Ray Lampe

BBQ Hall of Fame 2014

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Book Recommendations:

Recommended by Ray Lampe

Bravo! This book is a winner. Folks who are getting started will get a whole lot of rarely mentioned knowledge. Chris breaks it down in a way that we can all understand. Even old hats like myself will enjoy some of the modern and innovative techniques as well as the creative recipes. (from Amazon)

The Simplest Way to Cook Better BBQ With Techniques for Traeger®, Weber® and Big Green Egg® Smokers For many, learning how to cook great BBQ is a journey that spans years and even decades―often including cooking a lot of bad BBQ along the way. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a pit master right there in your backyard to coach you through each cook to achieve perfectly tender, juicy meat every single time? Chris Sussman is here to help. During his own BBQ journey, Chris discovered that four fundamental principles have the most impact on whether the meat comes out tasting succulent, tender and pleasantly smokey, or dry, rubbery and bland. These are 1) building the right fire with the right fuel; 2) controlling humidity to infuse smoke flavor throughout the meat; 3) managing the ideal “BBQ Zone” temperature range on the three most popular brands of smokers and 4) recognizing the visual and touch cues that indicate when the meat is ready to pull from the smoker (hint: it’s about way more than cooking to a certain internal temperature). Understand and properly execute the nuances of each step, and you will be able to get the results you want with each cook. Chris will show you how. Packed with photographs, tutorials, pro tips, helpful reference charts and a complete illustrated tutorial that walks you step by step through a whole packer brisket, this book has the answers to all of your BBQ questions. Chris also shares 50 simple yet unique recipes (and a full-page photograph for each one) to showcase these principles at work in delicious ways. Featured recipes include Bourbon-Glazed Smoked Baby Back Ribs, North Carolina–Style Pulled Pork, Pork Belly Burnt Ends Sichuan-Style, “No Wrap” Smoked Beef Short Ribs and Habanero and Mango–Glazed Chicken Wings. Bring this book out to your smoker, and enjoy the journey.

Recommended by Ray Lampe

After 20 some years of writing and reviewing all things barbecue, Derrick Riches is perfectly positioned to write this book, and he's knocked it out of the park. Most of us focus on one or two grills-smokers and techniques as our specialty, but Derrick has cooked everything on every grill. The classic ribs, brisket, and steaks are all covered well, but I'm especially excited about the out-of-the-box smoked meats like Hoisin-Soy Lamb Shanks and Peruvian Chicken with Aji Verde. I'm headed to the grill now! (from Amazon)

Learn everything you need to know to make mind-blowingly delicious smoked meats There's something about the intoxicating aroma of brisket roasting over an open flame. Makes your mouth water, doesn't it? The Complete Guide to Smoking Meat gives you the know-how to make melt-in-your mouth smoked meat at home. This essential smoker cookbook provides clear, step-by-step methods and recipes that will get you fired up about BBQ and turn you into a meat smoking master. What sets this BBQ cookbook apart from other smoker recipes cookbooks: Smoker fundamentals―Learn all about smokers, the basic tools you'll need, how to set up cooking zones, and more.Master your fire―Discover which wood to use to achieve the flavor you desire, how to prep meats, and strategies for achieving the perfect amount of smoke.100 smokin' good recipes―Make everything from traditional low and slow BBQ to hot and fast meat dishes, including Central Texas Barbecue Brisket, Spicy Smoky Dino Ribs, and Peruvian Chicken with Aji Verde. You also get smoked sides and fruit- and vegetable-based recipes to add to your wood-fired repertoire.Cook up the best BBQ in town with The Complete Guide to Smoking Meat.