SUMMER SENSATION
With a lockdown-free summer on the way, revolutionise your alfresco dining experience with Weber’s new, all-black SmokeFire wood-fired pellet grill – the ultimate mix of great design and culinary invention
Stylish outdoor living is something we’ve always championed at ELLE Decoration, and this summer, it’s a more enticing prospect than ever. With a lockdown-free season beckoning, entertaining at home is back on the agenda, which means we can finally host those back garden get-togethers again. A barbecue is the obvious way to celebrate, and exciting new innovations are helping us up our grill game. Step forward the new Stealth edition of Weber’s standout SmokeFire wood-fired pellet grill: a sleek, all-black appliance that enhances your outdoor space while allowing you to cook so much more than the standard chargrilled fare. It’s so impressive that it’s been honoured with the prestigious Red Dot Product Design Award for 2022.
Like all Weber grills, the SmokeFire comes with impeccable credentials. The company, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, has its roots in ingenuity, thanks to founder George A. Stephen. With barbecues a big trend in 1950s America, Stephen found himself frustrated with the existing gadgets on offer, which wouldn’t cook a steak to his liking. He worked for a metal-buoy manufacturer, and hit upon the idea of cutting a buoy in half, poking holes through it, and using it as a cooking vessel. He then discovered porcelain enamel coatings, which could protect against rust while retaining heat even in cool weather. Stephen had created the first ‘kettle barbecue’, and soon everyone wanted one. He was able to buy out Weber Brothers Metalworks, and it’s been innovating in the market ever since.
The culmination of decades of research, testing and expertise, the Stealth edition takes inspiration from automotive design and the world of fashion, fusing elegant shapes with durable materials.
‘It’s so much more than just a barbecue,’ says Alex Mecker, Weber’s senior industrial designer. ‘The porcelain enamel on the cookbox gives it an incredible finish – there’s a depth to it that you can’t achieve with paint.’ The enamel also insulates, providing flawless temperature control and allowing the grill to withstand even the harshest outdoor temperatures without rusting or cracking. As Alex explains, the stainless-steel straps on the cookbox lid reveal how form follows function in Weber’s designs. ‘They’re plated in a specific way in a lustrous glossy black, which looks striking while also protecting the grill. They make it stronger and prolong its lifespan.’ Just one example of how the product’s smart styling touches are also key to its efficiency.
The ultimate investment for any outdoor space, the Stealth edition will give many years of cooking enjoyment. You can sear food at up to 315C, roast, steam, stir-fry or cook dishes low, slow and smoky, with Weber’s unique pellet system giving exceptional wood-fired flavour. ‘The pellets are compressed wood particles that give a unique taste,’ explains Alex. ‘Before pellet grills, we relied on charcoal or wood fuel to achieve that flavour, and it meant sitting outdoors at the weekends, prepping and pre-heating the barbecue. With the SmokeFire, there’s none of that hassle – you can just go outside, turn a dial and cook
‘YOU CAN JUST TURN A DIAL AND COOK WOOD-FIRED FOOD PERFECTLY IN 10 MINUTES, WITH THE FREEDOM TO MAKE ENDLESS DIFFERENT DISHES’
wood-fired dishes perfectly in ten minutes. So you don’t have to wait until the weekend – there’s time on weekday nights, too.’
The SmokeFire means the freedom to cook endless different dishes without adapting the grill, whether you fancy an authentic wood-fired pizza or a top-quality seared steak. ‘We’ve ensured that it has the most even heat distribution possible,’ says Alex. ‘The cookbox uses our flavourizer bars to maintain the temperature and give you direct access to the smoky flavour.’ Weber’s wood pellets are FSC and Carbon Trust certified, keeping the Stealth edition’s carbon footprint low and making this an eco-friendly way to barbecue. ‘You can select different pellet flavours to suit the food you’re cooking,’ explains Alex. ‘It’s like adding a special seasoning. My favourite is cherrywood, which lends a slight sweetness to pork, but for more intense smokiness, try hickory.’
The Stealth edition is thoughtfully designed to be simple to use, even for novices. Controlled by smart technology via the Weber Connect app, the grill senses the type of food it’s cooking and takes you through the process step by step. ‘The app was developed especially for our pellet grills,’ says Alex. ‘It will send you instructions on prepping food, when to flip it, and when to take it off the grill, as and when you need them.’ Handy for expert cooks tackling new dishes, too, the app also adjusts the grill temperature automatically to reflect weather conditions.
Last but not least, the Stealth edition will adapt to all kinds of entertaining needs. A second top-cooking grate boosts capacity for larger gatherings, while night-time lighting illuminates the entire grill, meaning you can create culinary masterpieces easily after dark. And all of this comes without sacrificing the old-fashioned charm of the traditional barbecue, says Alex. ‘When you open the lid, you still get that lovely waft of smoke – the real magic and spark of cooking.’