BBQ Gadgets

In a world of gadgets, computers, and Smart Phones, bbq gadgets were inevitable. I'm not convinced that these gadgets make you a better cook. I see them as a convenience item. If you can't cook, these gadgets aren't going to help you too much.

Some of these gadgets I've seen cost more than the cookers they are used on (example: older WSMs like mine).

I see the bbq gadgets as an excuse to buy another toy. I like gadgets myself with two laptops and two Smart Phones in our household. I doubt I'll ever buy one for any of my bbq cookers. I prefer to buy cookers that don't need such elaborate temperature control. My WSM will cook all night without a computer and I sleep like a baby.

2010 Big BBQ Bash - Greenback TN

The 2010 Big BBQ Bash is set for Oct 15 -16 at Maple Lane Farms, Greenback, TN. The event is an amateur barbecue cook-off and fundraiser for the Helen Ross McNabb Center, created by the Leadership Blount Class of 2007.

Amateur BBQ teams are invited to “smoke up or shut up” by cooking their best plates of barbecue. Categories include pulled pork,ribs,brisket, chicken and “anything but.” Prize money totaling $6,000 will be awarded for each category including a trophy and, of course, bragging rights for THE TOP THREE TEAMS IN EACH CATEGORY the next year. The current reigning grand champion team is The Soggy Bottom Smokers from Corryton, TN.

Admission to Saturday’s Big BBQ Bash, October 16, is free to the public and will include musical entertainment by THE DIXIE HIGHWAY BAND and food vendors. The BBQ teams may charge a fee per plate to the public on Saturday only providing attendees the chance to taste some of the best BBQ in the South.

Since its inception in 2007, the Big BBQ Bash has raised more than $50,000 for charitable services offered in Blount County. All proceeds from the 2010 Big BBQ Bash will benefit programs of the Helen Ross McNabb Center.

To register an amateur BBQ team or for sponsorship and vendor information, please visit the official event website, http://www.blountbbqbash.com/.

The Helen Ross McNabb Center is a not-for-profit provider of mental health care, addictions treatment and social services to children, adults and families in 17 East Tennessee counties. The Center’s mission is to improve the lives of the people we serve by providing quality and confidential care. For more information, please visit http://www.mcnabbcenter.org/.

BBQ Pork Spare Ribs for Labor Day

I spent my Labor Day celebrating with some bbq pork spare ribs. I used Blues Hog spice rub, Royal Oak lump charcoal, hickory chunks, apple juice, and Blues Hog Raspberry BBQ Sauce.  I have no idea whether the Raspberry flavor is still available from Blues Hog, but I received my sample along with an order I placed several months ago.

I hope you enjoy the video.

Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book

Somehow I missed this bbq book when it was published.  I've watched several videos Chris Lilly has hosted about cooking bbq, and enjoyed them all.  I need to get acquainted with his book.  I'd consider it a "back to basics" refresher course.  Here's a link in case you missed it too: Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book

Oklahoma Joe's BBQ Video

I love this video. Informal, but informative.

Roadside BBQ Stand

Linda snapped these pictures of a local roadside bbq stand with her Android Smart Phone.  The photo quality is a little sketchy, but not too bad for hand held from a moving vehicle with a cell phone.

First Annual All-American Tailgate Challenge

Throughout the month of September, Omaha Steaks is running the “First Annual All-American Tailgate Challenge”, encouraging all of our football enthusiasts to submit a video (3 minutes or less) of their next tailgate party and tell us why their tailgate is one of America’s best. If video isn’t an option, entrants can also submit their best tailgate photo and a brief narrative for a chance to win:

The Party King MVP-9500 Tailgate Grill, a Football Autographed by Ndamukong Suh, and Omaha Steaks All-American Tailgater Package including:

12 (8 oz.) Omaha Steaks Filet Mignons
8 Steak Sandwich Boneless Strips
8 Omaha Steaks Burgers
16 Gourmet Franks
16 Brats
12 Beef Snack Sticks

Plus a host of tailgating treasures, aprons, visors, grilling utensils, etc.  Total Prize Package Value: $1500

In support of this exciting initiative, Omaha Steaks will be giving away weekly prizes on Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare for their Tailgate Ambush.

If you check in or tweet from any stadium mentioning your tailgate experience during the month of September you will be entered into a weekly drawing for a chance to win other delicious Omaha Steaks prizes. Winners will be announced weekly on Omaha Steaks' Facebook, Twitter, and blog.

Favorite Tailgate Food - Atomic Buffalo Turds (ABTs)

With college football season in full swing and professional football just around the corner, I thought I'd share a tailgate recipe Linda and I enjoy - Atomic Buffalo Turds (ABTs).

I make mine a little differently than most folks. Most people use cream cheese, but I'm not a fan.  I substitute sausage topped with shredded cheddar cheese instead.

How to Assemble a Weber BBQ Grill in 53 Seconds or Less

Well maybe it does take a little longer than 53 seconds to assemble in "real life", but in "video life" all things are possible. Right?

Jack's Old South Restaurant #1

Looking for something to do on Labor Day Weekend?  Why not visit Jack's Old South BBQ's franchise restaurant location in Braselton, GA? It's the first in what promises to be many, many more Jack's Old South BBQ franchises.  According to the website, Myron Mixon, star of TLC's BBQ Pitmasters television show will be at this location on September 4.

Here's the address:

Jack's Old South BBQ #1
6323 Grand Hickory Drive
Braselton, GA 30517

Mr. Mixon recently announced a new bbq smoker design available from Jack's Old South called the H2O Rotisserie Smoker. The rotisserie rotates at 3 rpm and the smoker has water system that makes it easy to maintain the perfect cooker temperature.

It's Here....and 2 Days Early

My Weber One Touch Platinum kettle grill arrived at my local Lowe's today. It's now setting in my living room in a prime location to make assembly easier and more comfortable. It is summer in Florida after all and my garage is not air conditioned.

My wallet is a little lighter, but I did save $25 at Lowe's compared to the price on Amazon.com.

I couldn't resist opening the box to take a look, but I'm not going any farther tonight.

Cowboy Cauldron

Weber One-Touch Platinum Charcoal Grill

I've needed a new kettle grill for a while now and tonight I ordered a Weber One-Touch Platinum Charcoal Grill at Lowes.

I wanted a blue one, but according to the Weber sales literature at Lowes, it's only available in black.  They must not make the colors for the big box stores, but I swear I saw a blue one on Amazon.com a couple weeks ago.  Tonight Amazon.com only has black and red available.

Tip: If you tell the big box store you're also shopping and comparing prices on Amazon.com they might give you a discount.  I did and got a 10% price reduction, which turned out to be $20 cheaper than Amazon.com.

The best part is, I'll have the grill on Thursday.  Look for some future grilling recipes and videos.  I've always wanted to try a pork butt on a kettle grill.  I guess this is my chance.

Brisket for Lunch?

After a recent drive over to St. Petersburg to visit the Salvado Dali Museum, my taste buds were hankering for a brisket lunch.

Linda and I saw a piece on the local news about The Brisket Basket on 5th Ave North (across from the high school) a couple of years ago and stopped by for an enjoyable lunch.  Unfortunately, my more recent attempt didn't work out...the brisket has left the building. It's now a Java Bar or Java Hut or something similar. Bummer!

I didn't have the phone # with me for lunch, but after dialing it a few minutes ago it appears the phone # is now out of service.  The website still works though.  I hope it's not getting much traffic, because if it is there are going to be a lot of other dissapointed bbq fans (besides me).

If any of my readers are familar with the details regarding whether the brisket relocated to another building, or closed down completely, and would like to share....I'm all ears.

BBQ Veal Chops

I wanted to try something different on my Weber Smokey Mountain this weekend. 

I flipped through my Smoke & Spice recipe book by Cheryl and Bill Jamison and found a recipe for veal chops on page 159.  I didn't follow the recipe exactly, but I used their basic ideas. 

The chops were marinated in the refrigerator for 4 hours in a mixture of sage, salt, garlic powder, olive oil, and a little lemon juice. (I skipped the wine and lemon juice mop.)

I smoked them with Royal Oak lump charcoal.  They were removed after an hour when the internal meat temperature reached 155.  If you like your veal medium rare, then you may want to remove them a little sooner. I usually like my meat closer to medium-well, so I cooked the chops a little longer than teh recipe recommends.

My first attempt at smoked veal chops was a success!

Southern Food Blogs - Top 50

Cindy Cullen from CulinaryArtsCollege.org sent me an e-mail today to let me know my bbq blog was chosen as one of 50 Best Southern Food Blogs.  (Thanks Cindy.)  Numbers 1, 5, and 32 on the list are food blogs that I read often.  There are a lot of blogs on the list written by formally trained professional chefs and some are designed by professional webmasters (I am neither), but all the bloggers share an enjoyment of food and cooking. 

I'm pretty humbled that anyone would think to include my 'lil ole blog' on a food blog list that includes Ree Drummond's Pioneer Woman. In 2009 and 2010 her blog won the coveted Bloggie Award as the "Weblog of the Year" and other awards for writing and overall design.  The blog caters to women, but I'm not ashamed to say that I do occasionally read it. I steer away from the more womanly aspects of the blog - especially the "boy meets girl" posts and the Confessions section - but her Photography and Cooking sections are tremendous. If you're a blogger, food or otherwise, you can learn alot from ThePioneerWoman.com.  And for anyone looking for a gift idea for a daughter, wife, or mother, Pioneer Woman Cooks is a sure fire future favorite. 

BBQ Pitmaster: Week 2

Here's a preview of the 2nd episode:



To paraphrase the promotional e-mail I received from the network:

With one Pitmaster headed into an ambulance, the rest compete for $5,000 and an invitation into the finale for the $100,000 prize. Thursday 10 pm ET 9 pm CT.

BBQ Pitmasters Season 2

Thursdays at 10:00 eastern / 9:00 central



I wonder if the rules state that they have to use Kingsford charcoal.

BBQ Smoker Poll

For the last 3 weeks or so I've been conducting a reader's poll here on the BBQ Blog to find out what types of smokers my readers are currently using.  Here is a quick summary of the results so far:

Weber Smokey Mountain 13 (27%)
Backwoods Smoker 1 (2%)
Cookshack Pellet Smoker 0 (0%)
Stumps Smoker 4 (8%)
Lang Offset 3 (6%)
Klose Offset 0 (0%)
Big Green Egg 9 (18%)
Other Offset Smoker 16 (33%)
Other Vertical Smoker 6 (12%)

It looks like the Lang and Other Offset Smokers are in the lead with 39% of the votes. The Weber Smokey Mountain is in second at 27% with the Big Green Egg third with 18%.

There are two days left to vote in the current poll. Have you cast your vote yet?

Care to share your suggestions for a topic for the next poll?

The Butlers BBQ - St. Petersburg

Linda and I stopped by The Butlers BBQ today on the way to a festival in St. Petersburg.  This is not the typical bbq fare you find in Florida. If you like lots of brown sugar, honey, molasses, corn syrup, and other sticky gooey "stuff" in your bbq pork sandwiches and ribs, then you're in for a surprise. 

If you like to try different styles of bbq and get bored eating the same old same old every day, then you need to try Butlers BBQ.

Chopped bbq pork.

Pork ribs

I had coleslaw and baked beans with the chopped pork.  The coleslaw was pretty typical, but the baked beans were unique. I believe they use coffee in the recipe. The baked beans were pretty good and again different than what I'm used to.

Linda had collard greens and green beans with her pork ribs.  The green beans were not quite what she expected, but the collard greens were excellent. I think she liked them better than the ribs.

This bbq is seasoned with vinegar and red pepper flakes.  I've tasted similar flavors in the Carolinas and Tennessee.  It's served that way and there is a red sauce on the table (but I did't really need it).