Tastee freez & Burnt BBQ

Yesterday I drove to Perris for a site inspection. On my way there, I couldn't help but think of my mom when this Tastee freez caught my eye. Those siblings who took piano lessons at Maxine's around the same time as me will recall that Mom used to love to "go get a treat" at Tastee freez on Saturday's after piano lessons. The way I remember it is the place looked just like this with the steep triangle roof, but was no longer called Tastee freez, but Mr. T's instead. None of the kids ever wanted to go there, but Mom loved their pastrami sandwiches, so even if we protested, she would say, we are "going to Tastee freez to get a treat".


As I drove by this Tastee freez remembering Mom's love of Mr. T's pastrami sandwich, I soon turned the corner, and this is what I saw:


I hope you can see what that says. It says, "Mildred Street". Yes, just outside Perris, California is a Tastee freez around the corner from Mildred Street. I hope someone else who remembers these Saturday morning piano lessons got a little giggle out of this like I did.

Next, a plea for help. Back in the day, when I lived in Placentia, I had a little barbecue I loved. I cooked dinner on it almost every night. I have been barbecue deprived for the last four years because the apartments I have lived in wouldn't allow them. But finally, I am so excited I am allowed to have a barbecue again. So with the awesome assistance and handyman skills of my brother, I purchased this beauty and I'm super excited about it.


But, unfortunately, there is a problem. I have cooked dinner on it three times and all three times, dinner ends up black like this.


I grilled this chicken on the very lowest setting possible. The knob doesn't go any lower. I never had this problem before, and I suspect something is wrong with the barbecue (notice how I automatically assume it couldn't be me :) The chicken isn't dry in the center, it just looks like that in the photo because it sat on the counter for a couple hours before I took this photo. If you have any suggestions, please help me. Thank you.