Barbecue Lessons Keep a Fireplace Business Busy

Once or twice a month it is difficult to find a parking spot at at 917 Arnold Commons Dr.

About 30 people take barbecue lessons that occur at 6 p.m. on an occasional Wednesday, behind the building in an outdoor furniture display area that looks like a lounge.  

There is small decorative waterfall, lounge chairs and sofas, plenty of tall bushes to shield people from Highway 141 traffic, and lots of shade.

“We offered the classes to help people enjoy the barbecue products they bought,” Joan Jennewin, a sales person, said. In this case, Jennewin referred to a ceramic barbecue grill, known as the Big Green Egg, capable of cooking food at 725˚F. 

Last night, the instructor taught participants a variety of rib recipes.  About one third of the students sat in love seats or lounge chairs, talked amongst themselves and ate. About half the people milled around the chef to ask questions. The remainder of the people disappeared into the store.

Brian Hartenstine and his wife Barb, both of St. Peters, considered Wednesday night’s class a date night.

“We get to eat dinner, talk to a chef, meet other people and enjoy the outdoors,” Brian said.

The couple bought the grill early in the spring, learned about the classes and said they wanted to compete in a few barbeqce cook-offs.

During last night’s class, besides finding a recipe for pineapple barbecue ribs, they learned to bake a strawberry cobbler pie and a pizza in the grill.

Barb Hartenstine was a little flustered though, because the chef will not sell his barbecue seasoning mix. 

“Yeah, that’s something Ken has wanted me to do, and I need to find time for it,” said chef Tim Grandinetti, referring to Ken Moss, the co-owner of Arnold Stove and Fireplace.

Grandinetti is a classically trained chef and native of New York City. He worked several years in New York and North Carolina, and works as the executive chef for Overlook Farm, which is about 90 miles away in Clarksville, MO. He also works with St. James Winery and makes his own seasonings.

“I know French recipes from culinary school and Italian cuisine from my family but really appreciated barbecue when I lived in North Carolina,” Grandinetti said.

Grandinetti and Moss met three years ago at an event at Eighth Street and Washington in St. Louis city. The two kept in contact via Facebook and LinkedIn, Grandinetti said.

Moss suggested the barbecue lessons to Grandinetti earlier this year. 

The Hartenstines moved inside to wash their hands while waiting for the chef’s baked dessert to come from the barbecue grill.

Inside the store Brian Hartenstine considered buying a pizza stone and a cast iron grill for searing steaks. 

“My wife will only let me get one of them,” he said.

He and his wife reserved their spot for Wednesday's lesson on beef and barbecues.

Moss, throughout the lesson, answered questions about barbecue products, patio furniture and fireplaces. 

At 8 p.m. on a Wednesday night, the parking lot remained filled with cars. 

People interested in attending the barbecue lessons should call Arnold Stove and Fireplace at 636-282-0300.