BBQ Creators Tell Us Their Stories

At BBQGuys, we love the time-honored tradition of making friends and sharing stories around a piping hot grill. But great storytellers know when to let others speak. We love showcasing rising #BornToGrill stars in the industry — and it’s why we’re interviewing these diverse faces in barbecue with meaningful chats meant to help these stars shine while sharing their stories. Whether they’re featured grill masters in our Master Grillabilities® lessons or just fun-loving chefs and foodies who caught our eye, we’re planting a beacon on our favorite friends in BBQ. Pull up a chair, grab a bite, and listen — and find yourself a new friend to follow.

Born to Grill™ Stories

Christie Vanover from GirlsCanGrill My Vegas-style barbecue tends to combine some French and Korean techniques I learned while living in Europe and Asia, along with some Hawaiian and Filipino tricks I learned from my husband's family... Al Frugoni My go to grilling style is and always has been open fire. I am Argentine. It is a country of gauchos, cattle, glaciers, The Patagonia, Malbec wine, Chimichurri, and the Andes Mountains. Jacqueline Duffin Since I'm always cooking for my family of five and our house usually has a friend or guest visiting on weekends I do my best to serve well rounded, flavorful dishes but have a fun time while doing so. Misty Banchero, aka Seattle Butcher's Wife It wasn't that I all of a sudden decided on a career move; I was trying it out for myself, until I turned around and realized this had become this incredible, wonderful thing that I'm now completely addicted to. Kenneth Temple I'm out to inspire mouthwatering food, cooked simply but masterfully from everyday ingredients. And my culinary approach is all about showcasing world cuisine through a New Orleans lens. Erica Blaire Roby Even though I've been in some of the most classy establishments as a lawyer and a sommelier… the inner me is — and has always been — a gritty, bare-knuckle brawler who's not afraid to get her hands and dress dirty! Rasheed Philips From the world-traveling and my stint at the CDC to competing on Netflix's American BBQ Showdown… It was never a question of how or why. I just do things. And I don't let anyone outwork me. Danielle Diva Q Bennett Let me tell it to you, as straight as I take my bourbon: I've been living the barbecue lifestyle for a long time now. Ever since the week I judged my first competition in 2006. Kelsey Heidkamp We want to teach people how to be comfortable behind the grill. We just happen to be doing it with a product that hasn't gone through all these crazy evolutions. Chuck's Flavor Train with Chuck Matto Food should be a memory. You could convey your experiences and your lifetime moments. People should be able to relate to that and know when they take a bite of this, Oh, this person's trying to tell me something and I can hear it! Chiles and Smoke With Brad Prose That's what I bring to the table: infusing base ingredients with cultural tastes, drawing their passion to the surface, and making gorgeous, delicious dishes that absolutely crackle with personality. Cook at Home Mom with Laura Miner When I'm not kept busy working and raising three wonderful children, I'm creating approachable recipes focused on gluten-free, low carb/keto, paleo, vegetarian/pescatarian, and Whole30 diets. Paris Frederick I like my barbecue more focused on the meat flavors, so I go drier and less sauce-based. Sometimes salt and pepper really is all you need! Especially for brisket, which really is the heart of BBQ for me. Chef Tony Stay with me now: every time someone eats one of my steaks, they're blown away! I just don't get it. All I do is a little coarse pepper, a little coarse salt and olive oil, and some clarified butter. Granted, I've probably done steaks a good 20,000 times. Randy Watson From my early days as a restaurant steak chef to competing in steak cook-offs to becoming a BBQGuys Grillmaster, I’ve turned a passion into a full-blown lifestyle. Whether it’s ribs, brisket, or a perfectly seared steak, I believe grilling is about bringing people together, one delicious bite at a time.