The Grilling Hot Line Center

Most of the time, Ms. Olsen said, the answer is an easy one. People sometimes simply forget to turn up heat. “You’ll tell the man the answer, and in the background you can hear his wife say, ‘See, I told you so.’ “

In some cases, there is no quick remedy.

Some people call to tell Ms. Olsen they have a houseful of guests, and they have just taken a turkey out of the freezer.

“I’m afraid,” she tells them, “you’re not going to be eating that turkey today.”

If things go wrong, she encourages people to have some perspective. “It’s not life-saving medicine,” Ms. Olsen tells them, “it’s just grilling.”

She does not claim to be much of a cook. She came to Weber after her husband died of leukemia. She was working at a drugstore and needed a better job. She sold a lottery ticket to a Weber employee, who dropped off a job application. Now she is revered for her expertise.

Charmed by Ms. Olsen’s patience and good humor, more than one gentleman caller has made overtures that go beyond grilling advice or warranty information.

One such call turned into a courtship.

“One thing led to another, and I ended up flying out to Connecticut to visit him,” she said. He grilled pita bread and stuffed them with vegetables.

“Now that man could cook,” she said, blushing.