Review: Chubby Guys BBQ – Rockford IL

July 21, 2012

I love good BBQ. Hell I’ve been known to be overly happy with mediocre BBQ. Last fall, this little BBQ trailer showed up within a few minutes of my house. I was super excited to try it; however they’re only open on thursdays, fridays, and saturdays. I couldn’t catch them last fall – this made [...]

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Kettle ‘Fried’ Chicken (Fried Chicken on the grill)

May 30, 2012
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I apologize for the lack of updates. I actually wrote this post while on a plane – way back in October of last year. Winter depression apparently took a toll on me. Anyhoo. When I first heard of frying chicken on the grill, I got giddy with excitement. I love new, innovative and non-traditional cooking [...]

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Coshell Charcoal Review: Coconut Charcoal

October 19, 2011
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While perusing my favorite local grocer a few months ago, I swung by their grilling aisle to see if they had any wood chunks. I always stop and check, even though they rarely do (and I rarely actually NEED them). This time, though, I noticed an alien product there on the shelves in place of [...]

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Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon: Salmon 4-ways

September 27, 2011

Grilling salmon on a cedar plank is something I’ve been itching to do ever since my friend Mike made it for us when he invited us over for dinner (many many years ago). There were several times that I had the initiative, but not the supplies. This week, however, it all came together; and tonight, [...]

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Provolone & Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

August 30, 2011

I’ve been inspired to kick away from the norm lately. So to go along with tonight’s Cherriyaki marinated pork tenderloin, I grilled up some Provolone and Prosciutto wrapped asparagus. The technique is simple. What you need: asparagus (duh) prosciutto (duhh) provolone (cmon, really?) some butchers twine I’ve found that 5 asparagus spears is the perfect [...]

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New Toy, first catering job

August 4, 2011

I’ve got a pretty big mouth sometimes. For example, while eating some Famous Dave’s pulled pork a few weeks ago at work, I made a few comments about the ‘cue. I wasn’t super cocky or arrogant or anything, I just stated how the pulled pork that *I* make is different (and eleventy billion times better). [...]

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How to choose your produce

July 11, 2011

Listen up folks. I’m tired of seeing you in the produce department *knock knock knock*ing on the watermelons, squeezing tomatoes, bending cucumbers, peeling corn, smelling asparagus, and SHAKING (i shit you not) musk melons. I’m a food nerd. Alton Brown is my hero. Please, let me shed some knowledge and experience. Absorb it. In return [...]

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New Toy: Red Smokey Joe

May 6, 2011

On Sunday my wife and I went to a flea market in Chicago. She’s ultra crafty and creative and is really into using old papers and fabrics to create this wickedly awesome art journals. On our way there, she was talking about her hopes of finding some old lace. I said “who knows, maybe *I* [...]

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Grilled Salad!

April 29, 2011

I’ve finally found a way to enjoy salad without adding a pound of bacon and a half bottle of ranch dressing. The method: Grilled Romain Salad This one is so flipping easy, and so flipping good. It serves many, leftovers store well and easily transform into different meals. This one is a keeper. What you [...]

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Grilled Bacon Cheeseburgers

April 7, 2011

UPDATE: This post wasn’t supposed to go live until I edited the pictures. Since I screwed up and let it go live, I never bothered to process the pictures. My apologies for a photoless post.   I LOVE Bacon Cheeseburgers. But sadly, I rarely grill them due to them being such a cliched (and often [...]

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