Creating The Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen

Alfresco Gas Grills was founded in the year 2000 with a single goal – to bring the products and features professional chefs demand to the backyard. While several high-end grill lines existed by this time, no one had created the complete line of products necessary to build a true open air kitchen. Alfresco set out to change that.

As the heart of any open air kitchen, designing a professional-level grill was the first priority. The use of all type 304 stainless steel was obvious, but 30+ plus years of experience designing and building equipment for some of the nations largest restaurant and hotel chains led to some choices that were less obvious. First, nearly every seam is welded and polished, as mechanical fasteners tend to loosen over time. A unique dual-row, dual-port burner was designed, with an industry-leading 27,500 BTUs of power and made from an exclusive, high-heat stainless steel, which enables the burner to carry a lifetime warranty. The Sear Zone hybrid infrared system was developed, bringing the intense searing power of a commercial infrared broiler to the home. And understanding the importance of appearance to the residential customer, the grill features large radiused corners and extensive hand-polished accents.

To extend the cooking flexibility, Alfresco offers a side burner unit with dual 17,000 BTU burners, bringing commercial-class saute power to the outdoors, as well as the new stand alone Sear Zone unit with 27,500 BTU ceramic infrared burner. In the restaurant kitchen, much space is dedicated to food prep and presentation, so Alfresco designed a prep/waste center, which combines a cutting board with a thru-counter trash-chute and hidden trash receptacle. A Sterno-fueled food warmer was developed, using three removable commercial stainless steel food pans. The latest addition - a plating and garnishing center - is straight out of the restaurant kitchen, complete with a full-length cutting board on top and plate storage shelf underneath. And since good food demands good drink, Alfresco offers the industrys most extensive line of bartending centers, designed with the features that professionals demand.

Even with all of these innovations, one key element of the professional kitchen was still missing. The refrigerator is a key element of any great kitchen, but building a refrigerator that can not only survive but operate efficiently outdoors is no easy task. Again, Alfrescos commercial experience was key to creating a line of true all-weather refrigerators, capable of operating in extreme heat or extreme cold. Units include an undercounter single door unit which is easily convertible to a kegerator and back, an under-grill unit which features a large door section next to two refrigerated marinating drawers which allow you to take food directly from the refrigerator and onto the grill – just like its done in commercial kitchens. The latest addition to the refrigeration line is another first for the home - a top-loading refrigerator that sits into the countertop for fast, easy access without bending or reaching.

A real commercial kitchen is designed for maximum efficiency, with great ergonomics and much thought given to the entire food preparation process. For too long, outdoor cooking has been anything but efficient, relying heavily on the indoor kitchen for support. Alfresco has succeeded in its original goal of creating the products needed to build the ultimate open air kitchen, and create an outdoor food preparation environment that would please the most demanding professional chef.