Grilled food is an essential summer pleasure in Canada. Fortunately,  you don’t need a huge patio or outdoor kitchen to get the flavour. There are several small grills on the market right now that do an excellent job, including the cheap and cheerful Everyday Essential portable model from PC Home, which sells for about $30 (shown above). There’s also Coleman’s new All-in-One Trio Cooking System (about $150 at Canadian Tire ) which functions as a transportable stove, grill and griddle. Great for camping. (Also shown above).

Even if you’re a confirmed urbanite without a balcony, you can still enjoy a indoor grill. Check out Breville’s Smart Grill (shown at left), which opens like a butterfly to provide 260 square inches of cooking space. At about $350, this item is for a hard-core gourmet, who will appreciate the many features, including easy-to-clean cast aluminum plates and a griddle pan that can be removed and placed in the dishwasher. It also maintains a very even heat.

If, when it comes to barbequing, your motto is go big, or go home, consider a Big Green Egg (shown below), a dome-shaped grill, smoker and oven.  Its design is inspired by ancient clay Kamado cookers, and it can be used as a grill, smoker and oven. The double-walled ceramic construction is designed not to rust, dent or scratch. It also helps produce a very even heat. Fueled by charcoal or wood, the Big Green Egg can get really hot, really quickly – it takes about ten minutes to heat up to over 500°F. And since temperature is controlled through a top vent and stainless steel draft door at the base of the unit,  it will also work well for slow cooking. Those who like it, like it a lot.  Expect to spend about $1,000 for a Big Green Egg, which you’ll find at speciality BBQ and outdoor stores.