BBQ Oyster Grill's Shellfish Cooking Rack - An easier way to cook on the half-shell from Santa Rosa
When Charlie Williams retired from his job as a senior technical writer and information designer two years ago, he decided to spend his newfound time doing something more hands-on instead of taking up residence in front of the television. Over the years, he'd picked up welding and metal work skills, and thus was born the BBQ Oyster Grill Shellfish Cooking Rack, an innovative system for barbecuing oysters and other shellfish. "I make each grill by hand," Williams says. "For example, I use a 48-ounce dead-blow hammer and vice grip clamps to bend pieces of expanded flattened 13-gauge steel of a steel form. Making each oyster grill requires a personal effort, and I think so people appreciate that as added value for the product."
Some might wonder:"Why not just stick the oysters right on the grill?" Williams says that approach is not as "convenient or controlled" as using his patented system. "You can cook an egg on a flat rock, but a frying pan works better," explains Williams. "The shellfish cooking rack is a tool that helps you make the perfect barbecued oyster every time."
At $20-$30, depending on size, the oyster grills work on gas and charcoal barbecues as well as ovens; they double as a serving tray used to deliver fresh-cooked treats to dinner guests. The product's web site feature hunger-inducing photos of the Santa Rosa resident's forays in to grilling oysters from Northern California oyster companies like Drake's Bay and Hog Island, all doused in delicious sauces, fresh off the grill.
In addition to convenience, his product is better for the environment. "Many brands sold here are produced in countries using dangerous and dirty manufacturing processes. When you purchase American-made products, you know that you are helping to keep the world a little cleaner for your children and grandchildren."
By Leilani Clark, Staff Writer
