A cooking grate having a first upper sub-grate with a first plurality of cooking members retained in a fixed relationship relative to one another by at least one upper cross-member, and a second lower sub-grate with a second plurality of cooking members retained in a fixed relationship relative to one another by at least one lower cross member. The first and second sub-grate fit together such that only an indirect path remains from below the cooking surface to above the cooking surface such that flame is impeded from travelling below the cooking surface to above the cooking surface.
