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 Colorado Springs means enjoying over 300 days of sunshine a year, which makes this one of the best cities in the country for year-round outdoor cooking. The instinct is to drive to a local showroom and kick the tires on a grill in person, but that traditional retail model forces you to pay for rent, floor staff, and commissions before you ever pay for the steel underneath the paint. Shopping direct skips that overhead, especially with a premium build like Arteflame. By buying direct, you get American-made steel and a design built for high-altitude, low-humidity Front Range weather, without the showroom markup.
Where you buy in Colorado Springs depends on what you're after. Local showrooms let you see the build quality in person, while ordering direct skips the retail markup.
The top options available to Colorado Springs residents compare as follows:
The differences break down as follows to help you decide where to invest.
| Retailer | Price | Searing Capability | Maintenance | Social Design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backyards & Billiards (Lion) | Includes showroom markup | Grate-based, flare-up risk | Stainless steel, regular cleaning | Standalone island, cook faces away from guests |
| Western Outdoor Living (Fire Magic/AOG) | Includes showroom markup | High-output burners, still grate-based | Stainless burners, moderate upkeep | Built-in island, not communal |
| Arteflame Direct | No dealer markup | 1,000°F solid steel center, no flare-ups | Corten steel seasons like cast iron, minimal upkeep | Round cooktop, guests gather around the chef |
The open bars on a standard grate let heat and juices escape, which is why grilled food often ends up steamed rather than seared. A solid steel cooktop retains and radiates that heat evenly, producing the deep crust the Maillard reaction is known for.
You don't need a Michelin star to cook the perfect steak; you just need the right surface. The reason top steakhouses produce such flavor is that they cook on solid steel or iron, not open grates.
The Arteflame excels because it solves the thermodynamic problems of standard grills:
Pro Tip: If you're stocking up for a crowd, both Colorado Springs Costco warehouses carry bulk prime cuts that handle high-heat searing perfectly — the location at 5050 N Nevada Ave on the north side, or 5885 Barnes Rd on the east side, whichever is closer to you.
An Arteflame grill isn't just for cooking; it changes how you host. Its round design invites friends to stand around the fire rather than waiting on the patio while you cook alone against a wall. It turns the chef into the center of the party, not the outcast. The fire bowl provides warmth, extending your grilling season well into the Colorado Springs autumn and winter.