YOU DO WHAT?: Festus firm pushes 'Green Eggs'
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| Andrew Jansen Photo Art Astel, owner of Fire and Water, sells the Big Green Egg at his store in Festus. |
Astel, who owns Fire and Water, 2091 Route 67, Festus, sells a unique barbecue grill called "The Big Green Egg."
"It's a ceramic dome made of material developed for the space shuttle," Astel said. "The overall design is based on an ancient Asian Kamodo oven. It has a small expansion and shrinkage factor and can be used outside year round."The Big Green Egg can be used for smoking, grilling and baking, Astel said, and even makes great pizzas.
"We go to Chicago a lot and we love Chicago style pizza," he said. "We buy a half-baked pizza and bring it home and freeze it. Then we put it on a pizza stone and cook it on the grill. It is so good."
Astel barbecues at least three times a week year round and has now put his two gas grills on the back burner.
"I use those for overflow when we cook a lot of meat or for hot dogs," he said.
Astel said an "egg" can be fired up in 10 minutes and that a 20-pound bag of charcoal lasts him about two months because he can use the same coals two or three times. The space-age ceramics seal in juices and flavor.
The eggs come in different sizes from a small portable model for tailgating to an extra large that will cook an entire meal at once, including the apple pie for dessert.
Astel's wife Mary said she doesn't normally eat meat, but will take a steak on the egg any day.
"He was cooking one on the Big Green Egg and when he opened the door, the smell was so good," she said. "I cut a piece, took a bite and asked him where he had gotten the meat. He told me it was the other half of a steak he'd cooked on the gas grill the night before."
Astel not only sells Big Green Eggs, he'll also bring one over for the weekend for a minimal fee and even cook on it.
"We basically just charge for the gas," he said. "If you buy an egg, we'll credit that money back to you. I would love to have one in everyone's backyard, but I don't think that will happen."
Astel always delivers and sets up the eggs and will even custom build a "nest" for it to sit on.
"I've done an elaborate barbecue (pit) with stone that was around $10,000," he said.
The Astels also sell "Eggcessories," including hardwood charcoals and wood for smoking meat.
"I like hickory and mesquite, but one of my favorites is apple," Astel said.
Owning an egg is like being part of a club, Mary Astel said.
"One person will buy one, then the neighbors see it and they want one too," she said.
Anyone interested in becoming an "egghead" can call the Astels at 636-931-5756.
