The Fiesta Blue Ember Outdoor Gas Barbeque Grill FG50069 is a beautiful example of getting "more" for "less." This unit delivers an assortment of specialty features at a very reasonable price.

The Blue Ember Barbeque is constructed from durable stainless steel, cast aluminum, painted steel, cast iron and heavy-duty plastic components. The hood, control panel, cabinet doors, front handle and side towel bars are all made from high-grade stainless steel. The end caps on the hood are heavy cast aluminum. The side shelves and bottom skirt are made from hard resilient plastic, and the cabinet itself is made from painted steel. The cooking surface is composed of three enamel-coated cast-iron grids, each measuring 9-1/8-inches wide by 17-1/8 inches deep. The total cooking space is 675 square inches (500 square inches of space on the main grids and an extra 175 square inches on the warming rack).

The FG50069 is a three-burner grill with an additional rear-mounted infrared ceramic (rotisserie) burner and cast-brass side burner. The stainless steel burners run from front to back and produce a steady stream of heat with a total of 45,000 Btu of cooking power. Three flame-tamer heat plates sit above the burners to help distribute the heat and protect the burners from excess drippings and grease. In our tests, the heat was evenly distributed across the entire cooking surface.

Designed to mimic an outdoor kitchen, Fiesta adds an array of practical features including a built-in rear electrical outlet, internal grill light, smoker box, bottle opener and two interchangeable shelf inserts (ice bucket and condiment tray) to help get you organize. The electrical components (outlet, grill light, rotisserie) are powered by a transformer box mounted inside the cabinet. You need to run an electrical cord from a grounded power outlet to the transformer to generate power. We felt it was a bit of a nuisance having to run a cord from the house (or garage) out to the grill, but the extra features are handy if you plan to use them.

The dimensions of this grill are 69 inches wide (including the side shelves), 24 inches deep and 53 inches tall. Overall, our impression was that the grill is solidly built, with sturdy, reinforced angles and smooth, usable surfaces. We loved the fact that both side shelves served multiple purposes -- one has a side burner and the other has a utility shelf insert for holding ice, condiments or other accompaniments. The flush-mounted lids, however, allow you full use of the workspace even when you are not using the extra features.

We were impressed with the unit's easy startup and fast preheating capability. The electronic pushbutton igniter fired up the grill instantly. Within five minutes, the internal temperature had reached 300 degrees Fahrenheit. After 10 minutes, the temperature reached 425 degrees, and by the 15-minute mark, it hit 500 degrees. The control knobs turn effortlessly so you can adjust each burner to the preferred heat setting.

The rear-mounted ceramic rotisserie burner also has its own independent control knob, and although the ceramic burner is not meant to be used in conjunction with the main burners, it nevertheless provides ample heat for slow, indirect cooking of roasts and other large items. An optional rotisserie kit (with motor, rotisserie spit and mounting brackets) is available separately.

An interesting quality of the cooking grates is their adjustability. Each of the grates can be positioned three ways (high, low or angled) so you can position the food closer or further away from the heat, as the need dictates. This is particularly handy when cooking different food items simultaneously. We liked the high and low options but found the angled position a bit awkward. A small cast-iron smoker box is mounted under the grates on the left side. It can be used with wood chips to impart a smoky flavor to foods.

The cast-brass side burner is sturdy and can accommodate pots or skillets up to 9 inches in diameter. It is ideal for frying onions or heating sauerkraut. The painted steel cart has two magnetic-close stainless steel doors and a rounded well to hold the LP tank. Four swivel casters provide good maneuverability over smooth and not-so-smooth surfaces. The casters can also be locked to keep the grill stationary. Oddly, with all its other features, the one thing this grill lacks is decent utensil hooks. There are several plastic hooks inside the cabinet door but they are much too short to hold grill utensils.

All things considered, however, the Fiesta Blue Ember Gas Barbeque provides a lot of grill for the money.


Pros: Three burners, 45,000 Btu, side burner, rear infrared rotisserie burner, smoker box, 675 square inches of total cooking space (500 sq. in. primary + 175 sq. in. secondary), electrical outlet, internal hood light
Cons: Need to run an electrical cord to power the electrical components (hood light, rotisserie and outlets), utensil hooks are inadequate

Warranty
2 years, parts (limited), 7 years, stainless steel burners (limited)