat that burns on the barbecue. We tend not to have too much of that on our cooker ;-)

Have to say that I've not been at all disappointed since changing from charcoal to gas in either country. Quicker, cleaner and much more controllable.

Each to their own though. I won't say no if anyone is inviting us to a charcoal barbie  

[jackstee]

The local B&Q is an agent for Webber BBQ's. Expensive but worth it. I cook a full sunday roast, pot's, veg and meat and very controlable.

Steve

[CeeDee]

Thanks for replies,
Stoop can I ask how much you paid for your gas BBQ, and what size the cooking area is, as I'm the same as you,we have gas at home and much prefer it.

Chris