The Steve Raichlen Fan club

SPOKANE SMOKER · Posted: Feb 14 2007 Post subject:

Before I found the Ring, my wife bought me Steve's book "The Barbecue bible (Sauces Rubs and marinades). I found it to be a great resource for someone learning to make their own sauce. It has a section on spices (which are used for what) as well as a section on "how to build a sauce".
It goes into different bases, sweeteners, souring agents, and other spices.
I know that he doesn't spend as much time talking about low and slow smoking as much as some people would like, however, I found this particular book very useful in helping me to learn how to make my own sauce. Obviously practice practice practice is always the key to getting good at something, but I feel that Steve provided the tools needed in this book. Between trying the recipes in the book, and venturing out on my own thats how I learned. I can honestly say that I havent found one recipe in this book yet that I didn't like. Of course I haven't tried them all yet either. Just my 2 pennys.
Very Happy

Kevin
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98 Red Kettle · BBQ Fan Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 220

I too have Raichlen's BBQ Bible. I've found it to be invaluable as I do not have a smoker. Very simply, his book has taught me how to consistently produce BBQ like results on my Weber kettle. How good? I dunno. If I ever get a smoker, I'll cook the same thing on both and do the Pepsi challenge. Until then, I'm happy knowing I can produce a rack of spares better than any of the BBQ joints within a stone's throw of my backyard.

I attended one of his cooking classes a few years back. He gave us the definitions of grilling vs BBQ, techniques for both, yada yada yada. He prepared grilled scallops on skewers of rosemary sprigs and a mutambre cooked over indirect heat on a grill. Both weren't bad, I really liked the scallops, but neither were true BBQ.
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drunkmunk · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Augusta, Georgia

bbqblue · Posted: Feb 16 2007 Post subject:

IMHO Steven comes across as a genuine bbq enthusiast in all of his books and on his website - I can't speak for the TV shows as they're not available in Oz.

He knows exactly what the differences are between grilling and barbequing but he also knows that 99% of his audience are into grilling not slow smoking. And this mass market is why he concentrates on grilling - and who can blame him?

I think he has done more than any other bbq author to help backyard barbequers turn out better food for their families.

jminion · Posted: Feb 17 2007 Post subject:

Steven will be the first to admit and has done so publicly that he does concentrate on grilling but he does have a working knowledge of low and slow. Most of what some people have problems with is actually writen by others, as an example the Faq oon his website were writen by on of the moderators.

Steven gets slammed not to the degree of Bobby Flay but both have talent and appeal, I don't find that bad. Anything that gets people interested in what we do is good for us overall.

Jim
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DaveyMac · Posted: Feb 17 2007 Post subject:

In my day job I work in the TV world, so maybe I can help with this shirt business. Two probable reasons are that A: He can record any number of segments on any type of subject and still edit them all together so as to not break "continuity" and B: He can also change into the exact same shirt if he gets it dirty so he always looks clean. (I bet he has about a dozen of the same shirts)

That's my guess anyway! Or maybe he just likes that shirt... Rolling Eyes

By the way, I have his chicken on a can book. I used it for reference last week.
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loomis1228 · Posted: Feb 17 2007 Post subject:

DaveyMac · Posted: Feb 17 2007 Post subject:

Hi Loomis,
No.. I'm a freelance camera guy. Ive done a lot of cable network programming, documentaries and such. Do you have a tie with WVLT?
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My perfect recipe... meat and smoke.

Char-broil Silver smoker (slightly modified)
Stumps GF 222
Custom offset stick burner
KCBS CBJ

loomis1228 · Posted: Feb 17 2007 Post subject: