I know it was prior to 2014 when I found AR. I had a charcoal grill, which I'd picked up after I loaned my brother my first Weber kettle. I was looking for recipes and techniques at that time, and found AR with Meatheads description of the afterburner method. I only had some leftover cast iron grates from a smaller grill, but they worked perfectly (and still do).
These pics were from 2014.
An actual steak getting cooked, same day as the first picture!
I had another pic from about the same time with a rib rack and two spares on this same cooker, with the coals arranged in a 2 zone fashion, which I never would've thought to do that on my own. Definitely, from reading AR.
Going through some of my old books, I had bought Steven Raichlen's BBQ Bible in 2008/2009 (publishing date was 2008). Found this at Sam's Club one day. So I remember I was already messing around with learning new recipes and techniques.
I had started watching his show on PBS, which is how I recognized and bought his book. Anyway.
I couldn't find some of my printed recipes, but I'm about 1000% certain I had printed out some stuff from AR even prior to buying this book. Maybe as early as 2006-2007? I'm thinking that because I'd already bought some accessories for the Weber kettle (which I said above was loaned out to my brother) that I'd learned about from AR, like chimney starters, coal baskets, drop grate, etc...), prior to getting the grill pictured above. *I remember having some epic backyard firepit fires with the leftover starter fluid I stopped using on the grill*
The big charcoal grill pictured above rusted out by 2015, and I got the Weber back from my brother, but it was on it's last legs. I've got pics from 2015 of a 2 zone setup cooking racks of ribs on the Weber.
And notice the grill grate thermometer? That's from my old Maverick system, which I still have, and used for a good long time before getting into Thermoworks products. All things I saw recommended on AR.
Once again, nothing I would've thought of on my own:
Life happened about that time (well, a couple years before). Kids growing up, getting involved in school and travel sports, parents beginning to need more help (and eventually A LOT of help), work, and a boat somewhere in the mix that sucked up all my time and money.
I lost track of a lot of my hobbies, rarely grilling out. After the Weber self-destructed around 2017, I didn't have a way (other than a small barrel grill) to really cook outside.
It wasn't until 2018 when I finally broke down and bought the PBC (based on the reviews here!), that I started getting back into it. Honestly, don't know why it took me so long to get back to AR and sign up for the Pitmasters club, it's not like I didn't know where the recipes I used were. After school sports, there was college sports, (we had (and still have) kids involved in college). Not yet retired, but when I changed jobs in 2023, work became much less of a problem, and much more settled.
I'm kicking myself for not getting into the mix sooner on the forums. I coulda been a charter member! (maybe? I dunno.) It's been a great place, enjoyed (virtually) getting to know folks here, and participating. Plus the recipes, equipment reviews, etc... on the free side are every bit worth the pitmaster fees. With the added bonus of the advice and interaction on the forums, it's a steal!
Anyway, that's the long of it. Fun going through my old photos and remembering the journey.
Good topic!
These pics were from 2014.
An actual steak getting cooked, same day as the first picture!
I had another pic from about the same time with a rib rack and two spares on this same cooker, with the coals arranged in a 2 zone fashion, which I never would've thought to do that on my own. Definitely, from reading AR.
Going through some of my old books, I had bought Steven Raichlen's BBQ Bible in 2008/2009 (publishing date was 2008). Found this at Sam's Club one day. So I remember I was already messing around with learning new recipes and techniques.
I had started watching his show on PBS, which is how I recognized and bought his book. Anyway.
I couldn't find some of my printed recipes, but I'm about 1000% certain I had printed out some stuff from AR even prior to buying this book. Maybe as early as 2006-2007? I'm thinking that because I'd already bought some accessories for the Weber kettle (which I said above was loaned out to my brother) that I'd learned about from AR, like chimney starters, coal baskets, drop grate, etc...), prior to getting the grill pictured above. *I remember having some epic backyard firepit fires with the leftover starter fluid I stopped using on the grill*
The big charcoal grill pictured above rusted out by 2015, and I got the Weber back from my brother, but it was on it's last legs. I've got pics from 2015 of a 2 zone setup cooking racks of ribs on the Weber.
And notice the grill grate thermometer? That's from my old Maverick system, which I still have, and used for a good long time before getting into Thermoworks products. All things I saw recommended on AR.
Once again, nothing I would've thought of on my own:
Life happened about that time (well, a couple years before). Kids growing up, getting involved in school and travel sports, parents beginning to need more help (and eventually A LOT of help), work, and a boat somewhere in the mix that sucked up all my time and money.
I lost track of a lot of my hobbies, rarely grilling out. After the Weber self-destructed around 2017, I didn't have a way (other than a small barrel grill) to really cook outside.
It wasn't until 2018 when I finally broke down and bought the PBC (based on the reviews here!), that I started getting back into it. Honestly, don't know why it took me so long to get back to AR and sign up for the Pitmasters club, it's not like I didn't know where the recipes I used were. After school sports, there was college sports, (we had (and still have) kids involved in college). Not yet retired, but when I changed jobs in 2023, work became much less of a problem, and much more settled.
I'm kicking myself for not getting into the mix sooner on the forums. I coulda been a charter member! (maybe? I dunno.) It's been a great place, enjoyed (virtually) getting to know folks here, and participating. Plus the recipes, equipment reviews, etc... on the free side are every bit worth the pitmaster fees. With the added bonus of the advice and interaction on the forums, it's a steal!
Anyway, that's the long of it. Fun going through my old photos and remembering the journey.
Good topic!
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