BBQ 25 Book by Adam Perry Lang - Grill n Barbecue Book Review

"BBQ 25" by Adam Perry Lang was not what I expected. It is different from the barbecue or grilling books I usually get.

This is not a bad thing. Many grill books try to cover too much ground. The concept here is that Lang covers the 25 foods you are likely to toss on your grill 90% of the time.

So, lets' say that you've never done a beef roast on the grill or maybe it's pork or fish. You find the classic meat cuts in the various types along with tools you need to do the recipe and then rub and sauce recipes for each plus step-by-step directions to do the selected cut of meat.



Each grilled meat (and there is a vegetable page) is a double page spread as you can see here. You literally have everything you need to grill whatever it is that you want to tackle.

Some of the rub and sauces listed on the left side are a bit complex with a lot of different ingredients. You can, however, use commerical rubs and sauces, especially if you are just starting out. I like to make barbeuce rubs and sauces, but I also love to play around with different ones especially the small batch sauces I buy online and some of my favorites that I carry at my OpenSky Store.

So, don't let long barbecue rub and sauce recipes scare you off. They are excellent, but try your hand at nailing the basic techniques for cooking the meats and then get fancier.



Also note that this barbecue book is made like the board books for kids. The pages are thick, easy to turn, and you can wipe them off. If you have a bbq sauce accident or knock over your beer on "BBQ 25" - no problem. Just wipe it off. That, I think, was a very good plan.

* I was sent an advance copy of BBQ 25. This is common in the media world, so newspapers and bloggers get a chance to check out new books and let readers know if they are worth buying or not. My only stiuplation on review copies is that I'm going to call it the way I see it, and I do. If you follow my blog or other writings, you know I'm honest to a fault, including telling you my own barbecue and grilling mistakes (so you don't make the same ones).

Join the She-Smoke Virtual Barbecue Contest and Help Fight Hunger

More women are grilling every year according to HPBA, and some new barbecue books are reflecting that trend including She-Smoke: A Backyard Barbecue Book by Julie Reinhardt.

Julie is the co-owner of Smokin' Pete's BBQ in Seattle, so she's had plenty of experience.

Along with the release of the outdoor cooking book, Julie is hosting the She-Smoke Virtual Barbecue Contest. In addition to prizes, she is donating $1 per entry to Heifer International to fight world hunger.

The contest is open to guys too, of course. And the fellows will find Julie's new book helpful too. Just buy a copy for a lady friend and then borrow it (-:

Here's the information on the virtual barbecue cook out:

1) Check out the contest web site.
2) Have a barbecue and video tape it.
3) In your 1-3 minute video tell what you are smoking or grilling and say what barbecue means to you.
4) Upload your video in response to the trailer.
5) For every entry they will donate $1 to Heifer International.
6) Contest dates are now through June 15th 2009. Winners will be announced by July 5th 2009.

Categories include:

1) Best looking barbecue (we can't eat it virtually, so make it a feast for our eyes!)
2) Best Video
3) Best Party - let us feel like we are there!
4) Most Interesting Smoker
5) Best Overall Entry/Grand Champion

Winners will receive a signed copy of She-Smoke: A Backyard Barbecue Book, and the Grand Champion will receive other fabulous prizes.

Check out Julie's blog for updates. I just peeked again, and Traeger is donating a pellet grill for a top prize. That's a good one. We love smoked ribs on the Traeger and can also bake casseroles and even biscuits. It's a whole new experience in outdoor cooking.

Holy Smoke - The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue

North Carolina Smoked Barbecue Shoulder

UNC Press has just come out with a great book about North Carolina barbecue. Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue
features how to cook barbecue as well as tracing the history of BBQ and includes information about famous que restaurants and pit masters from NC.

You can read more about Holy Smoke at my outdoor cooking web site - Yes You Can Grill.

I don't really excited about most books on barbecue. They usually just have recipes and try to improve on or add odd ingredients to classics. No. I really don't especially want to put mango on my chicken. I like that in my fruit salad. Thanks.

Holy Smoke really isn't a cookbook, although you do get a lot of inside secrets to making North Carolina barbecue and also directions for some sauces, slaws and even desserts like the famous Pig Pickin' Cake. It's more like walking back in time (and up through today) and getting to meet and talk to everyone who played a part in making barbecue big in the Tar Heel state.

You don't have to be from North Carolina to appreciate Holy Smoke. It's a fascinating story for anyone who enjoys barbecue in general or who likes great stories of people and places.

Holy Smoke would be a great book to give to anyone on your gift list who enjoys outdoor cooking or for family and friends from the South. It's also a fun read for general history buffs.