When Chef Andy Husbands plans event menus, he likes to focus on a theme—seasonal ingredients, perhaps, or the cuisine of a specific region. For a recent backyard soiree in West Newbury, Massachusetts, the theme was all about cooking signature dishes from his cookbooks over life fire on the iconic Big Green Egg, the elliptical, ceramic charcoal grill celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
“My goal was to showcase different uses of the Big Green Egg,” says Husbands, an award-winning chef and the owner of The Smoke Shop, a barbecue restaurant with four locations in and around Boston. “It’s not just a grill—there are all sorts of things that you can do with it.”
For the fall backyard gathering, those things included cooking fried rice in a sizzling hot wok, and even baking cornbread, using the convEGGtor insert, which adjusts the circulation of air to create oven-like heat. The highlight of the event was the reverse-seared steak. Andy cooked the thick-cut steaks over indirect heat until their internal temperature reached 125°F—about 15 degrees below the target final temperature. He then removed the convEGGtor from the EGG and seared the steaks directly over a hot flame, creating a perfectly charred crust.
The meal finished with simple but revelatory cheese-topped, thin-crust pizzas, which came out “phenomenal” because of the grill’s ability to reach temperatures over 700 degrees, says Husbands, the proud owner of more than one of the distinctive grills.
“The Big Green Egg helps me accomplish a really great pizza,” the chef says.
But there was so much more to the gathering than the delicious and masterful menu, say those who attended: The presence of the Big Green Egg elevated what could’ve been a conventional cookout into something much more memorable and enduring.
“Watching our chef craft incredible flavors over an open flame added a sense of drama and excitement that drew everyone into the process,” says Rick Sedler, the party host and president and CEO of RMS Media, which publishes Northshore, Ocean Home, and Luxury Pools magazines. “It transformed what could have been a simple outdoor gathering into a culinary event to remember.”
The Big Green Egg of today may be heading into its sixth decade, but it has its origins thousands of years ago, when the idea of an enclosed clay cooker first took hold in Asia. The concept made its way to the United States after World War II, when soldiers who had been stationed in Japan brought these “kamado” cookers home with them.
Then, in 1974, entrepreneur Ed Fisher launched a business importing and selling them to a wider audience. As they caught on, he decided to have them manufactured himself, so he could better control the quality. He chose a signature color, added a lifetime warranty, and changed the name from the generic “kamado” to the now-iconic Big Green Egg.
Over the years, a dedicated community of fans has grown up around the grill. The keys to its popularity include its precision temperature control, range of accessories for different styles of cooking, and the state-of-the-art ceramic technology that holds heat in and creates an extremely durable exterior. Fueled with all-natural lump charcoal, the EGG imparts a kiss of smoke to food which gives every meal a delicious and distinctive flavor.
Seeing the grill in action opened up new possibilities for guest Anna Rossi, a local TV host and food and entertainment influencer. “There’s something about charcoal grilling that can be a little intimidating,” she says. “But I was really impressed by how easy it was to use.”
At Sedler’s party, the Big Green Egg itself became part of the event, as guests gathered around to learn about its unexpected functions and features. People had questions about the accessories, the temperature controls, and how it could possibly cook so many different foods so well.
“It’s just cool-looking, right? It doesn’t look like a standard grill,” Husbands says. “People are really curious about how it works. People were just fascinated by how I was able to do all these different things so quickly.”
In the end, the Big Green Egg was a centerpiece for an unforgettable evening of food, fire, and friends that guests have been raving about ever since.
“It was a day filled with delicious flavors, meaningful connections, and moments of pure joy,” Sedler says. “I feel so fortunate to have been part of this experience and to share it with such wonderful company.”
Culinary partners
Chef Andy Husbands
Demkota Ranch Beef
Compart Duroc Heritage Pork
Get Maine Lobster
Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon
Reverse Seared Demkota Steak with Ranch Butter
from Andy Husbands
Ingredients
1 cup softened salted butter
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning
1 shallot, minced, about 2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons fresh chives, minced.
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Thick-cut Demkota NY Strip steak(s), at least 1½ to 2 inches thick, about 6 to 8 ounces each
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
1. Place first seven ingredients in a small bowl and mix until combined.
2. Set your grill or Big Green Egg with convEGGtor for indirect cooking to 250°F. Add a small amount of wood chips or chunks of your choice to add a kiss of smoke.
3. Heavily season your steak with salt and pepper and place on the grill or in the EGG. Cook your steak to about 15 degrees below desired temp, 125°F to end at medium rare. Once the steak is reaches this temperature remove the steaks and set them on a rack.
4. If using a Big Green Egg, remove the ConvEGGtor and replace the grate. Get your fire super hot, around 400 to 500°F. Sear both sides until golden dark brown, about 2 minutes per side.
5. Let your steak rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting and serving. I like to spread the butter on a cutting board and then place the cut pieces of steak over it for people to enjoy as a snack using their fingers to pick it up.