New toy: Tuscan fireplace grill

tcaton · 11-17-2019, 02:15 PM

I ordered a new toy, and it arrived in the mail this weekend: the Tuscan fireplace grill from Spitjack. Every time I build a fire in the fireplace, I think "man I wish I could cook over this". I never found a way to do it that a) wasn't potentially destructive to the fireplace, and b) didn't look like a cheap piece of garbage (see reviews of Rome's hearth grill on Amazon).

I took the risk with the Spitjack. It arrived virtually completely assembled. I think the packaging could be improved: the box was only taped down the center, and was bulging outwards when leaned upright (a potential escape route for the baggie of hardware inside). Also, the wood-grip handles had clearly taken a beating, as they were just floating around inside the box.

According to the few photos of this out on the web, this used to be made of cast iron, but is now made of stainless. I was worried it might be flimsy, but this thing is solid. It has three rack levels, though I suspect the bottom level is too low to be useful in a fireplace. I also plan to only cook lean meats, otherwise grease may build up in the flue. Apologies for the sideways photos.

IMG_0606.jpg

IMG_0607.jpg

IMG_0609.jpg

IMG_0610.jpg

The grate sits tilted back, so the juices run down the bars and drip into the tray. We'll have to see how well that works in practice.

IMG_0611.jpg

Three cast iron skillets, to simulate a dutch oven/etc. It didn't blink an eye with this load.

I'm going to break it in tonight. More thoughts & photos to follow.

Dweverett · 11-17-2019, 08:04 PM

Looking forward to seeing how well it works!

tcaton · 11-17-2019, 10:35 PM

Alright, here's my first impressions. For it's maiden voyage, I planned one of my usual simple grilled dinners - roasted sweet potatoes, a half-head of cabbage, some zukes, and a big piece of meat.

Roasting sweet potatoes doesn't make much sense in a fireplace, since there is nowhere near as much radiant heat as in a closed grill (even after having a fire burning all day). I ended up putting a small dutch oven upside over them, to trap heat. This worked OK, but was kinda a PITA. The cabbage turned out OK, but was undercooked on top for similar reasons. Not the grills fault though.

The zukes turned out great. The meat (a small ribeye roast, exactly what I said I shouldn't cook in the fireplace) turned out far more rare than I intended, but it was still within my threshold. This was just a fire management mistake. Flavor was great, with that wood smoke flavor you can't get from gas or charcoal.

I think my initial run was too ambitious, but it was a learning experience. I think cooking direct & slowly is difficult - a fire that's cool enough to roast over is prone to go out, and also doesn't heat the room much. What I'll try next is to run the fire hot, and pick more appropriate foods. I will definitely be enjoying grilling in my living room this winter when it's no degrees outside.

Strengths:
* you can cook in your fireplace
* wood flavor is great.

Weaknesses:
* you are probably going to make a mess in your fireplace.
* the rack gets in the way of fire management a little.
* kinda big - not sure where to store it yet.

IMG_0614.jpg
There's potatoes under that DO

IMG_0615.jpg
Time for the zukes.

IMG_0616.jpg
Then the meat.

IMG_0617.jpg
The tilted bars actually do draw drippings towards the tray.

IMG_0620.jpg
Off the grill.

IMG_0624.jpg
Plated. I think my steak flinched a little when I cut into it.

Stingerhook · 11-18-2019, 05:41 AM

Nice looking plate and thanks for the review.

Dweverett · 11-18-2019, 06:57 AM

Thanks for sharing the review. Looks like it will be a fun toy to play with this winter.

SweetHeatBBQnSC · 11-18-2019, 08:43 AM

Nice toy! Do you think it would help any to put the potatoes inside the dutch oven and actually use it as an oven after you get some smoke on them?

fwdiii · 11-18-2019, 09:40 AM

Very nice review. I have always wondered about the grease part of it with the chimney and all. I would like to give one of these a try for sure!!

jermoQ · 11-18-2019, 01:25 PM

Thank you for sharing! That is a cool little gadget! It sounds like you will get some good grilling out of it and some good dutch oven cooking!

Sid Post · 11-18-2019, 01:44 PM

Nice! That looks like fun for a cold night.

Titch · 11-18-2019, 02:51 PM

Love it,

SonnyE · 11-18-2019, 03:05 PM

You realize you are going to drive your neighbors crazy all winter.

We put in a Jenn Aire range in our home in Riverton, Wyoming.
Man, the smell of Steaks grilling at 40 below is just maddening!

People trying to chew the door down....

My biggest concern would be gunking up your fireplace with drippings....

BillN · 11-18-2019, 03:07 PM

I like it...

IXL · 11-19-2019, 03:01 PM

Three words: Professional Chimney Sweep

These guys are well worth it in our opinion. They come out and ungunk the flue once or twice a year, and I continue to cook in our fireplace.

SonnyE · 11-19-2019, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IXL

Three words: Professional Chimney Sweep

These guys are well worth it in our opinion. They come out and ungunk the flue once or twice a year, and I continue to cook in our fireplace.

When their brushes come out smelling like Bar-B-Que,
You might want to have a meaty tip for them....

Hoss · 11-19-2019, 09:27 PM

I think that would be a great toy as long as it was used in/on a fireplace that was designed for hearth cooking.

11-17-2019, 02:15 PM	#1
tcaton Got Wood. Join Date: 09-01-08 Location: St. Louis, Misery Name/Nickname : terry	New toy: Tuscan fireplace grill I ordered a new toy, and it arrived in the mail this weekend: the Tuscan fireplace grill from Spitjack. Every time I build a fire in the fireplace, I think "man I wish I could cook over this". I never found a way to do it that a) wasn't potentially destructive to the fireplace, and b) didn't look like a cheap piece of garbage (see reviews of Rome's hearth grill on Amazon). I took the risk with the Spitjack. It arrived virtually completely assembled. I think the packaging could be improved: the box was only taped down the center, and was bulging outwards when leaned upright (a potential escape route for the baggie of hardware inside). Also, the wood-grip handles had clearly taken a beating, as they were just floating around inside the box. According to the few photos of this out on the web, this used to be made of cast iron, but is now made of stainless. I was worried it might be flimsy, but this thing is solid. It has three rack levels, though I suspect the bottom level is too low to be useful in a fireplace. I also plan to only cook lean meats, otherwise grease may build up in the flue. Apologies for the sideways photos. IMG_0606.jpg IMG_0607.jpg IMG_0609.jpg IMG_0610.jpg The grate sits tilted back, so the juices run down the bars and drip into the tray. We'll have to see how well that works in practice. IMG_0611.jpg Three cast iron skillets, to simulate a dutch oven/etc. It didn't blink an eye with this load. I'm going to break it in tonight. More thoughts & photos to follow.

11-17-2019, 08:04 PM	#2
Dweverett is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-28-13 Location: North Granby, CT Name/Nickname : Bill	Looking forward to seeing how well it works! __________________ Rec Tec, Weber Genesis, OTG, Blackstone pizza oven, Blacksone 36" Griddle, Kamado Joe Classic -- gifted to daughter

11-18-2019, 05:41 AM	#4
Stingerhook somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-13-12 Location: SE Florida Name/Nickname : Marty	Nice looking plate and thanks for the review. __________________ Marty UDS now resurrected, Square Chicken Cooker, Green 22" Kettle, Stok Tower Grill & Barrel Grill, Stealth WSM 18", Char Broil Kamander

11-18-2019, 06:57 AM	#5
Dweverett is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-28-13 Location: North Granby, CT Name/Nickname : Bill	Thanks for sharing the review. Looks like it will be a fun toy to play with this winter. __________________ Rec Tec, Weber Genesis, OTG, Blackstone pizza oven, Blacksone 36" Griddle, Kamado Joe Classic -- gifted to daughter

11-18-2019, 08:43 AM	#6
SweetHeatBBQnSC Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-21-19 Location: Johnsonville, SC Name/Nickname : Joedy	Nice toy! Do you think it would help any to put the potatoes inside the dutch oven and actually use it as an oven after you get some smoke on them? __________________ Isaiah 41:10-Sweet Heat BBQ-Competition Team-Whole Hog Cooker;Weber Kettle 22";WSM 22.5"

11-17-2019, 10:35 PM	#3
tcaton Got Wood. Join Date: 09-01-08 Location: St. Louis, Misery Name/Nickname : terry	Alright, here's my first impressions. For it's maiden voyage, I planned one of my usual simple grilled dinners - roasted sweet potatoes, a half-head of cabbage, some zukes, and a big piece of meat. Roasting sweet potatoes doesn't make much sense in a fireplace, since there is nowhere near as much radiant heat as in a closed grill (even after having a fire burning all day). I ended up putting a small dutch oven upside over them, to trap heat. This worked OK, but was kinda a PITA. The cabbage turned out OK, but was undercooked on top for similar reasons. Not the grills fault though. The zukes turned out great. The meat (a small ribeye roast, exactly what I said I shouldn't cook in the fireplace) turned out far more rare than I intended, but it was still within my threshold. This was just a fire management mistake. Flavor was great, with that wood smoke flavor you can't get from gas or charcoal. I think my initial run was too ambitious, but it was a learning experience. I think cooking direct & slowly is difficult - a fire that's cool enough to roast over is prone to go out, and also doesn't heat the room much. What I'll try next is to run the fire hot, and pick more appropriate foods. I will definitely be enjoying grilling in my living room this winter when it's no degrees outside. Strengths: * you can cook in your fireplace * wood flavor is great. Weaknesses: * you are probably going to make a mess in your fireplace. * the rack gets in the way of fire management a little. * kinda big - not sure where to store it yet. IMG_0614.jpg There's potatoes under that DO IMG_0615.jpg Time for the zukes. IMG_0616.jpg Then the meat. IMG_0617.jpg The tilted bars actually do draw drippings towards the tray. IMG_0620.jpg Off the grill. IMG_0624.jpg Plated. I think my steak flinched a little when I cut into it.

11-18-2019, 09:40 AM	#7
fwdiii is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-07-15 Location: Around Name/Nickname : Fritz	Very nice review. I have always wondered about the grease part of it with the chimney and all. I would like to give one of these a try for sure!!

11-18-2019, 01:25 PM	#8
jermoQ Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-28-14 Location: The state of Mizzory Name/Nickname : Jeremy	Thank you for sharing! That is a cool little gadget! It sounds like you will get some good grilling out of it and some good dutch oven cooking! __________________ 9 out of 10 cannibals agree...that vegetarians taste better!

11-18-2019, 01:44 PM	#9
Sid Post is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-31-13 Location: East Texas, USA	Nice! That looks like fun for a cold night. __________________ 14"/18"/22"/22" 'stacker' WSM's, 26" Weber Kettle, VG Kamado, GMG Crockett

11-18-2019, 02:51 PM	#10
Titch somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 11-17-12 Location: South East Victoria Australia Name/Nickname : Titch :-)	Love it, __________________ Unofficial Vegemite Sponsor. Don't send the Foster's, it's a Federal crime(IamMadMan) Join us for a Laugh. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7

11-18-2019, 03:05 PM	#11
SonnyE is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-06-19 Location: Saugus, California Name/Nickname : Sonny	You realize you are going to drive your neighbors crazy all winter. We put in a Jenn Aire range in our home in Riverton, Wyoming. Man, the smell of Steaks grilling at 40 below is just maddening! People trying to chew the door down.... My biggest concern would be gunking up your fireplace with drippings.... __________________ SonnyE, Grillin, Chillin, Beer Swillin, Grandpa's Ribs a specialty. Farking good BBQ is a learned skill, low and slow.

11-18-2019, 03:07 PM	#12
BillN somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 03-14-16 Location: St David, Az. Name/Nickname : Bill	I like it... __________________ Bill, from Cochise County Arizona LSG 24 X 36 Horizonatal Offset w/warming oven, 32" fire pit with swinging cooking grate, PK 360 w/Grill Grates

11-19-2019, 03:01 PM	#13
IXL is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-29-10 Location: Oklahoma	Three words: Professional Chimney Sweep These guys are well worth it in our opinion. They come out and ungunk the flue once or twice a year, and I continue to cook in our fireplace.

11-19-2019, 09:27 PM	#15
Hoss Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-31-09 Location: Hernando,MS	I think that would be a great toy as long as it was used in/on a fireplace that was designed for hearth cooking.