With unique charcoal technology.
Heston Blumenthal and his team from The Fat Duck in the UK were in Sydney to launch the new range of Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Barbecues which are now available through local retailers.
The event held at The Grounds of Alexandria, demonstrated the versatility of the products with a five-course breakfast which particularly emphasised the unique charcoal technology which starts smoking almost instantaneously.
Priced up to $2000, the hero products in the range – the Hub and Fusion – use the patented Fast Flame Ignition System which is the first open flame product to be boosted using electricity. The integrated heating element at the base of the charcoal well is used at the beginning of the cooking process with a one-touch ignition process.
“You just put the charcoal into the well. No firelighters, no lighter fluid, no matches, no newspaper and matches, you just press a button, and the coals will literally start smoking after three minutes or so which is really cool,” Heston told the assembled audience at the launch,” Blumenthal said.
“I’m a Brit and barbecuing in the UK is a major, major exercise just to keep the thing going. You can sometimes be in a situation where not everyone has turned up or the food is not quite ready. You can just put some more charcoal on and press the button again.
“The beauty of this charcoal well for blokes is the key. For us blokes, we are quite base and not the most complex of creatures. It is incredible that men who normally have no interest in cooking get the barbecue out and suddenly it is like their throne. Even my girlfriend, who is French, said to me: ‘I can do this’, and I suddenly thought – hang on a second I might have just done myself out of a job,” he said.
“One of the great features is that the rotisserie clips are just a very simple clamp – and this is so much better than the standard clips which are always fiddly and have screws that you lose or get rusted in spots. You can also move the coal from one side to the other and create different heat zones – it is such as a fantastic way to cook,” he continued.
Also available in the charcoal range is the small portable Cube, which features an integrated food grade storage area and preparation board and constructed from lightweight aluminium, retailing for under $200.
A complimentary range of gas barbecues has also been released including the three burner Furnace and the two burner Force.
The products are available in a range of colours including graphite, mint, orange, red and stone with distribution through Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, David Jones, Bing Lee, Bunnings and major barbecue specialists.