Evening everyone, and hello from Michigan where we're currently getting slammed with ice and snow. I technically joined the Weber community six months ago, when I scored a $10 22" weber on craigslist, which I tend to use by the fire pit or when I go camping. Today I finished assembling my new Performer Deluxe, which will replace my LBGE as my primary day to day bbq/grill (*gasp*). I've been smoking/bbq'ing/grilling for about five years now.
What led me down the Weber path? If you spend any time on the egg forums you may have seen my post last week about cracking yet another base. Well, I'd had enough, I just don't have the time and energy to continue swapping heavy ceramic parts. I've since acquired a replacement base and moved the egg to the garage, where it may get used twice a month if it's lucky to do ribs/brisket. I think BGE corporate changed something with the base design, materials, or manufacturing process to save money and as a result left us with an inferior product.
I also run a MiniMax quite a bit. I never travel with it as it's too darn heavy. We'll see if I hang on to it.
I grill a lot even during the week, and in the dead of winter, I really enjoy cranking the temps up with lump and doing smash burgers or searing steaks. Anyway good to meet you, I hope to learn a lot and hope to teach you all a thing or two!