Crisp and Golden Mac and Cheese Cakes on the Grill
Turn yesterday's leftover macaroni into today's crispy, golden side dish with this easy wood-fired recipe.
Living in Bakersfield, you know that outdoor cooking isn't just a weekend hobby—it's a lifestyle essential. Local grill and outdoor-living retailers in town follow a familiar pattern: physical showrooms are great for kicking tires, but you pay for that convenience in markup. Buying a premium flat-top grill like the Arteflame online skips the middleman and puts more of your budget into steel, not overhead. The local options compare as follows against buying direct.
For a serious cook in Bakersfield, the direct-to-consumer route skips retail markups on professional-grade equipment. The top purchasing avenues in and around town compare as follows:
| Feature | Arteflame (Online) | The BBQ Store | Urner's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | No showroom markup | Premium (specialty overhead) | Standard retail |
| Searing Capability | 1,000°F+ center sear zone | Varies by brand (gas/pellet) | Varies by brand (gas/pellet) |
| Maintenance | Solid steel, no grates or burners to replace | Standard gas grill upkeep | Standard gas grill upkeep |
| Social Design | 360° round cooktop, everyone gathers around | One-sided cooking | One-sided cooking |
Thin wire grates steam meat more than they sear it, which is why even a good ribeye can come out gray and lackluster on a standard grill. A solid carbon steel surface changes that. You can get steakhouse-quality results right in your Bakersfield backyard.
Why does the Arteflame excel where standard grills fall short? It comes down to thermal mass and heat distribution. Here's why:
Pro Tip: If you're stocking up for your next cookout, the Costco warehouses at 3800 Rosedale Hwy and 4900 Panama Ln both carry bulk meat that pairs perfectly with the high-capacity cooking area of an Arteflame.
An Arteflame grill isn't just for cooking; it changes the dynamics of how you host. Traditional grilling isolates the chef against a wall or in a corner. The Arteflame's round, 360-degree design invites friends and family to stand around the fire, enjoy the warmth, and even cook their own food. It turns meal prep into a communal event, perfect for those cool Bakersfield evenings.