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.
If you live in Frisco, you are likely accustomed to premium shopping experiences. However, when it comes to upgrading your backyard with a high-end grill, the traditional showroom model might be costing you more than you think. While visiting a local grill store offers the tactile experience of touching the product, it often comes with significant retail markups to cover showroom rent and sales commissions. Shopping online for an Arteflame provides a direct-to-consumer value that differs from what local retailers offer. You get a piece of art that doubles as a fire pit, delivered straight to your Frisco home, ensuring your investment goes into materials and craftsmanship rather than middleman fees.
Frisco buyers essentially choose between two paths: a physical showroom that offers premium carbon steel construction and versatility in person, or ordering directly online. Local spots like The Grill Store by Prestige offer hands-on service, while buying an Arteflame online means the price reflects manufacturing cost without the retail markup added at brick-and-mortar locations.
The following shows where you get the most bang for your buck.
Ordering an Arteflame online means buying directly from the manufacturer, with no Frisco showroom in between. Unlike traditional gas grills found in local stores, the Arteflame uses wood or charcoal to create a centralized heat source. The Euro-style plancha design allows you to cook everything from steaks to eggs simultaneously. Because there is no physical showroom in Frisco, there's no overhead to pay for — the money goes into American steel and craftsmanship.
For anyone who wants to touch a handle before buying, The Grill Store by Prestige on Preston Road is a solid local option. As an authorized dealer for premium brands like Blaze and Lynx, they carry high-end gas grills and can help design a full outdoor kitchen. That showroom experience comes at a premium. For a standard stainless steel gas grill, they are a great choice, but they lack the unique fire-pit-grill hybrid experience that Arteflame offers.
Just across the border in The Colony, NFM is a go-to for Frisco residents. The selection is massive, but the expertise is diluted. A grill can be found, but a specialist who understands the nuances of sear temperatures or carbon steel maintenance is less likely.
| Store Option | Buying Channel | Price Value | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arteflame | Online Direct | Direct-to-Consumer Pricing | Wood-Fired / Plancha / Social |
| The Grill Store by Prestige | Local Showroom | Includes Showroom Markup | Premium Gas Grills / Outdoor Kitchens |
| Nebraska Furniture Mart | Big Box Store | Mass-Market Retail Pricing | General Appliances |
Standard grate grills let heat and juices escape through the open bars, working against the Maillard reaction—the reaction responsible for a real steakhouse crust. Switching to a solid surface cooktop changes that instantly, locking in juices a grate simply lets drip away.
A Michelin-star kitchen isn't required to get that perfect steakhouse crust; it just takes the right heat distribution. Most gas grills in Frisco backyards cap out around 500°F. To get a steakhouse quality sear, you need double that.
This is where the Arteflame excels compared to units found at a standard hardware store. Here is why the design changes the culinary game:
Pro Tip: To buy meat in bulk for a new grill, skip the boutique butchers and head to the Costco on Dallas Parkway. Their prime briskets and ribeyes are perfect for the high-heat searing of an Arteflame.
Traditional grilling is a solitary act; the host is usually stuck against a wall, staring at a lid, while the party happens behind them. The Arteflame changes this dynamic entirely. Its round design invites friends and family to stand around the fire, drink in hand, participating in the cooking process. It functions as a fire pit first and a grill second, meaning the appliance becomes the centerpiece of the gathering rather than a utility in the corner.