what barbecue?

[mix]

can anyone tell me if outback barbeques (gas) are any good?. and are lava rocks better than ceramic briquettes?

[woofgang]

My parner, who is a barbecue guru and great cook says that lava rocks are way better than ceramic briquettes. We are on about our 5th gas barbecue (patrner will barbecue in snow rain or hail, all year round) and think that they are great for convenience, also the food cooks more evenly and completely so you don't get "barbecue trots" (please excuse the vulgarity) other advantages is that there is no waiting for the charcoal to burn through (or light at all!!) less smoke, so less inconvenience to neighbours and its safer because you just turn the gas out and it cools in around 15 min, no burning embers to douse or worry about. Downside is the expense, also, if it matters to you, it is less "back to nature" and more "back to the future". The food is still yummy though.

[Dipsy]

I have just replaced my first gas barbeque that I got eigth years ago. I have gone for an american 'Weber' with flavouriser bars instead of the briquettes or rock. These don't hold the fat and so the smell doesn't linger - especially if you cook fish. So far it seems to be working well. It runs on propane instead of the usuual butane which apparently heats to a higher temperature. If you're interested the website is www.weber.com.