My own extensive research led me to the same conclusion a few days before you posted this video. I think the El Patron is one of the most versatile cookers yet, and it is built to last. With the FireBoard2 controller, you can do effortless low-and-slow cooks. At the high temp end, you can do wood fired pizzas. And in between you have the benefits of a hot box and a Santa Maria style grill. And don't forget the rotisserie, which I believe you will come to love as you see the benefit of constant self basting. This is truly an innovative cooker.
Congrats on the new purchase. I couldn't be happier that I chose to pivot and go away from pellet grills, electric smokers, offset smokers, and go with a direct heat cooker instead. No, I really don't have the storage space for multiple cookers. ....and man, I really wish I had more room for more cookers. LOL But the BBQ these things turn out is absolutely stellar. The chicken, ribs and pork steaks hits different than offset - not as smokey as offset, but has a great balance of stick burning smokiness with fat dripping in the coals BBQ goodness. So satisfying.
Nice job; new sub. I think the "reverse santa maria" comment came from Russ Jones of Smoky Ribs BBQ in his El Patron video. I'm on the same search, by the way! Also looking at the Pitts & Spitts roll top adjustable charcoal grill. No firebrick but removable ash catcher which I really like. Ease of cleaning is big for me. Also, I want an adjustable charcoal grate, which both the P&S and El Patron have. Decisions, decisions...
As soon as you set out your requirements, I knew you would go the El Patron way, especially with the comparisons you made on the direct smoker and adjustable cooker videos! Looking forward to your videos and hope the el patron lives up to your expectations as a direct heat, Santa Maria, wood smoker, pizza oven, rotisserie cooker🙏🏾
I was between the Slinger and the El Patron. Ended up going with the Slinger and don't have any regrets. I was able to get the cooker, the griddle, rotisserie and heat deflector for about $2200 shipped. I received everything the same week I ordered. The same setup would have probably been quite a bit more for the El Patron. I also like that the Slinger is a true 24" from the coals at it's furthest distance. I believe the El Patron is about 17". I also have an M1 which covers pretty much anything else I want to do.
When I get the El Patron I will measure the distance between grates. I wonder how much difference those inches make. Congrats though on getting the Slinger. I'm sure it's making you some mighty fine BBQ.
Great overview of your different needs and experiences. You put out great comparison content and this was really cool. Cant wait to see some videos you put out with the el patron cooker.
I think you did a really great job here. Congratulations on the El Patron. A couple of my thoughts from yet another BBQ enthusiast who has way too many freaking cookers: The Mini Chud Box is now my favorite cooker EVER. As you stated “It’s user friendly”. It’s opened up a new world of “Direct heat BBQ” to me and it’s got zero flaws or issues. An offset still makes the best BBQ ever if you have honed your fire management skills. As far as authentic Santa Maria style grills they’re very much unique to their culture and the live fire presentation of grilling, smoking and more all the while WOWING your crowd with their unique style (it’s all about the wheel) and presentation. Do I want one? Hell yeah! Regarding the new stainless steel Chud Grill. Oh Hell yeah you know I damn well know I ordered one and will be proud to park it next to my mini Chud Box! Great video and super informative content. Well done!
Thanks for sharing your thought process. LSG has some well designed gear! That reverse Santa Maria will add a whole new level of control. I think it’s going to come down to the ChudBox or CenTex for me. These direct heat cookers are pretty awesome backyard tools!
the el patron looks awesome. wish the options werent so expensive on it. easily 50% on top of the price for what i feel like is mandatory. having said that i still plan to save up for one in the future
You mentioned that having fire bricks in the firebox was very important to you since having fat drip into the bottom of a steel firebox is corrosive. But the height adjustable charcoal grates, which also act as diffuser plates for indirect smoking, will get fat dripped on them, especially when using El Patron as a smoker. Is your intent to make sure these charcoal grates are never under the food you are cooking and use something else when you want to smoke low and slow?
I went between the El Patron and 1904 3’ Trolley. When I did the price per inch, the trolley ultimately won out. I absolutely love the Trolley and the ability to slide the grate over off of the coals whenever I want. That in addition to the second grate they put in made it easy to pull the trigger. Maybe I was a little bitter that Chris no longer gives military a 5% discount as he once did when I bought the pellet grill. Ultimately though, I can’t really think of many that do, so while it sucks I guess I kinda understand. That was until I see all these TH-cam influencers getting free grills from Chris to market their product. I guess I understand it, just put a sour taste in my mouth. Either way the LSG products are top notch and I’m sure the El Patron is no exception. In the end, I’m glad I went with the trolley just because of the space is nothing else. I feed 5-10 easily every time I fire it up which is usually 2-3 times a week. Love the fire brick. If the cook runs long and I can’t clean it out same day, no worries about ash sitting on the brick overnight or rusting.
I recently received my El Patron, it actually took 16 weeks to receive after I placed my order. It holds temps really well and so far has cooked really good food. My one complaint is the firegrate as configured with quick links only comes up to about 8" from the cooking grate. If I remove the quick link the cable will not allow charcoal grate to lower sufficiently because the cable will be to short. Hopefully Chris addresses this issue. Unfortunately I'll still be in the same boat. Also I bought a 3/8" pizza steel from Amazon for significantly less cost and its indestructible. Also for rotisserie just buy direct from One Grill for nearly half the price. Good luck and happy cooking.
Could you attach links of the pizza steel and the specific rotisserie kit you bought? Did you have to make any modifications to get the rotisserie to work? Thanks
i love santa maria cooking, been cooking on my lone star santa maria over a year now. i love the challenge of managing the open fire with the elements. i have been thinking of an el patron though, as a more utilitarian do all type grill. i also like their adjustable grill but price wise the el patron seems a better deal.
Do you think that El Patron having fire bricks and the Chud Box not having fire bricks will allow El Patron to cook with the same amount of charcoal even though it is larger?
I'm not sure it will take less charcoal in the beginning, or even for shorter cooks, but for longer cooks, it will have better heat retention, which will help fuel use.
Did you consider the smokeslingler? I considered the El Patron but was turned off by the frequency of videos I saw using a fan. Looking forward to seeing your content with it.
It’s funny I’m also searching for something similar. And I’ve been looking around the “El Patron” and the 36” competition flat grill from Yoder smokers since I don’t need the 48” and that’s how I came across your channel. While searching, I came across the 1000 and 2000s series from grills and cookers it has a Santa Maria and also a side firebox that turns it into offset smoker. Are you familiar with it?
Hey, I have noticed Engelbrecht over the years. If you want something similar to the 2000 model that's quite a bit cheaper, check out AZ BBQ Outfitters and the Scottsdale cooker. For a combination offset smoker and santa maria style grill, I think it could work well, but one Shirley Fabrication has started making is worth your investigation as well. I'm not sold on the 1000's lid concept in combination with the santa maria. I suppose it could work alright, but it might work better if it detached somehow from the base and went up with the grate. Good luck with your buying decision! 🙂
@@SmokeMasterD thank you very much. I’ll check out this grill.i had the same reservations about the lid as well. Also I’m gonna wait for your review on the el patron. Since I’m not on hurry and have other grills.
I have been also doing extensive research for these types of versatile grill. It’s between the el patron and the M36. When you price out the El Patron to similar specks of the M36 the prices are very similar. But the M grill seems to be better even better built and heavier. Wondering if you considered the M grill and what your reasons were for picking the El Patron over the M grill. Thanks
I have looked into the M grills but never considered it because, while it does a particularly good job at doing both indirect convective cooking like an offset and grilling, I never thought it had enough distance between the raisable fire grate and cooking grate to allow it to find that middle ground between smoking and grilling that smoker grills do. The access to the direct heat fire grate is also not to my liking. Plus, my offset takes care of my convective indirect cooking needs. I think the M grills hit a good combo for a lot of people, but not really what I was after.
@@SmokeMasterDthat makes sense given that you already have an offset. Interesting point about smoker grill. Would you say that’s direct cooking over coal/wood in the 350 F range giving you elements of both smoking and high enough heat for grilling with the juices hitting the coal/wood?
Just subscribed. This man’s existential grill crisis is shared by so many! Including me!!
My own extensive research led me to the same conclusion a few days before you posted this video. I think the El Patron is one of the most versatile cookers yet, and it is built to last. With the FireBoard2 controller, you can do effortless low-and-slow cooks. At the high temp end, you can do wood fired pizzas. And in between you have the benefits of a hot box and a Santa Maria style grill. And don't forget the rotisserie, which I believe you will come to love as you see the benefit of constant self basting. This is truly an innovative cooker.
Congrats on the new purchase. I couldn't be happier that I chose to pivot and go away from pellet grills, electric smokers, offset smokers, and go with a direct heat cooker instead. No, I really don't have the storage space for multiple cookers. ....and man, I really wish I had more room for more cookers. LOL But the BBQ these things turn out is absolutely stellar. The chicken, ribs and pork steaks hits different than offset - not as smokey as offset, but has a great balance of stick burning smokiness with fat dripping in the coals BBQ goodness. So satisfying.
Nice job; new sub. I think the "reverse santa maria" comment came from Russ Jones of Smoky Ribs BBQ in his El Patron video. I'm on the same search, by the way! Also looking at the Pitts & Spitts roll top adjustable charcoal grill. No firebrick but removable ash catcher which I really like. Ease of cleaning is big for me. Also, I want an adjustable charcoal grate, which both the P&S and El Patron have. Decisions, decisions...
As soon as you set out your requirements, I knew you would go the El Patron way, especially with the comparisons you made on the direct smoker and adjustable cooker videos! Looking forward to your videos and hope the el patron lives up to your expectations as a direct heat, Santa Maria, wood smoker, pizza oven, rotisserie cooker🙏🏾
Congratulations! Eager to see the review of the El Patrone
Your content (especially this one) is exactly what I was looking for! WELL DONE!
I am interested in buying the El Patron and looking forward to your review.
Have you received El Patron yet? Looking forward to your review of it.
It's coming Monday!
I was between the Slinger and the El Patron. Ended up going with the Slinger and don't have any regrets. I was able to get the cooker, the griddle, rotisserie and heat deflector for about $2200 shipped. I received everything the same week I ordered. The same setup would have probably been quite a bit more for the El Patron. I also like that the Slinger is a true 24" from the coals at it's furthest distance. I believe the El Patron is about 17". I also have an M1 which covers pretty much anything else I want to do.
When I get the El Patron I will measure the distance between grates. I wonder how much difference those inches make. Congrats though on getting the Slinger. I'm sure it's making you some mighty fine BBQ.
@@SmokeMasterD it’s my new “go-to” for chicken and ribs. Excited to see your El Patron content. Congrats!
Great overview of your different needs and experiences. You put out great comparison content and this was really cool. Cant wait to see some videos you put out with the el patron cooker.
I have a 3 ft trolley. Love it. Great guys at 1904.
I considered the Dumpster the Hurtado but went with the El Patron. So versatile it’s the best purchase I have made. It does everything really well.
I'm looking forward to testing it out!
I think you did a really great job here. Congratulations on the El Patron. A couple of my thoughts from yet another BBQ enthusiast who has way too many freaking cookers:
The Mini Chud Box is now my favorite cooker EVER. As you stated “It’s user friendly”. It’s opened up a new world of “Direct heat BBQ” to me and it’s got zero flaws or issues.
An offset still makes the best BBQ ever if you have honed your fire management skills.
As far as authentic Santa Maria style grills they’re very much unique to their culture and the live fire presentation of grilling, smoking and more all the while WOWING your crowd with their unique style (it’s all about the wheel) and presentation. Do I want one? Hell yeah!
Regarding the new stainless steel Chud Grill. Oh Hell yeah you know I damn well know I ordered one and will be proud to park it next to my mini Chud Box!
Great video and super informative content. Well done!
Congratulations, can't wait to see it
Thanks for sharing your thought process. LSG has some well designed gear! That reverse Santa Maria will add a whole new level of control. I think it’s going to come down to the ChudBox or CenTex for me. These direct heat cookers are pretty awesome backyard tools!
the el patron looks awesome. wish the options werent so expensive on it. easily 50% on top of the price for what i feel like is mandatory. having said that i still plan to save up for one in the future
You mentioned that having fire bricks in the firebox was very important to you since having fat drip into the bottom of a steel firebox is corrosive. But the height adjustable charcoal grates, which also act as diffuser plates for indirect smoking, will get fat dripped on them, especially when using El Patron as a smoker. Is your intent to make sure these charcoal grates are never under the food you are cooking and use something else when you want to smoke low and slow?
You're right, but the plates can be replaced.
I went between the El Patron and 1904 3’ Trolley. When I did the price per inch, the trolley ultimately won out. I absolutely love the Trolley and the ability to slide the grate over off of the coals whenever I want. That in addition to the second grate they put in made it easy to pull the trigger. Maybe I was a little bitter that Chris no longer gives military a 5% discount as he once did when I bought the pellet grill. Ultimately though, I can’t really think of many that do, so while it sucks I guess I kinda understand. That was until I see all these TH-cam influencers getting free grills from Chris to market their product. I guess I understand it, just put a sour taste in my mouth. Either way the LSG products are top notch and I’m sure the El Patron is no exception. In the end, I’m glad I went with the trolley just because of the space is nothing else. I feed 5-10 easily every time I fire it up which is usually 2-3 times a week. Love the fire brick. If the cook runs long and I can’t clean it out same day, no worries about ash sitting on the brick overnight or rusting.
Same, love my 1904, high value purchase
El Patron is a no brainer.
The Chud box is a pure 2nd.
I recently received my El Patron, it actually took 16 weeks to receive after I placed my order. It holds temps really well and so far has cooked really good food. My one complaint is the firegrate as configured with quick links only comes up to about 8" from the cooking grate. If I remove the quick link the cable will not allow charcoal grate to lower sufficiently because the cable will be to short. Hopefully Chris addresses this issue. Unfortunately I'll still be in the same boat.
Also I bought a 3/8" pizza steel from Amazon for significantly less cost and its indestructible. Also for rotisserie just buy direct from One Grill for nearly half the price.
Good luck and happy cooking.
Could you attach links of the pizza steel and the specific rotisserie kit you bought? Did you have to make any modifications to get the rotisserie to work? Thanks
Did you have to drill holes in your El Patron to mount the rotisserie?
@@shumardi1 the rotisserie holes and swivel covers are included preinstalled by LSG.
@@JohnPapadakis-s6x I tried to attach the link however youtube won't allow it.
@@wcneathery3100
Could you state the model number?
i love santa maria cooking, been cooking on my lone star santa maria over a year now. i love the challenge of managing the open fire with the elements. i have been thinking of an el patron though, as a more utilitarian do all type grill. i also like their adjustable grill but price wise the el patron seems a better deal.
I agree on it being a good deal. Maybe someday I'll be up for wrangling more with Santa Maria grills.
The 1904 trolley is what I would love to someday get
You won’t regret it
Do you think that El Patron having fire bricks and the Chud Box not having fire bricks will allow El Patron to cook with the same amount of charcoal even though it is larger?
I'm not sure it will take less charcoal in the beginning, or even for shorter cooks, but for longer cooks, it will have better heat retention, which will help fuel use.
I have a drum smoker and I used it a lot and I never had to put more charcoal in it
To be fair, the times I was trying to get to my fire box while it was running, I think I put too many wood chunks in.
Did you consider the smokeslingler? I considered the El Patron but was turned off by the frequency of videos I saw using a fan.
Looking forward to seeing your content with it.
I'm actually curious about the fan. I'm more interested, however, in seeing how it performs without it.
@@SmokeMasterD I don't have a fan and it's been rock solid holding temps.
Is there a link to el patron for purchase
lonestargrillz.com/products/lsg-el-patron
Curious what options you chose to add on?
Several. Saving that for the walk, through.
It’s funny I’m also searching for something similar. And I’ve been looking around the “El Patron” and the 36” competition flat grill from Yoder smokers since I don’t need the 48” and that’s how I came across your channel. While searching, I came across the 1000 and 2000s series from grills and cookers it has a Santa Maria and also a side firebox that turns it into offset smoker. Are you familiar with it?
The grills and cooker grill I mentioned is made by englebrecht. Congrats on your new El Patron
Hey, I have noticed Engelbrecht over the years. If you want something similar to the 2000 model that's quite a bit cheaper, check out AZ BBQ Outfitters and the Scottsdale cooker. For a combination offset smoker and santa maria style grill, I think it could work well, but one Shirley Fabrication has started making is worth your investigation as well. I'm not sold on the 1000's lid concept in combination with the santa maria. I suppose it could work alright, but it might work better if it detached somehow from the base and went up with the grate. Good luck with your buying decision! 🙂
@@SmokeMasterD thank you very much. I’ll check out this grill.i had the same reservations about the lid as well. Also I’m gonna wait for your review on the el patron. Since I’m not on hurry and have other grills.
…yes, but too often interrupted
I have been also doing extensive research for these types of versatile grill. It’s between the el patron and the M36. When you price out the El Patron to similar specks of the M36 the prices are very similar. But the M grill seems to be better even better built and heavier. Wondering if you considered the M grill and what your reasons were for picking the El Patron over the M grill. Thanks
I have looked into the M grills but never considered it because, while it does a particularly good job at doing both indirect convective cooking like an offset and grilling, I never thought it had enough distance between the raisable fire grate and cooking grate to allow it to find that middle ground between smoking and grilling that smoker grills do. The access to the direct heat fire grate is also not to my liking. Plus, my offset takes care of my convective indirect cooking needs. I think the M grills hit a good combo for a lot of people, but not really what I was after.
@@SmokeMasterDthat makes sense given that you already have an offset.
Interesting point about smoker grill. Would you say that’s direct cooking over coal/wood in the 350 F range giving you elements of both smoking and high enough heat for grilling with the juices hitting the coal/wood?
Did you consider the Hasty Bake along side the Patron?
I did consider the Hasty Bake - both the legacy and the roughneck, but again, it came down to the firebrick.
Went down the same road 😂
Man, there is only one room in the house where that kind of deep thinking can take place.🤔🤣
…yes, but too often interrupted!!!
I think I would split all that wood in the background before it dries out. 😉
Really? I was under the impression that wood retained moisture when it was un-split.
Having more is better brother….
Are you considering getting rid of the Super55?
Not at the moment. It travels really well, so I imagine it will still be valuable to me for that reason, but we'll see.
Is that the brahma bull???!
?
Your shirt