Tuesday, May 24, 2011

This I believe


This I believe…


I believe in wood smoke and charcoal fire. I believe in the light and the heat and the passion that come from a barbeque grill. Smoke should be gentle, subtle and sweet. Heat should be low and cook slow. Fires should be tended with care. I believe in the bonding that comes with shared fires. In my world, secrets are kept AND shared; recipes are handed down through the generations; and slow cooking is assumed.

I believe in the flavor of smoke, the sweet and the spicy, the marriage of flavors that inspire words, understandings and disagreements. I believe in tall tales told around the fire; the friendships that are forged in flames; the mingling of minds when ideas finally become feasts.

I believe in the power of food and drink. I have seen and felt old wounds heal, equality achieved, families created from sharing a table. I have associated tastes and smells with people I love and cherish. I have captured years in the span of a bite. I have found common ground with hundreds of people in a shared love of food and drink. The strongest conflicts arise from choosing a favorite, and those conflicts simply lead to delicious conversations

I believe that barbeque can spark conversations, grow relationships, and establish traditions. I believe that barbeque is an international language, breeching stereotypes, prejudices, and restrictions. I have felt walls fall when people begin to talk about their favorite barbeque region, their favorite flavors and their favorite joints for good barbeque. Pit fires spark passions and stories and smiles.


But. Sometimes when it’s raining outside, when I am tired from a long day, when my own family is hungry and cranky I believe in my stove top gas grill, some vegetables and meat and the quiet that descends when my family is sated.


I believe in barbeque.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Ubon's and Vlasic: One of the World's Greatest Partnerships!



Special thanks to our partners for the weekend, Vlasic. I'd call the #7 pork shoulder in the WORLD a successful partnership!

Meet the Pros on GrillingwithRich.com

We got to know Rich and Michelle from www.grillingwithrich.com over the weekend. I am always excited to see someone's reaction to a bbq contest, but watching the reaction of some REAL BBQ enthusiasts is awesome! Especially when their first contest is Memphis in May


Please check out our interviewwith Rich as well as his review of our Ubon's Dipping Barbeque Sauce.

Thanks Rich and Michelle!