Make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby, Randolph said.[/caption]
Our Cookout Guide includes tips and best practices from local chefs and experts as well as suggestions for where to buy ingredients so readers can grill their favorite meats, vegetables and other eats. For those who do not have grills of their own, there are a variety of restaurants in the Southwest Austin area at which hungry readers can find barbecue, grilled items and other options.
1. Grilling preparation
The grill should be hot and well-oiled, said Robert Randolph, assistant general manager at Stuffed Cajun Meat Market.
“It gives you those good grill marks on your meat,” he said. “[Oil] prevents sticking and makes it a lot easier to cook and clean up.”
2. Choosing your fuel
Charcoal, wood and natural briquettes (available at stores such as H-E-B and Whole Foods Market) can be used for grill cooking—each one has different effects on flavor, Randolph said.
3. Selecting ingredients
Vance Ely, Central Market Cooking School chef, said grillers can pick out their favorite produce items, such as baby portobello mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and bell peppers, and combine them with meats or fish to make their own kebabs to grill.
Vegetables used in grilling should be firm. Zucchini, squash, thick-sliced onions and portobello mushroom caps work well on the grill, Randolph said.
“You don’t need to get all crazy with them,” he said, noting a little salt and pepper go a long way.
4. Sauces vs. spice rubs
Rubs and sauces can both be used for grilling. “If you’re going to use a sauce it’s best to cook the meat first, and then right before the meat is cooked you add a fine layer of sauce,” Randolph said. “Most [sauces] are going to have a high sugar content in them, and sugar tends to burn. So the less [time] you can keep it on the grill with sauce on it, the better it will come out.”
5. Using a grill
When grilling meats, Jack Gilmore, owner and chef at Jack Allen’s Kitchen, said he uses direct heat for anything he wants to eat within the next 20-30 minutes, such as steaks, fajitas, burgers or fish. He uses indirect heat for a “less than favorable” cut of meat—such as brisket or ribs—to enhance the flavor.
Shopping for ingredients
Ingredients for grilling and barbecuing are available for sale at various establishments in the Southwest Austin area. Hours of operation and prices vary. This list is not comprehensive.
- Central Market, 4477 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-899-4300, www.centralmarket.com Options include: baby portobellos; bell peppers; and meats such as chicken, salmon and swordfish
- H-E-B, Eight locations in Southwest Austin, www.heb.com Options include: charcoal, burger patties, chicken breasts
- Johnny G’s Meat Market, 11600 Manchaca Road, Ste. H, 512-280-6514, www.johnnygbutcherblock.com Options include: hand-cut beef, chicken and pork
- Sprouts Farmers Market, 6920 Manchaca Road • 512-687-2204, 4006 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-444-3079, www.sprouts.com Options include: all-natural, never frozen, USDA-choice beef, chicken and pork; more than 20 varieties of sausage
- Stuffed Cajun Meat Market, 5207 Brodie Lane, Ste. 125, 512-920-0287, www.stuffedfoodstores.com Options include: sausage, bacon-wrapped stuffed pork tenderloin, deboned stuffed chickens
- Sustainable Food Center Farmers Market at Sunset Valley, 3200 Jones Road at the Toney Burger Center, 512-236-0074, www.sustainablefoodcenter.org Options include: I.O. Ranch lamb racks; cuts of Indian Hills Farm and Richardson Farms beef; vegetables such as peppers, eggplant and onions
- Wheatsville Food Co-op, 4001 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-814-2888, www.wheatsville.com Options include: Tender Belly uncured berkshire pork franks, Teton Water Ranch jalapeno cheddar sausage, Niman Ranch St. Louis ribs
- Whole Foods Market, 4301 W. William Cannon Drive, 512-358-2460, www.wholefoodsmarket.com Options include: pre-sliced cabbage and cauliflower, salmon burgers, meats
More Local Eats
- Stuffed Cajun Meat Market, 5207 Brodie Lane, Ste. 125, 512-920-0287, www.stuffedfoodstores.com Options include: sausage, bacon-wrapped stuffed pork tenderloin, deboned stuffed chickens
- Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, 7612 Brodie Lane, 512-221-4248, www.valentinastexmexbbq.com Options include: brisket, sandwiches, sides
- Whole Foods Market, Shops at Arbor Trails, 4301 W. William Cannon Drive, Ste. 800, 512-358-2460, www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/arbortrails Options include: asparagus, Mexican grilled corn salad, rosemary chicken breasts
