If you’re schlepping things in and out of the house, all you have is what I have, frankly-a barbecue and an ice chest full of beer. Over the years Kalamazoo has been whittling away at the concept of an outdoor kitchen that is nothing less than a complete kitchen moved outdoors.

Metalco is a northern Italian company that has done wonderful things with stainless steel and exotic woods. What I like about the wood part is that it is used more for a decorative element and looks as though it could easily be removed, thereby allowing one to safely store it in the winter months.

A guy who feels the way I do about the summer months should have a barbecue that proclaims that. Well, as it turns out, I’m just come across Fire & Steel and these people have done just that, elevated barbecuing to the art it is by the simple device of making the barbecue itself a work of art.

The Saffire charcoal fired, ceramic grill and smoker is advertised as having the most advanced features in its class, and having spent some time on their website, I’m inclined to agree with them. The Saffire is a three-in-one unit that can be used as a grill, a smoker, or an oven.