Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet launched its Shokunin (pronounced show-koo-neen) Kamado grill. This is the first completely new grill design from the company since it introduced the Gaucho Grill in 2014.
Kamado-style grills date back 3,000 years. The word “kamado” means stove, but it wasn’t until after World War II that this style of grill was introduced to the US. The design of the Shokunin is like no other kamado grill on the market. It has a unique 18 x 24” rectangular grilling area which expands the size of the cooking surface and makes cooking with an offset fire easier. Its rectangular shape and stainless steel exterior also creates a seamless design with other outdoor cooking appliances.
One of the advantages to cooking with the Shokunin is its even heat distribution and its ability to cook for a long time. The Shokunin features a multi-tiered fire grate that can be placed in three different positions depending on the cooking style. Place the grate in the lowest position for a gentle heat, ideal for smoking “low-and-slow” barbeque, roast in the middle position, and utilize the top position as a traditional charcoal grill for intense searing of steaks or burgers.
Weighing more than 200 pounds, the Shokunin is constructed of 304-grade stainless steel. The mass of the metal and the two inches of insulation built into the design retains interior heat to more than 1200°F, yet keeps the grill’s exterior cool to the touch. The grill is accented with an ipe wood frame and handles, giving it a furniture-like quality. Accessory shelves and trays clip onto the frame for convenience.
The new Kalamazoo Shokunin Kamado grill will be available starting this summer 2019.