I feel like a radio show caller - First time, long time.
I've been "lurking" on AR for a couple of years now, reading and absorbing as much as I can. For some reason I never thought of signing up for a membership until I bought Meathead's book and it offered the free sign up so here I am!
About Me: I'm 37 years old and have lived in Northern, NJ most of my life (with 4 year stints in Southern California and NYC respectively). I've been married since 2008 and have two cats, one dog and no children, which is how I've always wanted it. I work in Midtown Manhattan and love it. Outside of my love for BBQ I'm also a huge comic book nerd with an extensive collection (you gotta do something in the winter!). I also love TV (who doesn't?), movies (ditto), books (especially Stephen King), history (especially American History), the NY Yankees, NY Giants and NY Knicks (two out of three ain't bad) and playing Fantasy Football.
I'm also fortunate enough to live up the street from a 70 year old local butcher shop which has been a dream come true.
Grilling Experience: My father in law gave me my first ever grill - a no-name, no-frills propane grill that took up my entire "patio" in Hoboken, NJ. I fumbled around on it making pretty mediocre burgers, hot dogs and chicken on it until I bought the book that changed my grilling life: Steven Raichlen's "How To Grill". Finally I'm not flying blind and the techniques in the book gave me the confidence and knowledge to really kickstart my love affair with grilling.
It was his book that suggested you can smoke meat on a gas grill (Yes he has you soak the wood, no I no longer do that thanks to Meathead). Regardless, I did soak them that first time, put them in little smoker pouches, put ribs on the grill and...my life changed forever (this was 2010). The ribs were the best food me - or my wife - had ever eaten. At least it seemed that way that night. It changed my life and my focus and from that day forward all I've ever wanted to do was smoke more and better meat.
I went from gas to converting over a kettle grill to smoke (as I learned step by step how to on this site...including ordering the Ribanator or whatever that thing is called) to buying a Weber Smokey Mountain which is my current smoker. I've smoked many porked butts, briskets and ribs...using each as a learning experience. I find every year I'm getting better than the last and again this site is a huge reason why.
Goals: I really want to get a good quality stick burner. I love smoking not just for the end results but for the entire experience. Cooking on all wood, tending the smoker all day, to me that is BBQ. I'm not a "set it and forget" guy - not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm drooling over getting a Lang Smoker or something of that quality. I don't know why I'm scared to pull the trigger yet, but I am.
I have fantasies of being able to sell my BBQ on the roadside on the weekend, or one day opening up my own local BBQ restaurant...you never know....
Here are some pics of my better cooks:
One of my better pulled porks...I love using the North Carolina Vinegar-Ketchup sauce with it. So hot and spicy and delicious.
The only way these ribs could have looked better is if I had a better knife. Oddly, I find ribs the hardest to come out consistently the way I like them. I've been cooking primarily SLC Spares but pictured here is Baby Backs which I've been having better luck with.
I've only cooked 3 or 4 briskets so far but this was, by far, my best results. Still working on trimming that fat!
I've been "lurking" on AR for a couple of years now, reading and absorbing as much as I can. For some reason I never thought of signing up for a membership until I bought Meathead's book and it offered the free sign up so here I am!
About Me: I'm 37 years old and have lived in Northern, NJ most of my life (with 4 year stints in Southern California and NYC respectively). I've been married since 2008 and have two cats, one dog and no children, which is how I've always wanted it. I work in Midtown Manhattan and love it. Outside of my love for BBQ I'm also a huge comic book nerd with an extensive collection (you gotta do something in the winter!). I also love TV (who doesn't?), movies (ditto), books (especially Stephen King), history (especially American History), the NY Yankees, NY Giants and NY Knicks (two out of three ain't bad) and playing Fantasy Football.
I'm also fortunate enough to live up the street from a 70 year old local butcher shop which has been a dream come true.
Grilling Experience: My father in law gave me my first ever grill - a no-name, no-frills propane grill that took up my entire "patio" in Hoboken, NJ. I fumbled around on it making pretty mediocre burgers, hot dogs and chicken on it until I bought the book that changed my grilling life: Steven Raichlen's "How To Grill". Finally I'm not flying blind and the techniques in the book gave me the confidence and knowledge to really kickstart my love affair with grilling.
It was his book that suggested you can smoke meat on a gas grill (Yes he has you soak the wood, no I no longer do that thanks to Meathead). Regardless, I did soak them that first time, put them in little smoker pouches, put ribs on the grill and...my life changed forever (this was 2010). The ribs were the best food me - or my wife - had ever eaten. At least it seemed that way that night. It changed my life and my focus and from that day forward all I've ever wanted to do was smoke more and better meat.
I went from gas to converting over a kettle grill to smoke (as I learned step by step how to on this site...including ordering the Ribanator or whatever that thing is called) to buying a Weber Smokey Mountain which is my current smoker. I've smoked many porked butts, briskets and ribs...using each as a learning experience. I find every year I'm getting better than the last and again this site is a huge reason why.
Goals: I really want to get a good quality stick burner. I love smoking not just for the end results but for the entire experience. Cooking on all wood, tending the smoker all day, to me that is BBQ. I'm not a "set it and forget" guy - not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm drooling over getting a Lang Smoker or something of that quality. I don't know why I'm scared to pull the trigger yet, but I am.
I have fantasies of being able to sell my BBQ on the roadside on the weekend, or one day opening up my own local BBQ restaurant...you never know....
Here are some pics of my better cooks:
One of my better pulled porks...I love using the North Carolina Vinegar-Ketchup sauce with it. So hot and spicy and delicious.
The only way these ribs could have looked better is if I had a better knife. Oddly, I find ribs the hardest to come out consistently the way I like them. I've been cooking primarily SLC Spares but pictured here is Baby Backs which I've been having better luck with.
I've only cooked 3 or 4 briskets so far but this was, by far, my best results. Still working on trimming that fat!
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