Hello from London

[Yeti]

Hello fellow fans of BBQ!

I have just received my first smoker (ProQ Excel20) after thinking about buying a WSM for over a year! I think I made the right choice, although I still like my Weber gas BBQ ( are we allowed to mention these)

Having never cooked low'n'slow, I am definitely a novice, although I love outdoor cooking,and wood burning cooking - I am hoping to build a wood burning pizza oven in my garden this year.

To begin with one simple question - do the ProQ's need any seasoning? or can I just fire it up and cook?

Yeti

[Steve]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

It's recommended to season the Pro Q's. All I do is light them up for 2 hours before I put any food on. I've done this with 3 so far and they all run fine now.

Good luck with the Pro Q, i'm sure you'll be hooked on low 'n' slow soon. Any questions you have just post them up here and someone will answer them quickly.

Cheers

Steve

[Yeti]

Thanks Steve, I am looking forward to firing it up, although I have to wait a couple of weeks! Not got a free day until 28 March!

Yeti

[Steve]

I feel for you mate. When I got my Excel last year it was my Birthday present but I found a special offer in Jan, so I bought it and the wife wouldn't let me have it until my brithday in March, I was not happy

What do you think you'll do for your first cook then?

[Yeti]

Well as soon as it arrived, I went to my local butchers, to discuss/order some meat!
I will be getting a 3kg Brisket, and a 2Kg piece of pork shoulder, however I am thinking my first smoke might be with a couple of chickens, so I don't ruin the expensive meat! While the butcher is not organic, all his meat is local, and he cuts it himself, so he should be able to give me whatever cut I ask for - as long as I know what to ask for.

Like all things I delve into I like to be prepared, so I have coconut briquettes, jack daniels pellets, cast iron smoking pot, chicken stands, a couple of pairs of heat resistant gloves and a thermometer. The only thing missing is a starter chimney and time. Roll on next weekend.

Yeti

[Steve]

Sounds like you're well prepped. You going for beer can chicken?

[Yeti]

Yes, just not sure what rub or marinade I will use. Probably something very simple (salt pepper garlic chilli) to begin with, with a beer in the water pan.

Off to the US in March so will have to bring back a selection of rubs to experiment with.

Yeti

[Steve]

Personally I wouldn't bother with the beer in the waterpan, you get a nice smell while cooking but I don't think it improves the meat flavour. You'd be better just drinking the beer

If you can get any of the following while you're over in the US you won't be disappointed:

1. Blues Hog Original Sauce
2. Blues Hog Tennessee Red Sauce
4. Cow Town - The Squeal Rub
5. Cow Town - Sweet Spot Rub
6. Plowboys Yardbird Rub
7. Plowboys Bovine Bold Rub
8. Obie Cues Brisket Rub

These are more specialist products so it'll depend where you are staying as to whether you can get them.

Stuff you'll be able to get from Walmart that's definitely worth a punt:

1. KC Masterpiece Original Sauce
2. KC Masterpiece Honey Sauce
3. Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce
4. Famous Dave's Sauce (a number of varieties)
5. KC Masterpiece All purpose Rub
6. Lawry's Seasoned Salt (a great one to have in the cupboard)

Apologies if you're already familiar with rubs and sauces, just thought I'd share the ones that I've found to be good.

[Yeti]

Thanks I have never bought rubs, so that will be a great help. I am visiting Atlanta, and LA, so will see what I can get my hands on.

There seems to be a lot more to BBQ than sticking a chicken on the grill

But the main enjoyment will be certainly be having a beer (or 2 ) so now I won't waste one in the pan. Got a selection of belgian and czech beers just for the occasion.

[Steve]

Sounds like you've got a good plan for your first smoke

Don't know if this is viable for you but if you contact the Kansas City BBQ Store and tell them what you want and when they'll ship it to wherever you're staying while you're there.

http://www.kansascitybbqstore.com/

The guys there are really helpful, if you explain you're from the UK they'll understand why you're getting it shipped to a hotel.

I'm trying my best to get out to the US before May so I can do the same to get some Cow Town, yardbird and bovine bold for competition because the cost of shipping to the UK makes it impossible.