Finally the Egg has Arrived

Unknown

Well I got the large egg.. Now the fun begins.. On lump charcoal, I have seen mesquite flavored lump charcoal. I suppose for the mesquite flavor it would be fine..but if using apple, maple etc.. I dont think the mixin the two would be a good idea.. Have any of the fine cooks here ever used the mesquite flavored charcoal?

badbruce

Morning Lindsey Webb,
Welcome. Try this link. Lots of good info.
bruce

[ul][li]http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm[/ul]

katman

Lindsey Webb,
I like mesquite, but it is pretty strong. My preference is to get a relatively neutral lump and add the "flavoring" wood of my choice for what I am cooking. I love apple for chicken; apple and alder or alder alone for fish; oak & hickory for beef. I've been using Royal Oak lump and also been playing with some others. Royal Oak and Cowboy and readily available. The Cowboy is probably more "neutral" but the pieces are small and I quite buying it after finding some plywood and concrete mixed witht he lump.[p]I do use mesquite to flavor beef, pork and some of my fish dishes when I want a robust smoke flavor.

BlueSmoke

Lindsey Webb,
I've used mesquite, and IMHO adding chunks of other wood is a waste of money - the mesquite overpowers them.[p]I'm now using Chef Wagon: by itself it imparts a generic "smokey" taste, and if you add wood chunks their flavor comes through unimpaired.[p]Ken

Sundown

Lindsey Webb,[p]You've already been told that mesquite is has very strong flavor. Great with steaks. I use Wicked Good and sometimes a little hickory and that's pretty much it. I do like the flavors of my rubs to come through so I don't use a lot of smoke. Lighting and controling your fire is something I would reccomend strongly. Once you have that mastered the rest is a piece 'o' cake! Good luck and good eats.

stike

Lindsey Webb,
just a quick head's up...[p]when you say "flavored" it implies maybe you mean charcoal briquettes that come with some mesquite as part of the mix.[p]'lump' is true charcoal, not those manufactured briquettes dealios, which, i think, most of us avoid like the plague.[p]maybe i'm preaching to the converted, i just wasn't sure from the way you asked the question.[p]have fun

egghead2004

Lindsey Webb,
Congrats! You are going to love your egg.
As for the lump you are describing, if the brand name is Best From the West, then stay away from it. I bought 4 bags last month, it is not much better than briquettes. There was a lot of ash and it did not last long.
I haven't read the other's responses yet, but Big Green Egg has some good lump, it's actually Royal Oak. I just bought several bags of Wicked Good Charcoal, gerat lump. I would order a couple bags on line if you can.