LAKEVILLE, MN – Hearth & Home Technologies (HHT) celebrated another fantastic year with a week in Mexico. The 150 top-selling customers, and their guests, relaxed in Puerto Vallarta with HHT members from April 27 – May 1, 2015.

In addition to enjoying the amenities of the all-inclusive resort, customers experienced catamaran sailing, zip-lining, waterfall repelling, rounds of golf, spa treatments, a private farewell dinner, and entertainment on Las Caletas Island.
 
Owner winners were selected based on the highest year-over-year growth, or highest individual brand volume, and sales rep winners were selected based on the most products sold.

www.hearthnhome.com

North Carolina native Elizabeth Karmel, a.k.a. Grill Girl, started “Girls at the Grill” because she truly believed that cooking in the outdoors could be expanded beyond the occasional backyard barbecue. “I had an idea that if I could get women to embrace a gas grill, they would start using it for everyday cooking,” she says. “Men and women are doing that.”

Getting more “girls at the grill” is of particular interest to grill manufacturers and specialty retailers, especially considering that industry statistics show that women are grilling out more and continuing to influence purchasing decisions in the household.

“Women all across the U.S. are hungry for recipes and hints on how to use the grill to cook for family and friends,” says Karmel. “Girlsatthegrill.com is the first grilling website designed for women by women—or rather ‘for girls by girls’ because in North Carolina where I grew up, a woman is a ‘girl’ until she’s 99.”

With her reputation growing, Karmel launched CarolinaCueToGo.com last year, an “online barbecue shack” specializing in North Carolina whole-hog barbecue, seasoned with Karmel’s signature Lexington-Style Vinegar Barbecue Sauce. This dedication to cooking innovation is an extension of her career-long dedication to indoor and outdoor cuisine.

She is the founding executive chef of Hill Country Barbecue Market in NYC, Brooklyn, and Washington, DC, and NYC and Brooklyn’s Hill Country Chicken. She developed the award-winning menu and flavor profiles from the meats to the sides and desserts for both restaurant concepts.

“I’m committed to sharing my passion for outdoor cooking with women everywhere,” adds Karmel. “Not only will you have eaten your last piece of charred chicken or shoe-leather steak, but you’ll find out just how fun it is. Why do you think the boys have kept it to themselves all these years?”

www.girlsatthegrill.com
www.elizabethkarmel.com

POMONA, CA – May is all about barbecuing—from Memorial Day to National Barbecue Month. Cal Flame BBQ challenges barbecuers of all proficiencies to up their barbecue game by learning “one new skill” by Labor Day.

“Too often, individuals fall into a barbecue rut and forget that barbecuing is an art that can be improved upon over time by exploring new techniques, ingredients and technologies,” said Casey Loyd, Cal Spas President. “During this month, the unofficial start to summer and barbecuing season, we want to provide individuals with a reminder to look past their usual barbecue habits and try something new on the grill or smoker.”

To help inspire barbecuers to take that next step, Cal Flame BBQ is sharing 10 essential tips for barbecue novices and masters to consider:

1) Flirt with a New Flame. Loyal to gas or committed to charcoal? No matter your flame of choice, experimenting with a new style can sharpen your approach and reveal new ways to enjoy your food. Try switching up gas for charcoal, or vice versa. Borrow a smoker from a neighbor, try wood pellet grilling, or go low and slow with a komodo. Taste the difference.
2) Master Marinades. Many consider barbecuing to be all about the sauce – that’s why 46 percent of online grill owners prefer marinating before grilling*. Consider creating and perfecting your own special marinade blend to give your backyard edibles a distinct, signature flavor.
3) Pair up with Produce. While four in ten (44 percent) barbecuers regularly cook with corn*, try perfecting new produce items on the grill, such as watermelon, pineapple, apples, peaches and pears. They grill best when firm and barely ripe.
4) Visit a Barbecue Competition. Find true barbecue inspiration by witnessing (and tasting) the masters in their element. Visit Kansas City Barbecue Society’s online directory of sanctioned events – chances are one is near you.
5) Hold a Neighborhood Cook‐off. Put your barbecuing skills to the test with a neighborhood cook‐off. Invite neighbors to gather up the grills and fire up their favorite recipes. Let area kids and seniors serve as judges for an unforgettable block party.
6) Grill all Three Meals on the Fourth. While 68 percent of online grill owners barbecue on the 4th of July*, consider declaring full independence from your indoor kitchen for the holiday by cooking up breakfast, lunch and dinner on your grill.
7) Go Global. Mix up your outdoor meal plans by trying full ethnic flavored dinners – like Asian cuisine (kebobs and satay) or French delicacies (canapés or niçoise salads).
8) Befriend Your Butcher. Few know meats better than your neighborhood butcher. Take the time to regularly ask him or her for the best cuts for barbecuing – and tips for bringing out its best flavor.
9) Go Whole Hog on Accessories. Beyond a new spatula or tongs, go all in with new accessory purchases such as smoker boxes, rotisseries or a side burner – for a major refresh in what and how you cook.
10) Top‐off with Desserts. Celebrate the end a great meal not with ice cream from the freezer, but rather decadent desserts over an open flame. Think donuts, cakes – even s’mores – cooked in a grill pot.

Want to discover your true level of barbecuing expertise? Take the “What Kind of Barbecuer Are You?” online quiz to determine your backyard proficiency and discover new ways to gain “one new skill” this barbecuing season.
Let Cal Flame BBQ help you find the perfect outdoor kitchen, no matter the kind of barbecuer you are.

www.calflamebbq.com