SonVolt
Full Fledged Farker
The only BBQ books that really felt "outside the box" and changed the way I cook on both the smoker and the grill is both Adam Perry Lang's SeriousBBQ and Charred and Scruffed.
THE BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS
Welcome to The BBQ Brethren Community. Register a free account today to become a member and see all our content. Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
What Book For BBQ Smoking Is Considered An Industry Benchmark
- Thread starter Chett. L
- Start date
West River BBQ
Full Fledged Farker
I agree with this. Looking at my bookshelf, I'd say that what I've read really followed my level of development as a smoker (which will hopefully never stop). I appreciate the books that say Why versus just giving a recipe, but both are important. I'm now looking into buying a couple listed here, so thanks Brethren.
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2011
- Location
- In the Marsh
Paul Kirk's Championship BBQ
https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Kirks-Championship-Barbecue-Lip-Smackin/dp/1558322426
https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Kirks-Championship-Barbecue-Lip-Smackin/dp/1558322426
chingador
is Blowin Smoke!
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2006
- Location
- Houston, TX
Here is my list:
1. Peace Love and BBQ, Mike Mills. He pays homage to many great pitmasters across the country. A lot of great stories and recipes and you get the true sense that BBQ is an American treasure, not just a Texas thing or a Carolina thing. I don't remember much in the way of technique in the way Franklin outlined in his book, but I loved reading and still go back to it from time to time for certain things.
2. Aaron Franklin's book. A really good book. I really enjoyed him telling his story lining out where he came from and where he is now. Some good information on his techniques. One word of warning. Some things are more geared towards the cookers he uses. His stickburners work better at 250-275 so that is where he cooks. Don't take that as you should run your pellet cooker at those temperatures for the best product. You should look into his steak book as well.
3. Myron Mixon's smoking. There are some really good recipes in this book. Some good information.
I have a bunch of other books too, but there are the 3 that I absolutely refuse to get rid of.
My least favorite is Paul Kirk's book. The worst grilling book I have ever owned (gift from my sister) was Bobby Flay's "boy meets grill". Truly awful, lame and completely worthless.
1. Peace Love and BBQ, Mike Mills. He pays homage to many great pitmasters across the country. A lot of great stories and recipes and you get the true sense that BBQ is an American treasure, not just a Texas thing or a Carolina thing. I don't remember much in the way of technique in the way Franklin outlined in his book, but I loved reading and still go back to it from time to time for certain things.
2. Aaron Franklin's book. A really good book. I really enjoyed him telling his story lining out where he came from and where he is now. Some good information on his techniques. One word of warning. Some things are more geared towards the cookers he uses. His stickburners work better at 250-275 so that is where he cooks. Don't take that as you should run your pellet cooker at those temperatures for the best product. You should look into his steak book as well.
3. Myron Mixon's smoking. There are some really good recipes in this book. Some good information.
I have a bunch of other books too, but there are the 3 that I absolutely refuse to get rid of.
My least favorite is Paul Kirk's book. The worst grilling book I have ever owned (gift from my sister) was Bobby Flay's "boy meets grill". Truly awful, lame and completely worthless.
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2011
- Location
- In the Marsh
Paul Kirk's book has a lot of good recipes in it. That's what I use it for.
Technique, not so much.
chingador
is Blowin Smoke!
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2006
- Location
- Houston, TX
that is what I gathered. I went through his 100 different sauce recipes and it was just too much and nothing really stood out as interesting. Plus, to be honest, I really don't find Paul Kirk to be the most likeable person and his writing style kind of turned me off.
WhitesideJC
Full Fledged Farker
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2014
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
+1 for Serious BBQ by APL. It's well understood that he tends to make things more complicated / longer list of ingredients, but I like bringing a lot of his principles / techniques to my cooking. I found that the biggest lesson I learned and still try to impart today is bringing flavor at every step of the way - why not?
+1 for Aaron Franklin's book.
Being from NC, I also really enjoyed reading Sam Jones' Whole Hog BBQ. There's some good history in there and reads like a novel at times, and it imparts some good wisdom (both from a whole hog and general smoking).
SmoothBoarBBQ
is Blowin Smoke!
@WhitesideJC
Sam's Jones book is a VERY good book and I totally forgot about it. I went to his restaurant and book signing on the day the book released. Sam's a great guy and genuinely one of the nicest (and maybe funniest) guys in BBQ. Great book with a ton of history and it will certainly get you going in cooking whole hogs.
Sam's Jones book is a VERY good book and I totally forgot about it. I went to his restaurant and book signing on the day the book released. Sam's a great guy and genuinely one of the nicest (and maybe funniest) guys in BBQ. Great book with a ton of history and it will certainly get you going in cooking whole hogs.
Yep and there are a lot of great stories in there too.
Two more great books that are in my collection as well.
shares
is one Smokin' Farker
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2008
- Location
- Mebane, North Carolina
Peace Love Barbecue is a great read.
Smokestack Lighting is an excellent read from a writer and photographer touring the famous, and not so famous BBQ joints of Barbecue country.
Smokestack Lighting is an excellent read from a writer and photographer touring the famous, and not so famous BBQ joints of Barbecue country.
Last edited:
I have about ten BBQ books and eight I might send to the Goodwill. But not these. All I need.
shares
is one Smokin' Farker
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2008
- Location
- Mebane, North Carolina
Oh, one more addition. It's a long out of print gem. But if you can get your hands on a 'Walter Jetton's LBJ barbecue cook book' the buy it! It's more of a show piece, but still a good (but short) read.
P
pharp
Guest
This is gonna sound ridiculous, but what exactly are "Meathead's" credentials? I personally never got much from his site, seems like he signs off on the highest bidder, and in general clowned himself with the SmokeFire release. Normally I don't care that much, it is just BBQ. If you can find a way to make money from it, good for you. He kind of seems like a sleezeball. I could overloook that if he had talent, but I don't think he could finish in the top 50 of 25 team KCBS contest. This is not directed at the OP, just in general asking the group what I am missing.
Meathead is just that, a meathead. Just my opinion.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
P
pharp
Guest
At least I am not alone! He kind of seems like the Kardashian of BBQ...literally no talent or success but yet...an expert
Last edited by a moderator:
Swine Spectator
is Blowin Smoke!
I'm not a Meathead fan. APL is ok, but Aaron Franklin is much better.
I think that "Secrets to Smoking on the Weber Smokey Mountain" b Bill Gillespie is the best BBQ book I have found yet.
If you can find a copy of Elies' "Smokestack Lightning" (out of print since the 90's), I highly recommend it.
Another eBay special worth tracking is "I'm glad I ate when I did, because I'm not hungry now", by Caleb Pirtle
I think that "Secrets to Smoking on the Weber Smokey Mountain" b Bill Gillespie is the best BBQ book I have found yet.
If you can find a copy of Elies' "Smokestack Lightning" (out of print since the 90's), I highly recommend it.
Another eBay special worth tracking is "I'm glad I ate when I did, because I'm not hungry now", by Caleb Pirtle
P
pharp
Guest
Bill is an awesome dude and knows his stuff.
Dirk41
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2016
- Location
- Philadelphia
"Peace, Love, and BBQ" for all the above mentioned reasons. Where the Meathead book explains a lot of the "why" with science, Mills explains it with history and very distinct recipes. The best recipe in the entire book, imo, is not the Magic Dust, but the Mr Whitt's BBQ sauce he recreates from his childhood. No other book comes as close with so many meaningful recipes.
