Salt Rub Hickory Smoke Flavor

Just Add Smoke

I get a lot of questions about using Liquid Smoke.  I do use some of Stubb's liquid smoke sometimes but I really don't need to.  Mainly this is used at home when baking in my oven to "cheat" and get that smokey flavor.  A little dab will do you and truth be told, it's easy to overdo it and make your meat come out to salty.

Professionally or on the road, my pits are using different flavor woods combined with my dry rub to reing out the flavors of the wood in the spices.  Since I grill on an "open pit" this is a little harder, so I make sure to do my ribs or pork in a "drum smoker".

If you are using a pellet stove or propane grill, or just can't get the flavor out of your small home grill, I now have a solution for you. It's a hickory salt rub. You add this just like you would any dry rub.  Rub it on your meat, marinate up to 48 hours in the fridge, then grill. It's got the constancy of brown sugar, and one 4oz package will do you up to 8-10 meals if used in small amounts.

Buy it here.  Smoke Salt on Etsy

Mr. Grill Gloves That Work BBQ Pitmaster Must Have Product Endorsement

You can teach an old dog like me some new tricks. Mr. Grill Grill Gloves. Read why I love 'em.

Mr. Grill 's Grill Gloves : Holy Cow.

Update:  1.1.15, Mr. Grill has changed their gloves from this type of insulated that I originally wrote my review on , to full silicone, and I'm so happy as they are more sanitary and easy to wash.. Here is the new design:

New Design of Mr. Grill Gloves..

My Original Review from 2/19/14

Finally!  I have tried every single type of glove out at home and at work.  When messing with my hotter than hell pit grates, moving pans around and playing with fire it's tough on my hands.  I had given up because most gloves I found either melted, got burn holes in them real quick , were too slippery, or burnt the living crap out of my hands.  Until now.

Upon arrival they looked purdy, but did they work? 

My wife found the Mr. Grill's website and got a few pairs sent to us to give away as prizes for our Hogging Up BBQ Festival. They sent an extra pair for me to review.  (On sale you can get them under $20) .  The one-size-fits-most medium fit me snug and was comfortable. They had the rubbery silicone on both sides for an easy grip. Okay, so they looked good but I was still a little upset with her, since I've spent tons on grill gloves, having to replace them, and to be honest I wasn't expecting anything great to happen.  Until I tried them. I was impressed.

Test #1  At Home Ever Day  Grilling. 

Result: PASS with flying colors.


First I tried them at home on the 'ol Weber.  I cranked it up to cook some gs burgers, that I stuffed with blue cheese in between two patties of grass fed Angus.  (Fresh blue cheese from the  market oh yeah, had to crank the grill up to get that blue cheese to ooze out of that bad boy yet keep it rare on the inside YUM.)

Grass Fed Angus Blue Cheese Burgers. The oozing is the blue cheese oh yeah.

Oh yeah I was talking about the gloves. So I literally put my hand on the Weber after removing the burgers, when the heat was the highest and I could not feel a thing. NOT A THING. 

Much to my surprise, I could not feel the heat of this Weber.

Their product description says they will withstand heat up to 450°F so I tried them on the big ass pits.  That would be proof positive for me. These grill gloves must from Heaven because I don't feel any heat at all from hell.  They are made of something called Nomex and Kevlar,  so I wanted to test again at max temperature.. 

Test #2  Commercial Use, Competition, Food Vending or Pitmaster Use

Result: PASS with Flying Colors. Far Exceeded My Expectations!

I think I'm in love.

I don't know what the heck is up with these gloves, but here I had my pit cranking to do some turkey legs and I used them the whole entire time. I had to get the legs done quick (not low and slow) so  I put my hands on the side of my pit and on the top grate, I could not feel anything even at top temps.  I thought they would melt but they didn't melt and didn't stick to the grate.  

 The grill is smoking, but my hands aren't.

I just have to endorse these gloves, folks. They are spectacular. In fact,  they say "if the gloves don't fit, you can send them back for a FULL refund."   All I can say is these gloves are from Heaven, thank you Mr. Grill.  

Pros: My hands don't get burnt, and they are heavy duty. O/S fits most is accurate.

Cons: Why aren't they silicone , more food grade sanitary and easier to wash? (Update: they have been updated to all silicone since this original article)

WEBSITE:  Mr. Grill
COST:  $18 plus shipping
WHERE TO BUY:    Here on Amazon --> Grill Gloves
FACEBOOK:  Mr. Grill Products

Disclaimer: Originally, Mr. Grill sent me a few pairs of these gloves for my Hogging Up BBQ Festival to give away as prizes. One pair they sent to me. I wrote the review based on my free pair, and wrote a truthful review. If they would have sucked, I wouldn't have written any review at all. My wife ended up ordering more of the silicone ones and paying for them later, as we were pleased with this company's products.  They are perfect for the pizza trays for the crab dip too!

Last Updated 1.11.15

Business Saavy Salamander Hot Sauce Heating Things Up on Kickstarter

Go Salamander Hot Sauce go!

Here's some food for thought. You have to start somewhere with your business idea, and try and try again until you succeed.

More and more and more people are using social media sites, for instance like Kickstarter to try to get their idea, product, or business idea funded.

Strawberry Hot Sauce : Something New and Yummy

Strawberries , Mango, Kiwis, and Habanero?

Salamander Hot Sauce has a nicely presented gig and business plan and to date and has over $6800 in pledges already. What's not to love, you pledge some money to back this guy's dream of making delicious hot sauce and if you pledge enough you will get some hot sauce in return?  Three flavors in their original plan which includes a tropical full of fruity flavors and a strawberry which makes creating gourmet dishes somewhat easier. Spice up that dish with some strawberry hot sauce drizzle!

Who is this guy?  Timothy Kavarnos is from Brooklyn, New York.  You heard about this right here first folks. I believe Salamander Hot Sauce is going to be a name you'll see all over the place in a few years.  The test marketing has gone very well and it's getting great reviews.  What's more, the flavors are not the norm and that is something chefs and foodies will revel in. 
 
I'm hoping we see this hot sauce everywhere. I also hope you'll be using it on your fajita steak to kick things up a notch.

What's my point and lesson in Business Savvy?

Many of you write me letters about how to be successful in business. My advice today is simple. Don't give up until you succeed. Use every method possible for getting your product out there. It's hard to initially find your market. Keep trying until you do.  If Stephen King didn't quit writing due to his first couple hundred rejection letters then you too can be a winner.  People who are committed to winning won't give up. 

As for Tim, Check out his presentation right here.   If Tim doesn't get the full project funded at least he's getting exposure to his product and brand. Either now, or later, this hot sauce will be on shelves everywhere because he's got determination to succeed.  That's the lesson for today.  Kick it up a notch in everything you do, and top it off  with some Salamander Hot Sauce.

 

Jay Dickey of J.Dickey's Sauces What BBQ Means

Jay Dickey is showing you his sauces on the shelf in the market! Courtesy: Jay's Facebook Page

You never know who will pop up for my barbecue interviews. I was glad to hear from Jay Dickey creator of the delicious J. Dickey Sauces (and grilling marinades). Jay's sauces, are all natural, gluten free, containing no high fructose corn syrup BBQ and marinade sauces that truly have a homemade and great taste. He grew up all over the world and has been making his own sauces for 18 years. Jay hails from my home state of Maryland, he is based out of Germantown but ships his sauces nationwide. 

J.Dickey's BBQ Sauces Bourbon, Maryland, and Blackberry Habanero Courtesy of Their Facebook Page

Now Jay doesn't play when it comes to sauces. His ingredients are top quality and costly. His sauce is what I refer to as "the good stuff" and gourmet.   I want you to imagine a habenero sauce with blackberries that has been made using all top quality NATURAL ingredients sweetened only from nature and not from artificial syrups. That's what J.Dickey Sauces are all about.   Here's what he had to say. Thanks to Jay for taking the time to send in his answers to my questions. Can't wait to try your sauces!  

How did your love of BBQ start?

I have always loved BBQ, however, when I was living in California, I was broke and had no sauce to cook with my chicken. I read the label on the back of a store bought BBQ sauce and figured, I can do that. So I went to my kitchen and concocted my first sauce. Since then, I have been addicted to making sauces and have since started my own sauce company.

Do you compete?

No, but  I would like to start competing someday, and I have a BBQ Competition Team interested in competing with my sauces on their meats.

What was your best accomplishment and why?

My best accomplishment to date is getting our sauces in a few Whole Foods and having people all of walks of life contacting me for my sauces.

What is your favorite way of smoking or are you partial to any brand of smoker or products?

Personally, I like to smoke my beef brisket fat side up. I cook at about 225 degrees and really try to take my time. I love to use hickory chips. I am still learning about smoking meats and excited about it.

 

Jay is featured in some Maryland stores as a local commodity! Photo: Jay's Facebook Page

Tell us in a nutshell "What does BBQ mean to you?"

BBQ to me means a slow way to cook some amazing meats that truly help define the United States of America!!!!!

Anything else you want people to know?

I have experimented for years, trying to find the right ingredients that are all natural and truly have that homemade taste and texture.




Connect with Jay: 
JDickeysSauces Website
Twitter
Facebook FanPage
Instagram 

Interview with Texas Brush Owner Bill Flannery

After our A+ review of the Texas Brush, we decided to talk to Bill Flannery owner of the Texas Brush who

of course makes several TEXAS sized grill brushes right here in the USA .

Bill, can you tell us more about these brushes?

I have sold millions of our brushes , simply because they are well made and perform an essential task .  They were made specifically for ultimate cleaning of the grill and grills of any size. 

Yes, even our big grills, we can't believe it. They really hold up well!

Yes, they work on grills of any size (flat top or grated) -- withstand temperatures reaching well over 800 degrees. See when you’ve made one product since 1997 ,  you kinda understand what’s important to folks when cleaning the grill 

We really like the engraved name on the side.  What are some names you have gotten? 

We offer custom engraving to make the Texas Brush a really funky and personalized gift .  Here are a couple of good ones we've gotten: 

• " Vegetarian beating stick " 
• " # 1 Dad "
• " This ain’t no sissy brush "

So the personalization is a big hit!

One of  my favorite things to do , is after eating a a great restaurant , I will grab the owner , chef or managers card ,  then we will make up a personalized brush and ship it out with a short note . It’s a great way to thank folks for a great meal and an easy way to get our product into the hands of people that will appreciate it .

We assume you are a grillmaster yourself, so what does grilling mean to you?

 

I love fire !  The crackle and smell of mesquite! The fact that pecan or hardwood charcoal gives meat and fish an unbeatable new flavor . Yeah sure, gas is easier , but nothing beats hardwoods for flavor!  I use a propane torch to start the fire a bit quicker, but not too quick . See I use the extra time getting the grill ready to visit , make some cocktails and enjoy the ceremony of grilling . 

We notice you have special "flash sales" on the brushes and some benefit charities! Where should people look for these specials? 

We do sales to the public in fact here is a link to a flash sale Sale for TexasBrush on recoup. You can shop direct with us, or find us on : Fab.com , Thrillest.com and soon on Wayfair.com.  Customers can keep up with us  here  On Faceboo.  Of course, if you miss any of our sales, just call us anytime 888-428-6675 , use code “ wow dad “ for special savings! 

www.TexasBrush.com

                                      

Thanks Bill!  
If you want to see the model we use of the Texas Brush, click here.   
You can read our honest and thorough review of it here. 

 

Big Fat Daddy's Endorses Texas Brush

As I told you before  I received my grill brush from  Texas Brush  and have now done a thorough review of it. First let me tell you, I have been in business thirty years by being honest. I don't endorse things unless I believe in them. Here is an honest review of the Texas Brush (I use the $49 Texas Grill brush .)

THE DILEMMA:  I am a commercial barbecue guy who does big fairs and festivals each weekend. I have giant barbeque smokers and huge metal bbq pits and must cook several different products on them so it's very important that my grill brush cleans quickly, efficiently, and doesn't crap out on me.  I would have to say I go through at least 25 regular grill brushes a year.  Here is what they normally look like after one weekend.

THE TEST:

Nothing wrong with a little essence on your grill, but for me I need to burn this off quickly, because I may decide to use the grill for a different product and the health department won't go for juice or essence, it has to be clean and I have to do it quickly.

To prevent cross-contamination I must knock this muck off quickly and swiftly. When the food particles and excess grease is cleaned off the grate, it also helps toke the fire back up quickly. 

THE USE: 

I wasn't expecting the Texas Brush to surprise me , or hold up for me, but it did. It is easy to use, it glides right over my pits. Here I am in Maryland caught using it so I taped this little ditty.  "I need a Texas Size brush for my Texas size grill."   It holds up, the bristles DO NOT BEND. Two different sides help you get a little or a lot of muck off. 







I used it again, and again, and again, and all I can say is "A PLUS". If it lasts for me, how long do you think it will hold up for the home griller? A long time!  There are a few more benefits too.

More Benefits of the Texas Brush:

• It is easy to stand up, and doesn't take up too much space in my truck. 
• The brushes are made of natural wood,  and steel, both of which are more green and Eco-Friendly.
• They are made right in the USA. God Bless America. 
• You can get your name burnt into the brush, or made to order just how you like it. 
• These make a heck of a gift idea! 
• They do a lot of work for charity! Your purchase will help someone, somewhere. In fact just today, just now they were working with recoup.com!  You never know where they will help raise money for next.

I'm Endorsing the Texas Brush :

Therefore, I'm happy to announce I'm endorsing their products and will recommend them to all my barbecue friends, and even endorse them as the best commercial grill brush around.

Since Making this Post:

I've had chance to interview the owner Bill Flannery of Texas Brush right here.

Go and check out the Texas Brushes for yourself at   TEXASBRUSH. COM

This post has been updated on May 25, 2017 for quality assurance.  Please follow us on Twitter! 

I am supporting local @leidyspork #pork #sausage #food #FridayFeeling #foodgasm #bbq #lunchtime #grilling #foodlove #foodporn #getinmybelly pic.twitter.com/n66d1wAF2S

— Wayne M. Schafer (@BigFatDaddys) May 19, 2017

Farm to Table TruFlavorWare

Farm to Table Movement!

BRAND SPANKIN' NEW:  You heard it here first!  Imagine if someone told me my beef and barbecue could taste already better than it is.  Oh yes, it's true.  This company , for the love of all things holy, out of Ohio, is genius!  We are always looking for ways to go greener in our business and in our lives. TruFlavorWare" is a non-metallic flatware (made of bamboo, much like the theory of chopsticks) that "Simply makes Food taste Better!"  Let's face it, Japan and Asia aren't moving to metal chopsticks anytime soon. Wood simply enhances the flavor of their food by not detracting from it. Same principal here, for us Americans who eat with utensils.

These guys over at TruFlavorWare operate under philanthropic grants and have even been referred to as a "Farm to Table Flatware"  because it is such a greener alternative.  Don Ladanyi, CEO TruFlavorWare has even shared with me that he's proud to be part of the the Farm to Table movement, where people are tired of the chemicals not only in their food but in their cooking utensils.  Not only is this stuff amazingly dishwasher safe but completely Eco-Friendly, FDA approved and really appeals to those who care about preserving the safety of their food "farm to table."

(So, if you can't barbecue or your wife can't cook this is the perfect solution. Everything will simply taste better. )  Seriously folks, this eco friendly flatware has even shared the benefits for pregnancy and baby here. The "Chef's Standard" brand includes a 5 ml Chef's Tasting Spoon.  They are working on all kinds of good things besides the e TruFlavorWare flatware line, such as the Patent pending spill-proof soup spoon, and  Chemotherapy patient's flatware set.  These guys are on the cutting edge of adding plates, cups, you name it and all for the greener good.

So make sure to check them out on Facebook and tell your friends because I am sure in a few years we'll be seeing this picked up by a major chain store.  Remember you heard it here first.

Imagine, something so good you cooked, like this soup with natural ingredients, fresh veggies and NO METAL SPOONS.