CHICAGO - Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, manufacturer of premium outdoor kitchen appliances and cabinetry, has announced a year-long celebration to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its Hybrid Fire Grill. It was the first hybrid grill to market to allow homeowners to cook with any combination of wood, charcoal and gas - a true pioneer in outdoor cooking innovation.   

“Our Hybrid Fire Grill embodies our uncompromised dedication to performance, durability, craftsmanship, and ultimately, producing a fire unlike any other,” said Russ Faulk, chief designer and head of product for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet. “Its legacy lives in countless memories of delicious meals shared in outdoor kitchens throughout the world every day.”

The celebration kicks off with sharing a visual timeline that chronicles the grill’s history from the original concept to today’s fourth generation.

“In 1998, there was nothing like the Kalamazoo Dual-fuel Grill on the market. It created a whole new category,” said Faulk. “The grill created a small, but enthusiastic following that really launched our brand.”

The original version of the grill was released as the Kalamazoo GrillTM SteadfastTM and Bread BreakerTM Dual-fuel Grills, which featured drawers above the burners, similar to the current model’s Hybrid Fire Grilling Drawer. The drawer can be loaded with wood or charcoal for an authentic live-fire cooking experience. Its perforations easily discard ash into an oversized clean-out bin below. When empty, the special perforations and angled design diffuse the heat from the burners for convenient gas-only cooking. 

The next year, built-in versions were released. Several years later, in 2005, the first proprietary burner design, the cast stainless-steel Dragon Burner was released.

In 2007, the second generation launched, called Kalamazoo Dual-fuel Grill. The Bread Breaker Dual-fuel was redesigned and renamed the K900 Hybrid Fire Grill. The aesthetics were refined, and modifications were made to the hopper and hood. The Steadfast grill was renamed the K450 series.

A revised version of the K900 Hybrid Fire Grill was released in 2009, adding hood assist springs and an all-new Hybrid Fire Grilling Drawer that combined the functions of the formerly separate gas-grilling and solid-fuel-grilling drawers. Burner performance was improved through an air management system.

The third generation launched in 2011 with a ground-up redesign of the architecture. The K500, K750 and K1000 Series Hybrid Fire Grills replaced the K450 and K900 series grills. Dedicated gas versions of these grills were no longer offered. These new grills featured our second proprietary burner design, the cast brass second-generation Dragon Burner. It delivered more even heat to the entire grilling area, and enabled more flexibility for differing grill sizes. The Hybrid Fire Grill became available in nine different models. 

“Our latest version of the Hybrid Fire Grill really changed the game for Kalamazoo. We set ourselves a very ambitious goal — not only would this grill distinguish itself through its hybrid capabilities, it would also set itself apart as the best gas grill available,” said Faulk. “You don’t need to add charcoal or wood to create amazing food on this grill.”

A commemorative anniversary medallion honoring the milestone will be on display at Kalamazoo dealer partner locations, and at events such as the 2018 Architectural Digest Home Design Show. The badge is a visual reminder of the grill’s 20-year history.

www.kalamazoogourmet.com