Fuel conditioner for grill

A cooking apparatus comprising:

• an enclosure defining a heating chamber configured to be heated and used for cooking food;
• a burn box proximate to the enclosure and which is configured to provide heat to the heating chamber;
• a hopper configured to hold fuel and having a lower opening;
• a fuel conditioner disposed between the hopper and the burn box to condition the fuel prior to burning in the burn box, the lower opening of the hopper being coupled to the fuel conditioner;
• an inclined surface positioned below the fuel conditioner, the inclined surface being flat and having at least one ventilation opening formed therein;
• a channel extending from the inclined surface to the burn box, the channel configured to conduct wood chips from the fuel conditioner to the burn box, the channel defining an auger opening, the inclined surface extending to the auger opening, the at least one ventilation opening providing ventilation to the channel;
• and
• an auger disposed at least partially within the channel and across the auger opening, the auger configured to move conditioned fuel from the fuel conditioner to the burn box, a portion of the auger extending outwardly from the channel and across the inclined surface and below the fuel conditioner, the inclined surface extending between the fuel conditioner and the auger, the at least one ventilation opening being positioned between the fuel conditioner and the portion of the auger.