AZ Barbeque.com
BBQ Related Topics => Welcome, Please Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: BruceBenjamin on September 11, 2009, 11:40:55 am
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Heya. I came across this forum when I was researching the ProQ Excel 20. I started reading and it looks like a pretty decent group with a lot of knowledge.
I'm a 45 year old married father of an 11 year old son and a 14 year old daughter. I've been cooking for about 27 years or so and I was a professional chef for about 10 years. I cooked in some pretty nice restaurants but the long hours for low pay made me eventually leave the business. Now I just cook for fun...And so I don't starve to death.
I know this is an Az. forum but I'm from the far northern part of California, way up in Redding. Please don't associate me with anything south of hear. I don't like it either. Hopefully I won't be considered too much of an outsider since I'm hear for the BBQ and that's what this forum is about, right?
I consider myself an expert with many types of food but BBQ/Smoked foods aren't one of them. I've had a Big Chief top loading electric smoker for about 20 years and it's seen a lot of use. But while it will smoke like crazy it doesn't get hot enough to fully cook anything other than a large salmon fillet or jerky. It's also too hot for cold smoking. After smoking in the Big Chief I then have to finish it some other way. For a while now I've been using a counter top electric roasting oven with multiple racks in it. I then finish up on my 15 year old Weber gas grill with my own sauce to glaze the ribs. Obviously my method isn't for the BBQ purist but it does produce some really delicious smoked meats. I've had quite a few people tell me that it's the best BBQ they've ever eaten...But I realize that some people are just ignorant. That being said, I've eaten a lot of Q in my days and I've only had one or two that I liked better than mine. Or at least I' give that distinction to my spare ribs and chicken. The pork butt but is really good but not great. I haven't cooked a lot of brisket but what I have done has been good but left room for improvement. Bottom line...I'm hear to learn how to do it right.
Regarding the age old debate of whether or not to put sauce on ribs, I do it because I like it that way. I've heard the argument that, "Good BBQ doesn't need sauce". Well, if that's true then what about the flavorful mops that some people use? Or why bother to put on the elaborate rubs? Doesn't the smokey meat have enough flavor for you? Or...Why put all of those condiments on a good hot dog or hamburger? Don't you want to taste the flavor of the meat? I'm a believer that if a person thinks it tastes good then that's how they should make it. I'm all about the flavor and I'm not necessarily too hung up on how you get there. That being said, there are only so many ways to make meat smokey, tender and juicy and I'm here to try to learn the best way.
I just bought a triple stacker ProQ Excel 20 smoker from a guy on Ebay. I got a good deal at $240 shipped. He shipped it from Arizona yesterday so we'll see it when it gets here. I've learned a bit about the Excel 20 already by reading this forum and the ProQ forum. It looks like I made a good decision and I'm looking forward to producing some good BBQ in the near future. I know there will be a learning curve but hopefully it won't be too steep.
I'm trying to figure out what type of fuel to use right now. I read the Lump Charcoal Review over on the BGE forum and I've been reading the Fuel Forum on this site. Lots of interesting info to digest. But so far I still haven't figured out whether to start out with lump or briquettes. I do have a couple of older charcoal grills, a tiny Weber Kettle and a POS Sunbeam something-or-other. Both were free when my neighbor moved and I've used them a few times with mixed results. They came with a chimney starter and I've used both lump and briquettes. I dunno,. Neither worked all that well and the results from those grills don't apply to a bullet smoker anyway.
So, that's who I am and that's some of what I know. I'm looking forward to learning more from you guys and thanks for having me.
Bruce
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Welcome Bruce,
My in laws have a place in Trinty Center and I grew up in San Jose. So I had to go through Redding to get there often and you have the only Costco way up north. I wonder if Crash here was the one that sold you the Pro Q.
Look at some of the post in the Pro Q area to see how to work that thing. I like Lump, but the WSM's and pro Q seems to like Briqs better, so I guess the choice is up to you.
Good to have you aboard.
David
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Welcome Bruce glad to see you on the forum,there are a great bunch of guys and gals here and lots of fun and information :)
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Glad you joined the forum, BB. We don't care where you live, so much. We've got lots of friends in SoCal, and quite a few of us used to live there...Van Nuys...so we understand the crazies.
Off to the Prescott Q for me now...
Welcome, and we know you'll like it.
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Welcome Bruce
Colt
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Welcome Bruce,
My in laws have a place in Trinty Center and I grew up in San Jose. So I had to go through Redding to get there often and you have the only Costco way up north. I wonder if Crash here was the one that sold you the Pro Q.
Look at some of the post in the Pro Q area to see how to work that thing. I like Lump, but the WSM's and pro Q seems to like Briqs better, so I guess the choice is up to you.
Good to have you aboard.
David
Hi David. I lived in San Jose in the late 80's. I don't miss the big city at all. Trinity Center is pretty close to Redding. It's beautiful there. Lots of great hunting and fishing in that area. I guess Redding is the, "Big City" compared to Trinity Center. And some people think that Costco is Redding's greatest cultural attraction. ;) I can't argue with them on that one.
I would've liked to have bought the ProQ from Crash but I missed him by about 20 minutes. The Ebay seller, (Don) is from Tempe, Az. and he spent a bit of time answering some of my questions over a few days. He even made me a special auction for the triple stacker that didn't include his, "Accessory package". He was planing on going on vacation for a couple of weeks today and I wanted to order ASAP so he could get it shipped out before he left. I didn't get in contact with Crash until about 20 minutes after I placed my order. As it was I would've only saved about $15, give or take, by ordering from Crash and that wasn't enough to screw over they Ebay guy. I do wish I had found out about the AZ forum and Crash's great deal before I found the deal on Ebay though. But this guy, Don, seems like a pretty nice guy too so it's all good.
Bruce
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Hello Bruce,
Yep, TC is a real nice place, but it is a little small for me, but the fishing is great. Love the small mouth bass out there.
I am sure Crash would have set you up, but i am sure you will be happy with the Pro Q.
Funny, I moved from San Jose about 4 years, found this place and fun but I found the guys from Cali that are into BBQ. Then I lost my mind and began to compete. It is a lot of fun.
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Bruce, welcome here!
I also spent quite a few years in real (northern) California, in Sunnyvale. Basically, I grew up there, as my father was in the semiconductor industry. Was there from '67 to the mid 80's. Family moved back to where I was born, here in Mesa, while I was in the Army. So, I re-settled here.
Let us know what you think of the Excel, since it is on my wish list. I've already PMed Crash about one.
steve
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Howdy Bruce, Welcome to the forum. There are alot of members here with something to share. Jump in anytime you have a question or just want to shoot the.... ah... have fun. Theres alot of that here too.
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Hello Bruce, welcome to the site/club, great to have you onboard here. Looking forward to seeing your posts and hopefully getting a chance to meet you someday out at some of our great events.
Enjoy the site and all it has to offer, we have some great members and some really fun discussions.
WELCOME!!!
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Welcome Bruce,
We dont care where you come from here just glad you found us and hope you enjoy. Lots of BBQ Knowledge here for sure
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HOO Ah
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WELCOME Bruce!
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I do hope we see Bruce again...he seemed to have a lot of energy right out of the gate.
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I hope he got that pro q dialed in, too.
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Hey Bruce, Welcome to the site!!! I'm still somewhat of a BBQ newbie but love to cook and grill so it was only a matter of time before I caught the BBQ bug. This forum has been a great resource for me and have met some great people along the way.
I cook with a ProQ and have only used lump... The only advice I have is if you have a long cook, LOAD that thing up and control any spikes in temp with the vents. I've found that it usually keeps around 215-250 with a full basket and open vents. I think I'm going to try some briquettes next time as I've also heard they run well in the ProQ.
Enjoy,
Chris
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Welcome Bruce, I live up in NorCal also. Chico. Not quite as North as Redding, but at least its not the South. :D
This is a great website with a great group of people. I came across it last year when I was looking for a Diamond Plate Fat 40. That was over a year ago and I now own a Diamond Plate Fat 50, which I bought off one of the guys on this website. I didn't have the luxury though of getting it shipped to me, I had to drive to AZ to pick it up. It was a nice road trip with 115 degree weather after a night with a lovely rain and lightning storm.
Enjoy the site. If you haven't already done so, you might also check out the CA BBQ Association website: http://www.cbbqa.org .
I think these 2 websites get a lot of crossover, shoot, its even an AZ team that leads the CA TOY points race.