From: lzk60@jasmine.ccc.amdahl.com (Lakshmankumar Mukkavilli)
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
Subject: Re: Tandoori Ovens
Keywords: tandoor
Date: 3 Sep 92 18:20:14 GMT
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

In article <1992Sep2.225854.21799@news.columbia.edu> nsh3@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Nadine S Harris) writes:
>
>In article <1992Aug31.183508.10239@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu>
>jern@visual1.jhuapl.edu (Bob Jernigan) writes:
>
>>From the Washington Post, Aug. 26, 1992, Food Section, article by Gail Forman.
>>
>>"Ron Levy has been making tandoor ovens since 1976 when he was a potter and
>>professor of ceramics in New York.  What started as a single commission has
>>turned into a thriving business that Levy now operates from his new home in
>>Islamorada, Fla.  ...  Levy's tandoors don't come cheap.  The portable model, 
>>designed for outdoor use, costs $1,800.  It's 100 percent clay, pre-fired to
>>1800 degrees Fahrenheit and has a stainless steel jacket and a tile top.  His
>>standard clay tandoor, used indoors or out, is a more affordable $700."
>>
>>Does anyone have any experience with these ovens?  Can I cook an acceptable
>>tandoori chicken without one?
>
>A friend owns an Indian restaurant and when he decided to install a
>tandoor, there were many complications because of the fire laws.  Due
>to the tremendous heat of these contraptions, special insulation was
>required by New York City fire inspectors.  Now this is a commercial
>operation, and may be more regulated than your kitchen, but it's
>something to think about before going ahead and installing one
>domestically.
>
>It is tough to get the same effect, especially for breads. 
>
>But I contend you can get very nice results with a very hot
>barbecue and a good authentic recipe.  Not the same, perhaps,
>but quite reminiscent.
>
>Nadine


We have a tandoor in our house. It has stainless steel interior and 
aluminum exterior. In between (about 1.5 to 2'') is some insulation
material(manufacturer claims that this is the same material that
is used on spaceships!). The tandoor is fueled by propane gas (natural 
gas option is available). This unit is made by a company called
Dynamic Cooking Systems, located in Huntington Beach, California,USA.
They also make upscale bar-b-q's and commercial grills.            

We are happy with the unit. Tandoori chicken and kababs come out very
well. Our friends tell us that they are excellent. We also use our tandoor
for baking eggplant (for making bharta) and potatoes. You can make
four rotis(8" diameter) at a time(takes about 70 seconds). 
We have not had much success with Naan's mainly because of problems with
the recipe. 

We have had it about for 2.5 years. No problems so far. It cost us
$350+$60(shipping, shipped to Iowa). It is a well made device.
I read that the designer is a mechanical engineer
 with over twenty years of experience in gas
appliances. It should be used outdoors. The temparature inside the tandoor
is very high (my crude guess is  750 - 800 F). The insulation is
very good. Heat is regulated manually.   It needs about 
15 minutes of pre-heating.


         Hope this helps,

                                          Lakshmankumar Mukkavilli

Disclaimer: I  have no connection (except as a satisfied customer) with
the manufacturer/seller.
Xref: sparky rec.food.cooking:15294 rec.food.historic:383