Especially for beef, high heat is where its at. Infrared is wonderful for that -- VASTLY superior to gas. It can be turned down slightly, but is not as controllable as gas. Gas is more controllable but doesn't get hot enough to do a serious job. There are grills that have infrared elements one side for searing and gas on the other for finishing or for chicken and other items that do better with slower cooking. They are expensive. Google "infrared" and you'll quickly see the players. I have a little Solaire-clone infrared. It cost about $200.00. Element large enough for about two steaks -- no more. Better than charcoal, mesquite, or anything else for the purpose. Really superb searing. Very high heat output. That's why Ruth's Cris and many other steak-houses use infrared.

We are looking for gas grill that will get lots of use year round. Will have NG hookup. Looking for something in the $1,000-$1,500 range. Would like a grill with lots of flexibility: rotiserrie, smoker etc. Anyone have a favorite?

plllog thanks alot for your reply. I think I am too picky in the way my food cooks. My kids eat "home made" food near exclusively. My cooking is homey and uncomplicated but home-made never the less and my family likes it that way. I would say that I am in complete agreement with you regarding how I feel about the way the food has turned out in the speed cooking modes: fine but not stellar! Having said that, I love having a smaller second oven that is quick to heat up and easy to use! I much prefer it than a large second oven. I suppose I could have bought a cheap second oven AND a MW. Then I would have been 24 inches less in storage. There are always trade offs. Sayde, all in all, the temperature in the Miele Speed Oven is extremely accurate and the baking is very even, making it a very excellent second oven. I really find that it is really the best baking oven I have ever used! I thought that I would use the combi mode more often but I don't. Because it is such an excellent oven, I am really happy. If you cook lots of frozen foods; ie lasagna, casseroles, the Speed oven would be great. I don't. Other useful things: baked potatoes, roasted beets etc, which we don't eat much either. I have roasted vegies in the combi mode. I prefer them done in the Viking gas oven with convection. There is more browning and carmelization. Overall, I love the way the gas oven carmelizes and browns much better than the electric ovens, IMHO. I really love having both a good gas oven with infrared broiler and a good electric oven with accuracy and evenness. I have had mediocre ovens in both categories. I think I have the best of both worlds. If I baked chicken breasts more, i may use the combi mode more often. However, one of our favorite ways to cook chicken breasts is Thai style satay with peanut sauce or greek style kabob on the BBQ. They can't seem to get enough satays! My family loves it. We use the gas BBQ alot. I have a natural plumbed gas BBQ just outside of my kitchen and I use it year around in Seattle WA. If it is howling outside I don't, otherwise, our weather is pretty mild without snow. I LOVE my kitchen with all its wonderful appliances. I am glad that I added the Miele Speed oven to my cooking acoutrement. I am thinking of putting my beloved cobalt blue Viking to a rental house eventually and getting a Bluestar range. I may swap it out for a different color. When the time comes near to swapping out my range, I will ask for your opinion regarding Blustar. This is not a pro-Viking forum but I have loved my Viking range for 10 years and I have had no complaints. yes, the time hog is the peeling and chopping the vegies.

Gary, You seem to come through for many of my questions. Thanks. I have DCS BBQ with infrared rotisserie, which works similarly to Viking infrared broiler. They are slightly different given that they are positioned differently: side versus top. I use them both and love them both for intended purposes! I am lucky in that I have a lot of "good" cooking appliances... hehehe.... I am trying to learn how to best use my new Speed oven.