280874 Fri Nov 11 15:15:21 -0800 2005 5 31 Home Cooking 0 1493328 Bought this in Tokyo Hands. It's v. light, some sort of porous ceramic. the well in which you are supposed to put something to burn is about the size of one of those Friends-style coffee mugs--perhaps slighly bigger. A small metal grill sits on top. I live in an apartment with no balcony, and my mother has just informed me that a small handful of charcoal will not do, as it will give off carbon monoxide. So what should I burn in it instead? Fri Nov 11 15:15:21 -0800 2005 0 drdawn 1 1493346 Sounds like a good size for a can of Sterno. Link: http://thecosmicjester.blogspot.com Fri Nov 11 17:01:52 -0800 2005 1493328 0 JK Grence (the Cosmic Jester) 1 1493347 It might be meant for use with canned sterno, which you can buy in most supermarkets. Is it possible to return to the place where you bought it and ask for their recommendation? Fri Nov 11 17:02:12 -0800 2005 1493328 0 Deenso 1 1493379 Congrats, you're the proud owner of a tabletop charcoal grill. Unfortunately your mom is right - no charcoal indoors. Use a can of sterno if you must use it inside, but I'm not sure if you could actually grill over it. Outdoors, these things are great, get a handful of skewers and start your own yakitori bar. BTW, Tokyu Hands is my favorite 2nd to last stop in Japan. My last stop is Mitsukoshi basement food court. Fri Nov 11 20:40:12 -0800 2005 1493328 0 Larry 1 1493455 Thanks to all... so is there any reason why wood is a bad idea? Sat Nov 12 15:33:57 -0800 2005 1493328 0 drdawn 2 1493592 Hardwood chunks would work, but the same caveats as charcoal, ie not indoors without a apecialized vent system. You'd have to burn it down to embers to get adequate heat anyway, so I'd just avoid the wait and use hardwood or mesquite charcoal. Sun Nov 13 17:52:22 -0800 2005 1493455 0 Larry