When did you start?

I'm curious about how and when you all got started grilling and barbecuing?

In my own case, my folks would get ribs from a black beer joint a few blocks away (Bruner's). Ocey cooked the ribs slow over smoke and sauced them with his own KC-type sauce. I'd almost eat the bones they were so good. I was just a grade schooler when my dad let me purchase my first shallow tray-type of charcoal burner. I'd not cooked before, but quickly learned how to cook burgers and steaks over the charcoal.

Later, my dad and a friend laid up a block/firebrick wood cooker out back. It was made for grilling, unfortunately, but back in the 50's, that's about all most people did there in my area. Following marriage, there was a succession of grills, hooded grills and gas grills until after a move to NC. Back then, ribs were preboiled and finished over charcoal or gas, slathered with KC Masterpiece sauce. It was good and I still do that today on occasions when we want nostalgia food.

With our move to NC, smoked, low and slow, meats were the hit, and after a number of attempts, i laid up a smoker that worked like a charm using preburn hardwoods. I also kept my gas grill and used it several times a week for grilling. Ribs, butts and briskets were done low and slow, however, and I played around a lot with rubs, mops and sauces.

Following a move to NV, where I cook outdoors almost every evening, I move between a large gas grill with side burner and IR rotisserie, IR char/rare grill and a Bradley smoker. If I were to do preburn, the fire department would cite me, and the slight benefit from charcoal is offset by the hassle of disposing of the ash and lighting the chimney. I've found my Bradley, now fitted with a Pitboss digital controller to be an ideal smoker for my quantity of meat, and low hassle factor.
--
Nonny

Nonnymus
A penny saved is obviously a
government oversight.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: throwdown and other Food Network Rib Massacres
    ... a few years before I got my smoker. ... but they also come out great on the gas grill. ... ribs are perfect. ... Janet Wilder ...
    (alt.food.barbecue)
  • Re: throwdown and other Food Network Rib Massacres
    ... a few years before I got my smoker. ... but they also come out great on the gas grill. ... ribs are perfect. ... It is duly noted in the archives that Janet Wilder know what 'Q' ...
    (alt.food.barbecue)
  • Re: When did you start?
    ... my folks would get ribs from a black beer joint a few ... It was made for grilling, unfortunately, but back in the 50's, ... move between a large gas grill with side burner and IR rotisserie, ... char/rare grill and a Bradley smoker. ...
    (alt.food.barbecue)
  • Re: When did you start?
    ... my folks would get ribs from a black beer joint a few ... It was made for grilling, unfortunately, but back in the 50's, that's ... between a large gas grill with side burner and IR rotisserie, ... grill and a Bradley smoker. ...
    (alt.food.barbecue)
  • Re: Just bought 12 pounds of country-style pork spare ribs.
    ... hour or so of grilling. ... Sauce concentrate and four parts Chris and Pitts barbecue sauce. ... The pork flavor is fantastic and cooking in foil ... When you wrap ribs in foil, ...
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