Mmmm , cheese gratin. 🤤
No matter what it's on, pizza, nachos, lasagna, potatoes... it's always good. You, like us, know that gratin cheese is life. 👌
That's why when Philippe Laprise (yes, THE Philippe Laprise, the comedian 🤘), came to present his product to us to make everything we want gratinate on the BBQ, we said to ourselves that it was really a good idea.
Philippe is basically a big fan of BBQ-cooked pizzas; that's even why he invented his accessory, the Ô-Gratin . So, yes, when we saw the potential of his creation (and it doesn't just work for pizzas!), we got on board with the project and decided to sell his product.
And, because we know that every good "pitmaster" needs an Ô-Gratin in his BBQ kit, we're here to tell you more about it. 😎
What is an Ô-Gratin?
An Ô-Gratin is an accessory designed to fit in almost any gas BBQ (as long as the Ô-Gratin can fit inside, it works 😉) with a rear burner and which is made to brown cheese on all kinds of meals .
More technically, it is a 304 stainless steel plate that is placed either on the top grill of the barbecue (if it can remain above the rear burner), or that rests on the rear burner AND the rotisserie rod of the appliance. In both cases, the heat from the rear burner rises and hits the Ô-Gratin, positioned above it, then follows it until it passes the accessory, browning, in the process, the food placed below it, and circulates in the grill.
This accessory is also a product created by Philippe Laprise and David Thomas, an expert in metal and BBQ. The first 100 copies are handmade in Quebec and are sold exclusively at BBQ Quebec.
Important to know
There are a few important things to mention before you use your Ô-Gratin:
- If you have a Napoleon Prestige BBQ, the Ô-Gratin will not be able to sit on the top grill that came with your appliance. You must make sure to put one in place that is more solid/"heavy-duty". 💪
- Before using your Ô-Gratin for the first time, don't forget to remove the plastic film on the accessory to avoid an unpleasant surprise when the burners are in operation. 🫣
- When your barbecue is on, with the Ô-Gratin, do not touch the accessory with your hands! It will be very hot. 🔥
- Stay close to your grill when using the Ô-Gratin, it works quickly! (Even more so when it is leaning on the back burner and the rotisserie rod!) 👌
Why have an Ô-Gratin?
When you feel like eating pizza (or nachos, or onion soup, or whatever), without having to spend 4 hours cooking, and without even having to manage the fire on your barbecue, using a gas grill is the best solution. It's fast, you can cook lots of pizza at once... everyone is happy. And, because there was no real way to get a nice "gratinage" on our meals in a gas appliance before, Philippe decided to invent the Ô-Gratin.
With this, in just a few minutes, the cheese on top of your meal will be superb and you will have "had nothing" to do. 😏
Oh! We haven't mentioned this, but the Ô-Gratin isn't just for cheese ! If you cook chicken thighs or ribs under the accessory, for example, they will come out of the grill with a beautifully caramelized skin/crust, just the way you like it! 😍
How does it work?
Once the Ô-Gratin is in place in your barbecue, place a pizza stone on the grills of the appliance, under the Ô-Gratin. (A little tip: we advise you to leave a space between the rear burner and the pizza stone so that the back of your pizza [or your other meal] receives a less intense amount of heat and does not burn.)
Turn on all the burners (including the rear burner) of your BBQ to maximum and then lower the lid of your appliance. Let everything heat for about 10 to 15 minutes so that the pizza stone and the Ô-Gratin become very hot.
When it's done, place your meal on the pizza stone and let the Ô-Gratin do its work. After about 1 minute or 1 minute 30 seconds, rotate your meal 180° so that the sides cook evenly (the cooking is, of course, stronger at the back of the grill than at the front). Finally, let everything cook for a maximum of 6 minutes, and your meal will be ready AND perfectly gratinated. (Remember to always keep an eye on your cooking to make sure everything is to your liking. 😉)
And… there you have it. It’s simple and it gives a crazy result that makes everyone freak out, including you. 😜
Happy BBQ!