INTRODUCTION TO THE KOMODO KAMADO

[Ross]

The following is an excerpt from Dennis Linkletter's interview with Grilling.com, a Kingsford publication.

INTRODUCTION TO THE KOMODO KAMADO

Known for their ability to retain heat and moisture, Komodo style ceramic grills are becoming increasingly popular among backyard cook and seasoned grilling veterans. Today we’re sitting with Dennis Linkletter, owner and designer of Komodo Kamado cookers, to discuss what makes these units so special.

First of all, Dennis, how did you get involved with Komodo Kamado?

I learned that a very talented crew of artisans who had been manufacturing a ceramic grill in Surabaya, Indonesia had been abandoned when their ”morally ambiguous” boss was suddenly forced to leave the country.
After hearing this story, I checked the Internet and found that several companies were successfully selling Kamado style, egg-shaped grills and their customers were unusually passionate about them. I decided to build a grill that capitalized on their strengths and corrected their flaws. I adopted the talented and experienced crew and launched Komodo Kamado.

Tell us about the history of Kamado grilling? What makes the Komodo Kamado unique?

To read more of the Dennis Linkletter interview, chek the link below:

http://www.grilling.com/introduction-to ... do-kamado/


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[Marty]

I just saw one of these listed on Craig's list. The thing is how do I know if it is one of the ones made after David Linkletter took over or one of the ones that are said to be vastly inferior?

It is in blue tiles and the post says some are missing but will not hurt the functionality.

At $500 it would be a steal.

Some of the pictures of those Kamados that Richard made are quite scary, Most of the tiles falling off and the top vent made with a screw mechanism made from plain steel that rusts into a solid mass with the nut.

[RMsmokes]

I just saw one of these listed on Craig's list. The thing is how do I know if it is one of the ones made after David Linkletter took over or one of the ones that are said to be vastly inferior?

It is in blue tiles and the post says some are missing but will not hurt the functionality.

At $500 it would be a steal.

Some of the pictures of those Kamados that Richard made are quite scary, Most of the tiles falling off and the top vent made with a screw mechanism made from plain steel that rusts into a solid mass with the nut.

Are you in California? Because if so I believe the girl selling it posted on this forum not long ago trying to figure out what she had.

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[Ross]

Yes, that is for sure the same kamado. It is a kamado made by Richard Johnson's Kamado Co., which is now owned by someone other than Ricard Johnson, and goes by the name of KamadoUSA. Do not confuse this with Komodo Kamado, the company owned by Dennis Linkletter. Komodo Kamado has no affiliation what so ever with this company or this kamado. It would be like comparing a Rolls Royce with a Toyota, They are not even in the same league. She never mentioned that the kamado was missing tiles, which leads me to believe there might other things she's hiding You might offer her a couple hundred bucks at the most for it. Could be worth a bit more of it didn't already have a tile problem.


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[Marty]

Yes, that is for sure the same kamado. It is a kamado made by Richard Johnson's Kamado Co., which is now owned by someone other than Ricard Johnson, and goes by the name of KamadoUSA. Do not confuse this with Komodo Kamado, the company owned by Dennis Linkletter. Komodo Kamado has no affiliation what so ever with this company or this kamado. It would be like comparing a Rolls Royce with a Toyota, They are not even in the same league. She never mentioned that the kamado was missing tiles, which leads me to believe there might other things she's hiding You might offer her a couple hundred bucks at the most for it. Could be worth a bit more of it didn't already have a tile problem.


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This is not the one listed on here previously. The listing listing I am looking at is a bit suspect. It shows a picture of a cobalt blue Komodo Kamado and a link to their site and says look it retails for $3200. He lists it as having some tiles that are chipped and promises to put a actual picture on Craig's in the future. From what I can see the ones made by Richard Johnson are something too stay away from. I can not believe he used plain carbon steel for the top vent screw instead of stainless. If I were making one you could not force me to use plain carbon steel.

The thing is how do you identify which is which. They do look similar.

[Ross]

oops, sorry for jumping to conclusions. It does sound a but suspect, however. Or it is stolen merchandise.

[Marty]

oops, sorry for jumping to conclusions. It does sound a but suspect, however. Or it is stolen merchandise.

The thing is those of us we ho have used a Kamado understand what it is. ( and if Amazon had not put the Char Griller Kamado on my you might like this list----i WOULD STILL be one of the majority that says that is just an over priced grill)

I Recently met a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America ( the CIA) who teaches there, has a spot on the radio and teaches private cooking lessons who said that is something for rich people, She had no idea what a Kamado can do. There is a cost barrier that prevents most of the country from experiencing Kamado cooking. To most people it is just an expensive grill.

This is a barrier to selling a used kamado. The person selling one knows what it is and 95% of those who are buying have no idea or understanding of what it really is. Further there very few for sale because there are not many people who spent the money for one.

Having said this I do think this person is selling a an old pre David Linkletter Kamado and representing it as as the real thing. I so want it to be the real thing but I doubt it. Further I do not have the experience to know the difference.

[Ross]

It would not be that difficult to tell the difference between the two kamados. Check out Kamodokamado.com's website, look at the kamados in their gallary. You will notice it has a distinct shape, The hinge holding the lid is built into the ceramic and is not visible from the outside. The Kamado Company brand Kamado really does not look anything like the Kamodo Kamado. You can see the Kamado Company's kamado at www.kamadousa.com.

[waldo]

Again I'll offer my two cents worth. Don't buy it. Spend the $500 on a Vision or put it towards a Kamado Joe on sale for $700. You will be happier with the results in the long run, and you will not have a 600 lb. monster boat anchor to deal with. Tiles falling off? That should be a clue. If it's one of R. Johnson's POS, absolutely no way. If it's from Linkletter, it is made much better, but still the silly tiles fall off (apparently), and it will not cook your steaks or pork butts one bit better. They claim better heat retention, and all that nit picking crap, but that really doesn't matter enough to put up with the downside.

The big tiled kamados are simply yard art to impress your neighbors and guests. If that's what you want, fine, but know that is all the benefit you will receive from it.

[Marty]

Again I'll offer my two cents worth. Don't buy it. Spend the $500 on a Vision or put it towards a Kamado Joe on sale for $700. You will be happier with the results in the long run, and you will not have a 600 lb. monster boat anchor to deal with. Tiles falling off? That should be a clue. If it's one of R. Johnson's POS, absolutely no way. If it's from Linkletter, it is made much better, but still the silly tiles fall off (apparently), and it will not cook your steaks or pork butts one bit better. They claim better heat retention, and all that nit picking crap, but that really doesn't matter enough to put up with the downside.

The big tiled kamados are simply yard art to impress your neighbors and guests. If that's what you want, fine, but know that is all the benefit you will receive from it.

Waldo I do hear what you are saying. I do agree that if a person had any functioning ceramic or insulated steel Kamado for that matter and was familiar enough with its unique requirements to control the heat---then a blind taste panel would not be able to tell what cooked what. I also would not be surprised if a Weber was also on the same level if tended properly.

The thing is there are used Kamados made by R Johnson that may appear to be a great buy but are not.
Any one who would use any thing except rust proof metal for a screw top vent is suspect big time for all of the rest of the specifications.
I would buy any version of a David Linkletter Kamado used in excellent condition happily for $500. It is kind of like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. They are for sale with 200,000 miles on them and many other cars are junked or a $40,000 sports car is for sale for $10,000 because the up keep it too steep. I once saw a listing for an Audi which said it was a super fun car to drive but they wanted $8,000 just so they could break even with what they put into it in the last year. I do not think that was a good sales approach.

What I really want to know is how durable is what I am buying? How easy is it to use once I know how to properly use it? Then what is its cost relative to others that have the same durability and ease of use. I have to think a Komodo Kamado would pass muster at $500.

[philpom]

If it's too good to be true it probably is.

[Marty]

If it's too good to be true it probably isn't.

Philpom I agree. For it to be true-- would be like wining the lottery. Sadly there are a lot of scammers on Craig's list. I have bought some good stuff though.

I think the first give away is this is not the actual unit for sale. The second is the reply was sent from a mobile phone--so it can be suspect.


http://newyork.craigslist.org/fct/for/3188067744.html

[Ross]

You would kind of have to be foolish not to grab this for $500, I agree, if it is what it says it is. My gut feeling is that it's a stolen item, thus his reluctance to show the actual photo of it.


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[Marty]

You would kind of have to be foolish not to grab this for $500, I agree, if it is what it says it is. My gut feeling is that it's a stolen item, thus his reluctance to show the actual photo of it.


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Ross I think you are right. This person is using a G-Mail account and a lot of car scamers use g-mail as a disposable account.

When I asked for an address I got an address that comes up on Truvia as being on the market and worth $750,000. I have no desire what so ever to buy stolen property. That is one common way --is to find a listing and then make a deal in front of the property. I forgot the keys but go look in the windows. Give me a deposit on the rent and I will give you the keys tomorrow.

In this case I am rich but just selling it in the drive way.

[Marty]

It would not be that difficult to tell the difference between the two kamados. Check out Kamodokamado.com's website, look at the kamados in their gallary. You will notice it has a distinct shape, The hinge holding the lid is built into the ceramic and is not visible from the outside. The Kamado Company brand Kamado really does not look anything like the Kamodo Kamado. You can see the Kamado Company's kamado at http://www.kamadousa.com.

Ross
Thanks for this info. I finally got a photo and it has a rusty top steel band with a mostly rotted and missing wood handle . So this looks like one of Richard's creations.

There are also large patches of tile that have fallen off.

No wonder he did not post a real picture.