Forman Grill (or similar)

Does anyone have one? How well do you like it?

I'm in a small apartment where I can't have a real grill, and I'd really like to do a lot of "grilled" meats this summer. The broiler heats up the whole apartment, so I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with these types of indoor grills.

[Jenise]

K, not to speak for Robin, but in case he's busy today I'll steer you to love letter Robin wrote to his George Forman grill not too long ago:

http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?t=4632

Oh yay - I'm excited to go get one now!!

I'll be doing lamb kabobs on it tonight, along with a 2006 Domaine de la Mordoree Cotes du Rhone that I opened last night.

Thanks, Jenise!

[Robin Garr]

K, not to speak for Robin, but in case he's busy today I'll steer you to love letter Robin wrote to his George Forman grill not too long ago:

Thanks, Jenise! I'm middlin' busy and will be for a while, flying out tomorrow afternoon for the NY State Fair wine judging and NiagaraCool, then again a week later for Burgundy. <gulp>

I might add just a couple of things:

(1) It's as useful as described, but I'm not sure I'd call it a substitute for a grill, simply because you don't get that delicious smoke flavor. It's a fine way to make a panini, though, or to get quick hamburgers, fish fillets or boneless chicken breasts. It does take some cleanup, but it's really not too bad.

(2) Be careful with handling. Mary accidentally knocked ours off a low shelf and it failed to survive a two-foot drop, which snapped off the top part of the clamshell and broke it in half, beyond any reasonable hope of repair.

Bottom line, I doubt that I'll replace it, but I liked it well enough that I would have continued to use it on occasion.

[Jenise]

I would add that there are a lot of different grilling machines on the market now. I saw an add just a day or three ago for one from Cuisinart that does, from what I could see, the same tricks as the Forman but on which the lid also lays down to double your open grilling space, if needed. I don't own one of these, but I kinda liked that feature.

I have the Cuisinart model. What sold me on this one was that the inserts are removable for cleaning and there are also griddle inserts(for pankaces and the like). Works well for the intended use. I mainly use it for chicken breasts and fish filets. I find it too messy for burgers (except turkey burgers which are not fatty).

We have a Krups and I use it three or times a week -- just started roasting peppers with success. Toasted cheese sandwiches and similar made it a standard cooker here.

Try a few -- they are quite different. I tried a couple at Williams Sonoma who has a great return policy, before settling on the Krups.

K, we had another post about this not too long ago...here's the link:

http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/vil ... ht=foreman

I use my little Foreman grill quite often...even though I now live in a house with a big grill. It was extremely useful when I lived in an apt on my own. GL!

I have the Cuisinart Griddler and love it. Super easy cleanup with those reversible grills that pop out and go into the dishwasher. I've done pancakes, eggs, bacon, panini, fajitas, chicken breasts, burgers, veggies.

Heats evenly, well made. I think it would be great for a small apartment.

Well, I bought this one last night (what in the world was I thinking, my apartment is only about 600 sq. ft. !!!)

http://www.foreman-grill.com/store/indoutgrill.php

Fortunately the kitchen is rather large, so it fits comfortably into the corner, and it's easily disassembled so I can stick it in a closet when not in use.

I made lamb kabobs that I picked up, pre-marinated, from Whole Foods, and they turned out very well!! The grill part is easily removed and fits in the sink for soaking/cleaning. It cleaned up very quickly.

Oh, and since this is a wine discussion board

NV Domaine Lucien Albrecht Cremant D'Alsace Brut Rose: Pale orange in color, the bubbles in this pinot noir based rose went on and on and on. After watched them writhe up from the bottom of the glass hypnotically, we enjoyed the soft strawberry scents and flavors. We had some left when dinner was served and it paired well with the tomato/cucumber salad tossed with canola oil, dill and salt.

2006 Domaine de la Mordoree Cotes du Rhone: This was on its second day, and we split the 1/2 bottle. It didn't pair as well as I hoped it would with the lamb, and I think that may have been due to the marinade from Whole Foods, which had a citrus quality to it. The strong, sweet fruit seemed to come and go, as did the sometimes surprisingly upfront tannins. Quite a schizophrenic wine, at least last night (or maybe it was me??).

[Jenise]

K, congrats on the new grill.

Re the wines, agree with you about how great that Lucien pinko is. Re the CdR, your second day experience might have been the sophomore slump a lot of new young wines go through on a second day--might have straightened out on the 3rd and been "all there". Or it could have been dead. One doesn't always know but I'd expect good things from a Mordoree.