In early October, greater than 5,000 followers of the cult grill Massive Inexperienced Egg — affectionately dubbed EGGheads — descended upon Coolray Area, within the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville, for EGGtoberfest. 

The annual occasion, which first kicked off in 1998 as a small, low-key gathering of fervent Massive Inexperienced Egg fans, featured cooking demos for the likes of braised pork stomach tacos, dwell music, and an array of proud Massive Inexperienced Egg house owners serving their experimental dishes to keen crowds. However the twenty seventh version was particularly notable — not simply because Massive Inexperienced Egg set a Guinness World Report for serving the world’s largest quantity of hen wings (an enormous 655.8 kilos from Georgia’s Springer Mountain Farms) however as a result of the corporate celebrated a powerful 50 years in enterprise. 

Entrepreneur Ed Fisher first unveiled the heavy, dome-shaped kamado ovens popularized in Japan for cooking rice in 1974. They sat alongside pachinko machines, one other Japanese import relished in arcades, in his Atlanta storefront. Prospects had been wowed by the Massive Inexperienced Egg’s cooking prowess and flexibility — and 5 many years later, it endures for a similar causes.

“It’s, in my humble opinion, probably the most satisfying option to prepare dinner. We’ve been cooking over fireplace for 1000’s of years, so cooking on the Egg is only a continuation of that ritual,” explains Massive Inexperienced Egg CEO Dan Gertsacov. “It’s 50 years of being the grill you possibly can collect round, with household, pals, and neighbors. It’s 50 years of constructing lifelong reminiscences. That’s all we might ever hope for.”

Fueled by all-natural lump hardwood charcoal, Massive Inexperienced Egg is a multifaceted powerhouse, a yard boon that emblazons juicy burgers and brats with good char marks. However past grilling, it roasts turkey, smokes ribs, stir-fries shrimp, and bakes pies with equal aplomb. An assortment of helpful equipment, corresponding to a pizza stone and cast-iron Dutch oven, multiply the probabilities.

Massive Inexperienced Egg additionally stands out for its design. Initially, the cookers had been crafted from clay like their historical predecessors, however when that materials proved too fragile, the meticulous Fisher upgraded to a hardy, heat-insulating, NASA-approved ceramic. Coated with a wealthy inexperienced porcelain glaze, it’s a daring, eye-catching look. 

There are seven sizes of the well-engineered, self-cleaning Massive Inexperienced Egg, in addition to the limited-release Chiminea, a fire bolstered by lava rocks. The transportable mini involves the rescue of intimate picnics, whereas the 2XL, large enough to deal with 20 steaks at a time, is good for alfresco workplace retreats.  “We make nice, lasting grills that folks go down from era to era. Retaining cooking traditions alive is not only for the scrumptious meals, however to know one thing older generations knew nicely: Meals is extra than simply nourishment. It’s a cornerstone of human connection,” explains Gertsacov.

All that magic doesn’t come cheaply, nonetheless. The massive providing, the preferred, porch-friendly measurement of the Massive Inexperienced Egg, prices a whopping $1,149.99. Between its craftsmanship and effectivity, the hefty price ticket is price it for true BBQ buffs, however most likely not these merely content material with a cocktail party centered on cedar-planked salmon as soon as a month.  

If buying a Massive Inexperienced Egg isn’t possible due to finances or lack of out of doors house, then possibly it’s time to play with one on a chilled-out trip. As resorts develop into ever-increasingly lifestyle-oriented, the Massive Inexperienced Egg is popping up as a socially pushed amenity at such properties as The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa, California; and Ocean Home in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, all of that are alternatives to discover how the Massive Inexperienced Egg reimagines native meals traditions like wild recreation and clam bakes with educated cooks. 

On the InterContinental Buckhead in Massive Inexperienced Egg’s Atlanta house base, the contraption is straight woven into the meals and beverage program, a pure match since banquet chef David Royal is an EGGhead himself. 

“It permits us to raise traditional grill objects—the whole lot from smoked meats to greens,” says the resort’s common supervisor George Terpilowski, “and might be arrange in varied areas, together with our Windsor Backyard, which offers a lush, scenic backdrop for interactive eating experiences. It’s good for events the place friends need to be extra concerned within the culinary course of, having fun with not simply the ultimate dish, however the journey of making.”