Pewter-type serving dishes are all the rage, so when the owners of my favorite local hardware store asked me to test the new Gourmet Grillware for my upcoming Cool-Cooking class, I was excited. Wilton Armetale, the manufacturer of this so-called Serveware, claims that you can grill and serve on the same piece, and backs it up with a lifetime warranty. I thought it sounded too good to be true.

My first attempt was to make a Creamy Salmon Stir-Fry with Pasta, a recipe I developed after getting the idea from a picture in a British magazine. I heated the tray on my gas grill with the lid closed, until piping hot, then opened the lid, turned down the heat, and proceeded with the recipe as if I was cooking on the stove.

I found that the tray conducted heat very well, and I was able to complete the dish as well or better than in my skillet on the stove - in about 10 minutes (faster than on the stove with no food splatters to clean up). The best part was that I could take the tray straight to the table for serving and didn’t have to clean another pan. The tray stayed hot, which meant that the food stayed hot, for several minutes after it was brought to the table. After eating, I expected to scour and scrape to get everything off the tray so that it looked new again. All I had to do was soak it in soapy water for a short time; all traces of food and grease disappeared with a quick use of a dishwashing brush – no scouring with abrasive pads. When the tray was clean, there was no evidence that it had ever been on the grill; it was still beautiful. Amazing!

Wilton Armetale Gourmet Grillware comes in several styles, a 17” Grill Tray (the one that I tested), an Oval Au Gratin Dish, An oval Sizzle Platter with Handle, and several sauce pots. The pieces range in price from about $20 for the 16 ounce sauce pot to $65 for a 3 piece set.

I was definitely impressed with this new Gourmet Grillware. It can be a real timesaver for summer meals, not only because meals can be cooked and served on just one pan, but there will be no splatters on the kitchen stove and countertops. I found that the 17” Grill Tray was the perfect size to handle a meal that serves about six people. I also found that it was excellent for cooking smaller food items that slip through the grill grates. I can’t wait to try the other styles!

If you own any of these Wilton Armetale Gourmet Grillware pieces, please let all of us know what foods have worked best for you through the Quick Cooking Forum.

To order Wilton Armetale Gourmet Grillware from Amazon:
Wilton Armetale Grill Tray with Holders from Amazon
Wilton Armetale Grillware Sizzle Platter from Amazon
Wilton Armetale Grillware Medium Gratin from Amazon