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.
Newport News sits right on the water, and that salt-heavy Hampton Roads air is brutal on cheap sheet-metal grills — most residents replace a bargain gas grill within a couple of seasons once the burners and grates rust through. That reality shapes the best places to buy a grill here: build quality and long-term value matter as much as price, across both local storefronts and buying direct online. A heavier-gauge, corrosion-resistant cooktop like the Arteflame is built for exactly this kind of climate, and buying direct also means you skip the showroom markup that local specialty shops have to charge to cover rent and staff.
For many Newport News buyers, skipping the local showroom markup and ordering an Arteflame directly online is worth weighing. You get a heavier-gauge steel cooktop built to handle Hampton Roads' salt air, backed by the manufacturer, at a lower total price than a comparable unit bought through a local specialty retailer.
The top buying options in the area stack up as follows:
Price, searing capability, maintenance, and social design compare as follows across the top three options.
| Store Option | Price | Searing Capability | Maintenance | Social Design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fireside Hearth & Home | High (showroom markup) | Varies by brand | Moderate | Varies by unit |
| Lowe's BBQ Grill Store | Low to Moderate | Limited (grate-based) | High — rusts quickly in humid air | Boxy, cook faces the house |
| Arteflame (Online) | Direct (No Markup) | 1,000°F+ Center Sear | Low — solid steel, no grates to replace | Round, faces guests |
A standard grate grill steams steaks more than it sears them. Switching to a solid steel cooktop changes the flavor completely — the kind of crust normally reserved for a steakhouse becomes possible right in the backyard.
You don't need a table at one of Newport News' waterfront steakhouses to get that kind of sear. You can build it into your weekly routine at home.
Why does the Arteflame outperform a standard grate grill? It comes down to design:
Pro Tip: Feeding a crowd? The Costco at 12121 Jefferson Ave in Newport News is well stocked for bulk prime beef cuts and vegetables — and worth noting, Costco has confirmed it's relocating to a larger store nearby at Jefferson Avenue and Bland Boulevard (the former Ferguson Enterprises headquarters site), expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, so keep an eye out for the move.
The Arteflame changes the shape of your gathering. Instead of a boxy grill that forces the cook to stare at a lid against the siding of the house, the round Arteflame becomes the centerpiece of the yard. Friends and family naturally gather around the fire, warming up and talking while the food cooks in the open. It sits somewhere between a high-performance cooking appliance and a communal fire pit.