Western Grillers Prefer Charcoal
As you drag out the grill and plan your Labor Day cookout, see where you stand in comparison to the average American griller. The following statistics come from the 12th annual Weber Grillwatch Survey:
Gender: 71 percent of grillers are men.
Frequency: 78 percent of residents in the West grill at least two or three times a month, while almost 25 percent grill two more times a week.
Gas vs. charcoal: The West is the only region where more charcoal grills are owned than gas grills.
What we grill: The most frequently grilled foods in order are hamburgers, steak, chicken pieces, hot dogs, pork, ribs, fish, potatoes, vegetables, beef roasts, corn, sausage, bratwurst, onions, mushrooms.
Favorite grilling choice: Steak - filet mignon is tops, followed by T-bone and porterhouse.
How we like it: 31 percent like it medium rare; 21.6 percent, medium; 19 percent, medium well; and 17.5 percent, well-done. Only 8 percent said rare.
Favorite seasonings: Pepper, salt and seasoned salt.
Favorite fish to grill: Salmon, trout, tuna, swordfish and bass.
Favorite veggies to grill: Potatoes, corn, onions, peppers, yellow squash and zucchini.
Most unusual grilled fare: Alligator, possum and cottage cheese.
The Weber survey also polled members of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and found that the fastest-growing category for grilled food is fruit, followed by pizza.
Taste of Washington
If your Labor Day plans take you to Seattle, be sure to drop by Pike Place Market on Monday for the 12th annual Taste of Washington Farms bonanza. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the public can buy produce from Washington farmers, watch cooking demonstrations and taste samples. There also will be activities for the kids and education booths designed to help visitors learn about Washington-grown agriculture.
Say cheese
Put your kid’s creativity to work. Enter the Kraft Singles “Be a Cheesillionaire” contest and he or she could win one of two $20,000 college scholarships. To enter, kids must come up with a list of the “Top 10 Reasons Why You Love Kraft Singles.” Ten finalists will be chosen to compete on the “Be a Cheesillionaire” Quiz Show in Los Angeles, where two winners will take home the scholarships. All 10 finalists will receive a $50 weekly allowance for a year and a family trip to Los Angeles. Another 40 first-place winners receive a weekly allowance prize.
The contest is open to kids ages 7 to 12 (judged in two age brackets, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12). Entries are due Nov. 30. For complete contest rules, head to www.kraft-cheese.com.