Cadac Safari Chef Grill

COURTESY CHICAGO TRIBUNE

» What it is: About the size of a footstool, this portable gas grill folds up into a carrying case weighing less than 9 pounds when loaded.

» How it works: Unpack the six pieces from the carrying case, deploy the spring-loaded legs on the base stove unit and screw on the 1-pound propane cylinder (bought separately). Assemble the setup you want, whether you wish to barbecue chicken, grill steaks, stir fry vegetables, fry burgers or eggs — even boil or roast. The appropriate parts simply fit on top of each other.

» The good: The workmanship and the quality of the metals lets you know you didn't waste your money. And this little stove is incredibly versatile for its size. It's too big for a backpacker unless you are carrying it only a mile or two, but any other camper should tuck this into the trunk. You can have gourmet meals under the stars. And it's a natural for tailgating. What's more, you don't need pots and pans; this provides the vessels you need. The nonstick reversible griddle cleans up easily, and the stove is smartly designed to catch grease.

» The bad: If you don't have a place to wash the part upon which you cooked, whether the griddle or the grill, you will need to wrap that in newspaper to keep from sliming the carrying case and the rest of the pieces.

» Cost: $129 plus shipping

» Available from: cadacnorthamerica.com