Gas barbecue- any recommendations?

I'm in the market for a small table-top gas barby- the sort that folds up into a tin box, pretty much like an attache case. Reading the reviews it seems that quality is variable and not seemingly price-dependent. Some views from the US re safety are actually worrying!

Has anyone here advice on what to consider and what to avoid? I really want a small unit- not one which merely closes up and has legs folded underneath... we have managed to fill our Stanton pretty much to capacity, so space is tight. Price? I'm not looking to pay more than £60; so that rules out the like of Weber but I really cannot justify spending loads on something which may not get used all that often.

Daft question (I always manage at least one)... presumably the gas-outlet on the side of the van is at regulated pressure and I merely need a flexi-pipe from the bayonet connection to the grill? This (if my surmise is correct) also rules out loads of barbies, which have a regulator attached.

Hi Pete

First question, do you really want a barbecue?? (A thought to ponder, rather than a question.)

I ask because we've been through the lot in our time, and our van is the same size as yours, and just as full!!

We've decided not to bother any more. We now have one of those cheap single burner rings that runs off a little canister, and a cast iron griddle on top. We find this does what we want, and although it's clearly not a barbecue it takes up a heck of a lot less room, and perhaps even more importantly when in "idle" mode on holiday, it's dead easy to clean.

If you decide to go ahead, the one we found most useful is here > > http://www.amazon.co.uk/Campingaz-Camping-Kitchen-Grill-Griddle/dp/B00154J5V0 but it appears to be unavailable now!

Well - not entirely, since ours has only been used about three times, and it could go to a good home for little more than twice what it's worth!

Are you going to the Malvern Show?

Dave


P.S. You are correct about the outside gas tap. It is regulated.

Go to any outdoor shop and you can get one of the single burner/cassette in a box type for a tenner. At which price reliability is not an issue, although I have never seen one go wrong.
Don't buy a fancy pan. A standard medium nonstick frying pan does everything, including fry eggs, which a griddle won't do. 

Regards

Peterm

He didn't read mine either Peter.

I shall sulk for days now - proper upset I am!

Dave

Tut tut, Peter.

What you pointed us to on the no tax Amazon is a more expensive grill pan, which indeed has a flat area for warming up you hot water bottle if you wish( it saves them making a terrible mess of the oven). However that grill pan comprises a fixed part of the contraption, so is not applicable to the stove I recommended. 
I am in the garden with the Times and a bottle of pino. Hope that is your excuse as well.
Anyhow, when the rallies had raffles I managed to win two different types of griddle. The first had no flat top, just ridges and grooves. The second had a flatish area which was unfortunately slightly concave, and would not fry an egg.
Why mess about? Go to the Pound shop and buy a frying pan. You can even make an unusual poached egg with water in it if you have an aversion to fat.

Grommit,
I did indeed read your post, but as I find just one recommendation two short of reliable, I was backing you up.
Is this some kind of mob behaviour?

Since you mentioned you have an external BBQ point I'm not sure why you'd want a Camping Gaz product that needs expensive cannisters; also you did ask about a BBQ not a gas ring with a griddle plate, so I'll try to answer your original questions rather than try to dissuade you from what you want as others have done.
      

I don't think there's anything that substitutes the taste of food cooked in a hot, smoky barbie, albeit the purists will say it needs to be charcoal not gas!

I can't remember the make of ours but will check in a day or two when I have access to it. It's our second one, the first was rubbish with click in legs that meant two people were required to assemble it, whereas the current one has hinged legs that swivel down into place very easily.

However if you're searching for one meanwhile, I would recommend you buy one with some sort of wave-grill system (like a wave-shaped metal plate with slots that goes above the burner bar) rather than one with imitation coals or lava as these are a real pain to set out each time.  

If your BBQ point is like the one I fitted:
http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan/gas/product_40103/barbeque_outlet_point_with_gas_tap.aspx

then if fitted properly  it should be tee'd in after the regulator so as you say you don't need a BBQ with a regulator.  You will however probably need an adaptor for the end of your rubber tubing, to fit into the BBQ point:

http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan/home/product_30861/barbeque_point_outlet_fitting.aspx

this fits into the outlet point and the valve should not turn to the on position unless the correct adaptor is used and properly clicked in place.

I'll get back to you when I've tracked down our make/model.

cheers
Roger

We bought a Cadac Safari Chef. Its brilliant ! Without doubt the best purchase we have made so far ! 
Very compact and has 5 cooking surfaces and packs away into a canvas bag...

Swear by my Cadac Carri-Chef connected directly to an external gas point.  Expensive but had it, and used it, for over 10 years.  With the accessories, there is nothing that cannot be cooked outdoors, splattering away, without making a mess in the van.  Also uses less gas than cooking inside.

rogerblack wrote: so I'll try to answer your original questions rather than try to dissuade you from what you want as others have done.
      
Roger

That's obviously aimed at me Roger, and a bit unfair when I was careful to say, "A thought to ponder rather than a question." largely in response to Pete's comment when he said, "we have managed to fill our Stanton pretty much to capacity, so space is tight."

I did also answer his question with a recommendation, albeit when I looked for a link for him I discovered that it seems to be no longer available (and probably bigger than he would want).

Are we not allowed to offer alternative suggestions when it appears they might help to solve Pete's storage problem, and save a lot of cash into the bargain?

Dave

Hi there,

We have a "Le Cube" gas bottle for France and have used one of these regularly for the last twelve years.

http://deco.plurielles.fr/tendance-deco/nomade-3314516-402.html

It's incredibly versatile as it can be used as a gas ring, a barbecue, a raised "fat-free" griddle or a flat griddle for crêpes; and it comes with a regulator and waterproof cover that covers the BBQ and the bottle.

The gas bottle itself is very lightweight and relatively cheap to replace .... 

.... unfortunately, I think you have to be in France to do so!   

I'm not aware of anything similar in the UK but if there is I would definitely recommend it!   

Best regards,

Gromit wrote:

rogerblack wrote: so I'll try to answer your original questions rather than try to dissuade you from what you want as others have done.
      
Roger

That's obviously aimed at me Roger, and a bit unfair when I was careful to say, "A thought to ponder rather than a question." largely in response to Pete's comment when he said, "we have managed to fill our Stanton pretty much to capacity, so space is tight."

I did also answer his question with a recommendation, albeit when I looked for a link for him I discovered that it seems to be no longer available (and probably bigger than he would want).

Are we not allowed to offer alternative suggestions when it appears they might help to solve Pete's storage problem, and save a lot of cash into the bargain?

Dave

Sorry, Dave, I didn't mean to offend - I couldn't find an emoticon with a tongue pushed firmly into a cheek so thought I'd used the nearest to make that point, sincere apologies if it wasn't clear.



Anyway, I thought you were already sulking . . .



cheers
Roger, the BBQ advocate

I MAY find it in my (overly generous) heart to forgive you Roger - one day!!  I thought it was very unlike you to throw a strop!

Copious quantities of ale could expedite the forgiveness. Are you going to the Malvern Show? It would be good to meet up and have a natter.

Dave

Gromit wrote:I MAY find it in my (overly generous) heart to forgive you Roger - one day!!  I thought it was very unlike you to throw a strop!

Copious quantities of ale could expedite the forgiveness. Are you going to the Malvern Show? It would be good to meet up and have a natter.

Dave

Thanks - much as I'd love to lubricate your larynx with some alcoholic beverage, Dave, we are up in Bonny Scotland for the summer and over the Malvern show dates I'll be enjoying various weird but enjoyable delights of the Edinburgh Fringe.

Maybe there'll be another chance to get together for a natter sometime, meanwhile 


apologies to Pete the OP for hijacking his    thread.

cheers
Roger

Last hijack I promise Pete, but try chicken stuffed with haggis if you get the chance Roger.

We ordered with some trepidation when it was offered at the Golf Club next door to the C&CC site in Rosemarkie, but it was absolutely delicious.

Dave

Gromit wrote:Last hijack I promise Pete, but try chicken stuffed with haggis if you get the chance Roger.

We ordered with some trepidation when it was offered at the Golf Club next door to the C&CC site in Rosemarkie, but it was absolutely delicious.

Dave

Heresy!  Spoiling good haggis by wrapping chicken around it   

Only kidding, I have had it before and enjoyed it - usually appears on the menu as Balmoral Chicken.

And (just to keep the thread vaguely in topic) it could probably be cooked on a BBQ!
 

When were you at Rosemarkie?  We were there a few weeks ago for five nights, it's one of our favourite UK sites.  
We looked at the Golf Club menu and intended going but never got around to it as we'd stocked the fridge up at M&S on the way.

(Sorry, Pete!)

cheers
Roger

I have just finished a grilled breakfast of eggs, bacon and sausage on our Cadac safari chef, nice and neat, fits under the seat or in the rear carry box.

Boaby

Gromit wins the prize for actually answering the question which was asked!

And... drifting off my own thread- we were at Rosemarkie back in May and had a lovely meal on my birthday just five minutes walk along the shore at the Crofters Bistro:  http://www.croftersbistro.co.uk/

Did I Pete?? That's a surprise.

My address is on the way, so you can send the cheque.

We were at Rosemarkie last year, but the Crofter's Bistro was fully booked. Didn't matter though, since (as I said) we had a lovely chicken-stuffed-with-haggis meal at the golf club. No alcohol though - had to be a member to buy beer.

Lovely site, we shall go back I think.

Dave

Finally plumped for the Cadac Safari Chef; after reading all sorts of reviews about all types of devices... my wife simply told me which one to get, so that was that!
It arrived today and seems well made; will be putting it to the test in the next couple of weeks in Cornwall and the S/W.

Pete Taylor wrote:Finally plumped for the Cadac Safari Chef; after reading all sorts of reviews about all types of devices... my wife simply told me which one to get, so that was that!
It arrived today and seems well made; will be putting it to the test in the next couple of weeks in Cornwall and the S/W.

Nice one Pete, I have mine with me up here in Whitby, hope to cook up a nice steak on Friday.
Boaby

burlingtonboaby wrote:

Pete Taylor wrote:Finally plumped for the Cadac Safari Chef; after reading all sorts of reviews about all types of devices... my wife simply told me which one to get, so that was that!
It arrived today and seems well made; will be putting it to the test in the next couple of weeks in Cornwall and the S/W.

Nice one Pete, I have mine with me up here in Whitby, hope to cook up a nice steak on Friday.
Boaby

As it happens, we are free on Friday, we can be in Whitby in a couple of hours- I prefer my steak really well-done... 

Hi Pete
You'll need to bring a couple of steaks , as I'm down to my last two,
We have gale force winds at the moment with real stormy seas, not much chance of getting the Barby out today .
Boaby.