Any office workers grill/cook at work?


 
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Pablo Hoco

TVWBB Member
I used to eat out a lot. But over the last few years, as restaurants got more expensive, food quality and service went downhill, I’ve been packing leftovers. But that’s getting old.
But I’m now wondering if I should start packing a stove or my Q to cook during lunch. My office is not conducive to cooking there. But I could go to a nearby park and make a burger, nice and hot chicken sandwich, etc.
It might be a good mental escape for me as well, being away from the office, as well as the therapeutic effect of grilling.
Anyone do this? I have a camp table, stove, chair. It’d be like a mini tailgating session. 😄
 
Not a work lunch, but some time back when my mom was recovering in a skilled nursing facility I could tell the food was not that good.

I brought a propane camp stove and cast-iron and cooked a few meals out of the back of my SUV. I felt a little self conscious bringing in food that smelled as good as it did.

I'd say give it a go.
 
Our company has grills and we have always grilled out for everyone but now with the size of the company its turned into massive amount of work similar to catering an event. But going back 8-10 years ago we would just fire it up on the fly - I miss those days.
Firing up the Q at a nearby park or forest preserve sounds fun and relaxing.
 
I think having the available time to cook, cool things off and tidy up is going to be the deal breaker.
I use to get a 1 hour lunch and even in that time it would be difficult, you have to add in some sort of travel time to get to where you could cook...and travel back to your work location.
Not trying to be a downer but if I had an hour I don't think I could make it work........I have less than an hour these days.....left overs is my only option.
 
I just bring good leftovers from my cooks and slowly reheat them in the microwave. I can make a room smell really good in 5 minutes.

I also will eat soups at work that are hearty to avoid the repeat mode of leftovers.

Personally I would t want to smell like bbq at work as that would be too distracting for the rest of the day.

But hey, go for it if you can pull it off. Maybe the squeeze is worth the juice?
 
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Darryl - swazies said:
I think having the available time to cook, cool things off and tidy up is going to be the deal breaker.
I use to get a 1 hour lunch and even in that time it would be difficult, you have to add in some sort of travel time to get to where you could cook...and travel back to your work location.
Not trying to be a downer but if I had an hour I don't think I could make it work........I have less than an hour these days.....left overs is my only option.
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Time is definitely something to be considered.
Fortunately, there are several parks within 5 minutes of my office. I figure a few minutes to set up, warm up the grill, cook 10 min. Eat for 15 min. Hopefully grill will be cool enough in 20 min or so. Then back to office.
It’ll be tight but probably doable.
 
Pablo Hoco said:
Time is definitely something to be considered.
Fortunately, there are several parks within 5 minutes of my office. I figure a few minutes to set up, warm up the grill, cook 10 min. Eat for 15 min. Hopefully grill will be cool enough in 20 min or so. Then back to office.
It’ll be tight but probably doable.
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I do like your optimism but I did your math.
5 minutes each way.....
10 minutes each seting up and warming up the grill / cleaning tearing down the grill......
So we are at 30 minutes already......that leaves 30 minutes to cook, eat and cool the grill down.....good luck if you go for it.
Might have to be beef for every cook.......anything else takes too long like chicken or pork.....
Sounds like a close call, I would prefer not to have stress during lunch, work gives me enough of that while I am there.
Based on a 1 hour lunch of course.
 
Darryl - swazies said:
I do like your optimism but I did your math.
5 minutes each way.....
10 minutes each seting up and warming up the grill / cleaning tearing down the grill......
So we are at 30 minutes already......that leaves 30 minutes to cook, eat and cool the grill down.....good luck if you go for it.
Might have to be beef for every cook.......anything else takes too long like chicken or pork.....
Sounds like a close call, I would prefer not to have stress during lunch, work gives me enough of that while I am there.
Based on a 1 hour lunch of course.
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20 min set up and takedown? Naaaaaaa! I’m doing this Iron Chef 2x speed style! What could go wrong?

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I worked construction, outdoors for most of my career. My idea of a hot lunch was whatever I could stick on the defroster of my work van.
I used a wide mouth thermos for soups and stews. Put hot dogs with hot water in it a few times.
We would break out a grill once a month with the crew, everyone brought something, maybe some of your coworkers would be interested?
 
timothy said:
I worked construction, outdoors for most of my career. My idea of a hot lunch was whatever I could stick on the defroster of my work van.
I used a wide mouth thermos for soups and stews. Put hot dogs with hot water in it a few times.
We would break out a grill once a month with the crew, everyone brought something, maybe some of your coworkers would be interested?
Click to expand...

That’s a good thought. But they’re part of the reason I need the peace and tranquility of eating lunch alone 😂
 
I was a field service tech for many many years. It was not unusual for me to wrap up leftovers in heavy layer of foil, and toss it on my intake manifold. Just the right amount of heat there. Hey it worked
 
The guys doing road work would wrap up tortillas and such in foil and bury it in the hot blacktop for lunch.
I was offered some but passed.
I think there was a whole series of a guy cooking on his engine block during road trips.
 
I used to warm my leftovers up on the defroster of my delivery truck. Double wrap in foil and leave them there all morning
One of my last bosses started asking me one morning about getting the crew together at a park on the weekend. I was kind of skeptical, getting everyone together on a weekend(without pay). I got really skeptical when I found out that he wanted me to do the grilling!! I told him that if he could get 80% of them to say yes, I’d take my turn manning the grill. Almost everyone said no 🤣
Now, I’ve been known to pack up a grill or griddle and cook for the teachers at my wife’s school. That was always fun!
 
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