Review: Holland Grill - Companion Model

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to do cooking demonstrations for the local grill and fireplace dealer.  I was really quite pleased at the turnout and response I received from all those who passed through my Big Green Egg demos.  It also warmed my heart a bit to see how many friends made an effort to swing by and support my endeavor.

One of those lucky souls was fortunate enough to win the door prize that day and received a Holland Companion model portable grill from Holland Grill.  Further, I'm lucky enough to call the winner a neighbor and a friend.  So when it came time for our twice-yearly trip to the Bluegrass Festival in Branson, MO, we opted to drag the the Holland Companion along rather than the hitch-mounted Bubba Keg .

The Holland Companion is small enough to easily fit in the trunk of your car (or back of your SUV in my case).  The lid locks shut and legs fold under so that it takes up even less space and doesn't make a greasy mess.  The unit runs on small propane bottles like you'd use on a camp stove or lantern, making access to fuel a non-issue.

The unit is constructed of stainless steel and utilizes what Holland calls the patented Holland Grill System.  By utilizing a full sized drip-pan/heat deflector under the cooking grate, they virtually eliminate all flare-ups and catch all the drippings from your meal.  The drippings sizzle and create a smokey flavor that is missing from many gas grills.  Holland refers to this as "indirect grilling".

The Companion lived up to its billing as a portable indirect grill.  We prepared bratwurst & hot dogs one evening, fried bacon the next morning, and re-heated a brisket while grilling pork tenderloins the second night.  It performed nicely at all of these tasks.  Okay maybe frying bacon was a bit tiresome since we were cooking on the expanded metal cooking grate rather than on a flat surface, but we got the job done and enjoyed bacon, egg, & cheese breakfast sandwiches. 

This unit would be great for tailgaters, campers, or anyone who likes to take the grill along on an outdoor excursion.  Holland Grill makes full sized grills using the same design pricipals and I can attest to the flexibiliy of the units based on the Holland rep's demonstration that I observed over the course of the day at Grillfest this spring.  I should also add that my father has a Holland Grill and has been a fan since he acquired it many years ago.

Here's the contact info for Holland Grill, a company based right here in the USA (despite the name).

The Holland Company, Inc.
121 Thomas Mill Rd.
Holly Springs, NC 27540
Office (919) 557-2001

http://www.hollandgrill.com

Cheers,
Braddog

Comments

[Chris]

Great carry along cooker. How much would one of these set you back? (ball park price)

[Braddog]

Ballpark, about $275. Definitely paying for the convenience and portability.

Cheers,
Braddog