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 call Macon home, you know that outdoor living isn't just a hobby; it's a year-round lifestyle. Whether you are hosting a summer cookout or enjoying a mild Georgia winter evening, the centerpiece of your patio matters. However, traditional grill stores and showrooms often come with significant markups to cover overhead. While walking into a local store offers a tactile experience, that experience comes with the overhead of running a showroom built into the price. Buying a premium grill like the Arteflame directly through the webshop routes more of your budget into materials and craftsmanship instead of showroom rent.
Ordering the Arteflame directly online is worth comparing against a physical showroom for a premium grill in Macon. Bypassing local dealers ensures you receive the latest American-made models without the inflated retail margins found in brick-and-mortar locations.
The options compare as follows based on value, performance, and experience:
Local Specialty Showrooms
Macon has dedicated dealers like Wesleyan Ace Hardware on Forsyth Road, which stocks a solid range of grills alongside its hardware inventory. While the staff is helpful, you pay a premium for that advice. You are often limited to the brands they have contracts with, which may not include the highest-performance flat-top grills.
Big Box Retailers (Bass Pro Shops / Lowe's)
Bass Pro Shops on Bass Pro Boulevard and the Lowe's on Macon Tech Drive are convenient, but often lacking in quality. Grills sold here are frequently mass-produced with thinner metals that rust quickly in Georgia's humidity. You get what you pay for, and the longevity just isn't there.
Arteflame (Online Webshop)
This is worth a look for the serious griller. When you order from Arteflame, you are buying a piece of art that doubles as a high-performance fire pit. The carbon steel cooktop sears steaks at temperatures standard grills simply cannot reach. Plus, shipping direct to your Macon home saves you the hassle of hauling a heavy unit from a store.
The differences break down as follows to help you decide where to invest your money.
| Feature | Arteflame (Online) | Local Showroom | Big Box Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Value | Direct pricing (no dealer markup) | Includes dealer markup | Lower retail price |
| Searing Temp | 1,000°F+ | 450°F - 600°F | 400°F - 500°F |
| Durability | Corten steel, built for decades | Varies by brand | Can rust with extended outdoor use |
| Social Factor | 360° cooking, cook faces guests | Traditional layout, cook faces away from guests | Traditional layout, cook faces away from guests |
Open grates cool quickly and let moisture escape, which steams food instead of searing it — a solid steel plancha holds high, even heat, which is what drives the Maillard reaction and a real crust.
You don't need a reservation in downtown Macon to get a restaurant-quality ribeye. You just need the right heat retention and surface area.
The Arteflame excels because it is designed differently than the Weber or Traeger you might see in a local store. Here is why it outperforms them:
Pro Tip: Macon doesn't have a Costco yet (one is planned for Bass Road, but it's still a couple of years out), so for wholesale prices on prime cuts perfect for the Arteflame's large cooktop, Sam's Club on Log Cabin Drive is the closest bulk option for stocking up before your next cookout.
Traditional grilling is a lonely job; you are usually stuck against a wall or in the corner of the patio while everyone else mingles. The Arteflame changes how you host. Its round, 360-degree design invites friends and family to stand around the fire, drink in hand, watching the food cook. It transforms a standard BBQ into an interactive Hibachi-style gathering where the chef is part of the party, not separated from it.