http://www.ceramicgrillstore.com
Tom is the owner, and I am lucky he is basically in my backyard. Their retail store has only been open a year or a little more, and he has a big following on the egghead forum. He is a Primo and Kamado Joe dealer as well as accessories for all of them including the egg. He has tons of experience cooking on the egg and is willing to share his experiences with you as well as tips! He isn't an egg dealer because he says that BGE isn't workable on pricing as well. When I bought my egg, it was about 2 weeks before I met him, and too late to switch gears. When he heard the price I had found a brand new egg for, he said he couldn't have done any better. Some of the other brands have pluses and minuses from the egg. But they are all great ceramic cookers. He started making accessories for the egg and branched to all of them. I can give him an A+ for both design quality and customer service. I buy my lump and sauce, as well as most all of my accessories. Shop his store before you buy. You might decide that you can get more benefit from one of his grid setups or temp controllers than BGE stuff. I already mentioned the plate setter, I might not have spent the $$$ for it had I known about the other options up front. I got such a good deal on my egg and bge accessories, I am glad I have both. Just remember, the egg is the centerpiece, but your going to need cooking space, a way to move it around if it isn't fixed in one place, tools, lighters, some cookware, and of course the accessories to the egg to make your cooks work like you want them to. So looking at those first is almost a better way to find out what size egg you want. The large will do so much and isn't massive, so it can fit almost anyone that isn't just wanting a show piece. I don't know for sure, but controlling the temp in the XL has been reported to be harder due to size, with more hot/cold spots and of course taking more lump to heat a larger area. All ceramic cookers are an oven, and when you let the temp get away from you...and you will, getting it back under control is the big challenge, the larger mass you have, the longer it will take IMO. Another good thing with the ceramic grill store accessories, Tom has techniques using his rigs to handle those swings easily. No matter what egg or other brand you buy, your going to want to know Tom. Here is the R&B Combo and indirect oval I have, along with the grid extender for a big cook!
I thought too, I would show you my setup. I added a second shelf to my cheap Sam's Club Stainless table so now I have a prep surface and two shelves that can all handle full heat from anything I take off the egg. With the umbrella, the egg nest and mates (folding shelves), I have a better way than I could with any of the egg tables. I was going to build my own table and wanted temporary capability as I planned for it. Another great tip by Tom...cook first, build what you know will work second. I like what I have so well, it kept me from spending $1000 on a nice custom table with granite top. Isn't as pretty, but is WAY more functional.
