Grillin’ up a treat
Eight years ago, I moved into my flat in North London, with grand plans of hosting cocktail parties and BBQs on my tiny balcony in summer. I immediately brought a small, cheap BBQ and placed it outside - the first thing to sit on the terrace. Cut to seven years later and not once did I light the thing, it was ugly, too shallow to get a good flame going and after being sat in years of London rain, it was completely rusty so not something I wanted to cook on. I got rid of it but still hoping one day that my dreams of late nights cook-outs on endless summer nights would one day become a reality.
When you live in a property that has very little outdoor space the last thing you want to fill it with is something that is redundant for the whole of winter, so I have been constantly on the lookout for a nice looking BBQ that I could pack away when the rain comes, not an easy feat. Then came the announcement that Selfridges has started to stock EVA SOLO, a range of household and garden products that are as attractive and they are useful. Take for example the Charcoal table grill; a BBQ that is only 30cm in diameter, 17cm in height, with a gorgeous white porcelain outer bowl, and fully dishwasher safe insert and grill top made from stainless steel. Could it be that my dreams had been answered?
When it arrived, it was all set up in the box and ready to go, there is no assembly required. It’s lightweight and has a handle, meaning it’s easy to carry so you could even take it to the park, now that restrictions have been lifted somewhat.
You fill the silver bowl (which can be used as a salad bowl when not in use in the grill), which sits in the white porcelain outer shell, half full of coal, light it up, pour yourself a glass of crisp white wine, and sit back and relax until the coals are hot enough to cook on, which took no time at all.
Once ready, we began with sliced courgettes and halloumi, both of which cooked in only a few minutes, then chucked on some large prawns marinated in lime and chilli, and nibbled on the lot while some large cajun spiced chicken thighs cooked over the flames.
As it’s designed to sit on a table top the grill is small which means you can only cook a few things at a time, but that just added to the joy of the evening, our cookout lasted hours as the sun went down and the conversation went on. Plus everything that was cooked on it tasted delicious, not charcoal-y or burnt, but cooked to perfection, as we could keep an eye on it without getting up from our seats.
But the best thing about this grill? When the evening is over, and the flames have died, you simply pop it all in the dishwasher, and once clean, it can fit neatly into a cupboard to be used next time we have a heatwave.
Eva Solo table grill, £240 https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/eva-solo-charcoal-porcelain-table-grill-30cm-x-17cm_R033 43211/