BBQ Brian

Resurfacing an old thread... looking for an update. I am looking for three things in Nashville: exotic meat supplier (bison, elk, pheasant, kangaroo...), fresh seafood and a really, really good butcher (the usual meats - beef, pork, chicken). Anyone KNOW Nashville? Thanks Brian

George, Hands down, go-out-of-your-way, the bakery in Greenwood - they have out of your mind crazy butter tarts and fresh breads made in house very day. An another is the yet to be visited but on good advice... sandwiches at the Petro Can deli in Rock Creek. If going through Trail, the default answer is the "special" at the Colander - fantastic Italian eatery even though it's kind of "cattle-trough-ish" for volume and ambiance. Everyone still enjoys it. Good luck, Brian

Stuffers in Langley - fantastic place for sausage supplies including butchers paper and knives.

didn't see it in the thread.... Well Seasoned - Langley

We're coming from Vancouver, Canada for the show... with, truth be told, no plan. On our mission list is simply to network and get a grasp of the show. Knowing that, some of your comments are making me nervous... I got the comfortable shows at least. BBQ Brian

Hello all.... Best beef in the lower mainland, coming from a person who competes with beef and teaches grilling classes, is from Hopcott Meats in Pitt Meadows. I grew up in Alberta, love beef and still go out of my way to get to Hopcott's. The beef is hormone free, natural (not organic - too challenging to do), minimum dry aged 28 days and cut in house. Can't beat that. A few stores around the lower mainland carry it - so please ask you local butcher. Brian

I'd also recomend the vinyards in south Langley - in particular Bacchus Bistro at Domaine D Chaberton. Often a price fixe menu around $40-50 and in the class of "absolutely outstanding" for food.

Hey Bill, My Weber 200 is still holding more than it's weight in dollar value. I continue to push it as hard as I can and it still responds to me... so what does that mean? Well, I usually leave the temperature on high, nothing less. It does lose alot of heat quickly when the lid is open or something has been placed on the grill... it takes a bit to recuperate. This can be expected with a 12,000 BTU burner and it being a portable gas grill. When cleaning it, as many know, let it burn off the residue... however with this grill there is a catch... literally. If the drip tray is full of stuff and you have a greasy grill, the whole thing can catch fire. I've done this a couple of times without melting any of the internal parts (or external for that matter) however it does result in a few scary moments. Long story short, just keep on top of cleaning it. That aside, I have cooked 40 lbs of steaks on it in just over an hour or so - all medium rare of course - that was a task and stuffed jalapeno's for 300 people as well. I don't know much about the Napoleon one but as you mention, it's not as common. Good luck grilling Bill! Brian

you mean mirin comes without sugar? oh my... I really gotta learn more about mirin.

All depends on what I'm cooking or smoking... usually we'll make a custom rub for each entry if we are at a competition and when at home we'll use up whatever rub is left over. Numerous times I've used my competition chicken rub on beef or pork or in an omlette. Typical ingredients in the spice bin: cane sugar, cumin, cinnamon, all spice, paprika (sweet spanish), black pepper, garlic (of course!) and sea salt. BBQ Brian

Give Well Seasoned a call in Langley - they have a supply in the store and a call with clarification will tell you the origin. 604-530-1518. Brian

I'm no where near astute on this topic however a moratorium appears reasonable but on the other hand and after years of a moratorium on the east coast of Canada for cod, have the fish populations replenished? Or is it too little too late? A pathetic answer with an attempt at humour is 'eat more pork'. Brian

Brisket can be found at butchers around the city... more than likely they will be selling wet-aged, cryovac bags - most often whole-packers meaning both the tip and the flat. Give me a sense of where you are and what you wanna do with it... I may know of some places to get briskets. Brian

Even though the forcast is rain and potential for snow this weekend, summer IS going to come soon and that means bbq competitions are back. There are a few BC competitions scheduled: - Trail, BC - May 9-10 - Vancouver (EAT VCR) - May 24-25 - Kelowna, BC - June 14 - Whistler, BC - August 1-3 - Langley, BC - Sept. 6-7 Also some in AB: - Strathmore, AB - August 1-3 - Calgary, AB - Aug 30-31 Alot of the details are posted at the Pacific Northwest BBQ Association All competitions are open to the public and all highly encourage teams to get involved with the hobby/sport. For Trail and the Langley competitions, I will offer any new teams that have never competed before to be a mentor... that means, how to cook the entries, how to do a judging tray, what to bring, what not to bring and all that... any takers? If interested, drop me a line. Also for those that simply just like EATING bbq, there will be a judging class held at Well Seasoned in Langley this summer. For those that go through the class you get invited to judge at the competitions in and around the Western Canada. Cheers and bring on the sunshine! BBQ Brian

Woo hoo! Beef cuts from that area of the cow are fantastic grilling steaks - flank, skirt, plate, brisket... Granville Island should have skirt steaks as well as Market Meats on 4th - just ask for it, it likely will not be in the case. Brian