Alan D
TVWBB Super Fan
Saw mention of some lump in a message, and wanted to add a thread for folks on the west coast, and what lump you use.
I have tried most, from mesquites to hardwood, to lump, and I was using a bag of hardwood lump from BBQ Galore this past weekend. This is not to be confused with the mesquite that sits in bags next to this hardwood, because that is no comparison.
The quality of this charcoal is about the best that I have used, and I read it is OEM'd from Lazarri, the main distributor on the west coast for fuels, both charcoal and coal, for all cooking, heating, and forging.
I have been using the Whole Foods 365 brand, for about the past year at least. It is pretty good stuff, available close to me, and has worked ok...it is OEM'd from Cowboy per the naked whiz site.
In comparison, there is more forge flies with the Cowboy, and I did use some Cowboy as starter in a minion method setup, so I can see how both did compare. The Cowboy brand does spark some for me when getting started, pops and blows some ashes around, this is what smiths call forge flies, which I have mentioned here before. Mesquite is the worst in this regard, and why folks should use hardwood lump if they can find it.
Cowboy will often have odd crap in the bag, one often the pieces will look like cut-offs from regular lumber, so it is more scraps from woodworking shops, in my experience.
The BBQ Galore (Lazarri) hardwood lump is much better quality, when you break it up in your hands, and in how it burns.
Price is almost the same. I think a 20# bag was $15, where the 8# bag is about $6 at Whole Foods for the 365 labeled Cowboy product.
I will be using this BBQ Galore stuff, or buy it from Lazarri directly, from now on. I have used this to forge with a couple years ago, but this was the first time to cook with it. As I say, the quality of the charcoal, the type of product in the bag, the quality of how it burns, no more Cowboy and/or Whole Foods 366 for me, unless I'm in a pinch and can't get the Lazzari.
Anyone have a better recommendation for a better hardwood lump to cook with, please chime in and hollar!
BBQ Galore also had some type of Big Green Egg brand charcoal, but it looked like lava rock to me when I was peaking in the bag that was open. Looked almost like something that is used in a gasser...what's that stuff? Anybody know?
I have tried most, from mesquites to hardwood, to lump, and I was using a bag of hardwood lump from BBQ Galore this past weekend. This is not to be confused with the mesquite that sits in bags next to this hardwood, because that is no comparison.
The quality of this charcoal is about the best that I have used, and I read it is OEM'd from Lazarri, the main distributor on the west coast for fuels, both charcoal and coal, for all cooking, heating, and forging.
I have been using the Whole Foods 365 brand, for about the past year at least. It is pretty good stuff, available close to me, and has worked ok...it is OEM'd from Cowboy per the naked whiz site.
In comparison, there is more forge flies with the Cowboy, and I did use some Cowboy as starter in a minion method setup, so I can see how both did compare. The Cowboy brand does spark some for me when getting started, pops and blows some ashes around, this is what smiths call forge flies, which I have mentioned here before. Mesquite is the worst in this regard, and why folks should use hardwood lump if they can find it.
Cowboy will often have odd crap in the bag, one often the pieces will look like cut-offs from regular lumber, so it is more scraps from woodworking shops, in my experience.
The BBQ Galore (Lazarri) hardwood lump is much better quality, when you break it up in your hands, and in how it burns.
Price is almost the same. I think a 20# bag was $15, where the 8# bag is about $6 at Whole Foods for the 365 labeled Cowboy product.
I will be using this BBQ Galore stuff, or buy it from Lazarri directly, from now on. I have used this to forge with a couple years ago, but this was the first time to cook with it. As I say, the quality of the charcoal, the type of product in the bag, the quality of how it burns, no more Cowboy and/or Whole Foods 366 for me, unless I'm in a pinch and can't get the Lazzari.
Anyone have a better recommendation for a better hardwood lump to cook with, please chime in and hollar!
BBQ Galore also had some type of Big Green Egg brand charcoal, but it looked like lava rock to me when I was peaking in the bag that was open. Looked almost like something that is used in a gasser...what's that stuff? Anybody know?
