And So It Begins!

For many, many years I have been producing BBQ.  I have been through trial and error going on 12 years now...and my BBQ was created without the use of a proper cooker.  Up until recently I only used a gas grill and smoker pouches.  But "Big Daddy" (or as I'm redefining myself for a possible competition team) "Slim" has a smoker!  So join me on a journey to put Colorado on the BBQ map!

My journey really started about 12 years ago, but didn't come to fruition until about 8 years ago.  I was in my late 20's living in Ewa Beach, Hawaii where the Navy had stationed me.  Being that Hawaii was extremely expensive, my fiance' and I had to move in with a young couple I had met through my boat.  We were young, well paid, and living in paradise which meant most weekends we were either at the bar, the beach, or partying at home.  It was not uncommon for 15-20 buzzed Submariners to show up on our porch every weekend, primed to watch the most recent MMA fight, drink, and eat.  I started needing to feed more and more people and hot dogs and hamburgers were just getting boring.  My first attempt was a brisket flat that I smoked on a 3 burner gas grill.  The meat turned out OK, but was not up to my standards and I had a burning desire to do better.  So the next weekend I snatched up a pork butt and a couple of racks of pork spare ribs.  Not knowing temperatures, types of wood, or techniques, I cooked in the 84 degree patio.  Covered in sweat I delivered the meat, and to my surprise it was a big hit.  My roommate Mark said to me "Brian, when you can take a piece of trash meat and make it taste that amazing, then man you truly have something special!"  He probably doesn't know this, but that iconic speech really moved me.  That was it I was hooked.  I immersed myself in everything BBQ.

So now, 12 years later, I have a chance to do something really special...I can finally do it right and proper.

I'm going to put Colorado BBQ on the map!