HOLY smoke! £50k The outdoor kitchen
Costing £ 36,000, this is Britain’s most expensive barbecue unit — the ideal thing for those with money to burn. the new ‘A la Carte grill station’, from upmarket garden furniture firm gaze Burvill, is being aimed at A-listers ahead of sizzling barbecue temperatures forecast for this Bank Holiday weekend.
A state- of-the-art, stand-alone barbecue unit is housed in a surround crafted from 120 to 150-year-old prime European oak.
imprecise heat control on most barbecues can make outdoor cooking a hit-or-miss proposition. But the outdoor gas grill’s burners are said to ensure chef-worthy precision for everything from seared steaks to seabass.
An infrared sear zone is said to seal in juices and flavours, while a rotisserie system rotates chicken or pork in front of an infrared burner.
And while infrared heaters radiate heat to slowly cook food, powerful halogen lights illuminate the grilling surface and control knobs are LED-lit for easy reading when preparing a late-night dinner.
the grills, which are supplied to gaze Burvill by Knightsbridge-based luxury kitchen firm sub-Zero & Wolf, are hand- sculpted in precision-welded stainless steel so they will not rust.
Expensive barbecues are part of the growing trend for outdoor kitchens among green-fingered hosts who want to impress their guests with something more than a soggy sausage.
if money is an issue, the firm is selling the basic barbecue at £13,620 for a station with a granite worktop, rising to £22,000 for the top-ofthe-range model that boasts an ultra-resistant counter top. Adding the outdoor kitchen with appliances including a stainless steel fridge and sink unit to create a full ‘A la Carte Kitchen’ can take the total bill up to £50,000.
Actress imelda staunton and TV hosts Rob Brydon and Anthea turner were among the celebrities who viewed the pricey product as it was launched at the Royal Chelsea Flower show this week. Caroline Burvill, the owner of gaze Burvill, which is based in East tisted, Hants, says British weather is no longer a barrier to outdoor entertaining.
‘this barbecue is very much for the A-listers who want a relaxing, outdoor lifestyle with their friends and family,’ she says. ‘Architectural developments mean people can now live half indoors, half outdoors, staying dry as they cook on their barbecues in conservatories or pergolas.’
sub-Zero & Wolf spokeswoman Juliette Raine says its grills are all handmade in Wisconsin, U.s.
‘there is already a solid market for outdoor barbecues in the U.s., but selling these grills in the UK is new for us this summer,’ she adds.
‘these barbecues are at the top end of the market for celebrities and people able to afford luxury. they see high-profile celebrity chefs cooking outdoors and want to emulate them.’