I want to take a moment to publicly thanks some really fine folks who really went out of their way to help us get all our gear to California to tape the episode of BBQ Pitmasters.

Traeger Canada

wood pellet grills we use everywhere! We used the Traegers to make some of the alligator, to bake the corn bread muffins, the alligator tacos, and also to do the ribs.

Basques Charcoal

we love this all natural sugar maple lump ! While they didn’t show it we used Basques Charcoal to grill the alligator and also to make our beans. They were awesome!!

Plowboys

for their yardbird , bovine bold plus their new JERK rub they rock and we love to use them.

Butcher BBQ

for their injections and rubs we love to use them. Trust your butcher. We do.

Smokey Mountain Smokers

for their excellent cutting boards rubs and sauces we love to use them.

and some personal thanks……

Sylvie Curry thank you so much for letting us use your WSM! We appreciate it and getting to have dinner with you was just wonderful so glad we were able to.

Neil ” Big Mista” Strawder (who I do believe has some of the best BBQ in LA! ) for hooking us up with loads of stuff so we didn’t have to take it on the plane. Thank you for making us feel welcome in California. For those of you in California make sure to check out Big Mista’s BBQ !

To my team Angie Quaale and my beloved husband Vlado I could not have had any better a team than ours. I am proud of what we did. You are both the bomb. Heres to yet another BBQ adventure!!!

Coming in second bites royally. We went in to win it however I am still happy with the food we put out.

John Markus, Jon Sechrist, Jordan Mallari, Lindsay Freed, Michael Gretza, Original Media, & TLC thank you for continuing to promote BBQ on TV and for all your help. I appreciate it.

Thanks to all the fine folks who sent us twitter messages, facebook messages and a whole whack of emails during the show. Really cool to have so much support. Thank you thank you thank you!!

Till the next time you see me on tv…………

Remember life is too short for bad BBQ!!

This is really funny to listen to. Myron Mixon on the Dennis Miller Radio show It aired today.

Click to listen to the show!!

Myron Mixon on Dennis Miller Radio Show

Season Premiere August 12 10pm EST 9 C

Ill be catching the blog up later this week. Things have been really busy since travelling to BC. Just got sent this recent video and thought to share it with you all!!

Plus make sure to tune in this Thursday August 12 to BBQ Pitmasters at 10pm EST 9C

You may just might recognize a few folks in the following video clips from TLC BBQ Pitmasters Season #2

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/bbq-pitmasters/

Fun times with alligator. Believe me.

I love a great short rib. I love beef ribs period.

I was craving some short ribs and had some company for dinner so it was a great night to make them.

Hovey’s Gourmet meats is where I got these beauties that had some terrific marbling and a good amount of beefy goodness.

I generously seasoned them with Traegers Prime Rib Rub and some additional sprigs of rosemary. Onto the grill for 3 hours at 250F.

While the ribs were getting happy I made a side salad. Sugar snap peas shelled, blanched and shocked.

Then I made the dressing. Thinly sliced red onions, segments of orange all marinated in a mixture of Kozliks Amazing Maple mustard, Sunrise Vinegar by Mr. Vinegar, salt, pepper, summer savory, and chives.

Tossed together and rested for a couple of hours in the fridge it was a nice fresh pairing contrasting  the decadence of the ribs:

Due to the heat wave we are experiencing we are eating dinner outside much later (thats my excuse and apology for the poor pictures). The ribs after 3 hours at 250F had some great color. I added 2 cups of low sodium vegetable stock to each pan and covered them to let them braise and tenderize for another hour.  I removed the pan juices and reduced them by half. I added some port and some grilled mushrooms. Served on the side.   They were lovely and delicious.

We paired the meal with a wonderful riesling!

Kevin Roberts, the new host of TLC BBQ Pitmasters Season 2 was on The Early show this morning talking hot dogs. Yes. Hot dogs. It was probably a much safer topic than his previous appearance on the Today show with some rib cooking options. I liked his suggestion of a pickle bar versus chips. It is a much healthier idea for sure!  He is still taking shots but this time was Franks Red Hot! The Food Dude certainly is amusing with Chicago Style, Texas style and many more pimping out the hot dogs!!

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Here are the recipes that were featured!

New Video at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party-  Clint from Smoke in Da Eye Competition team. John Markus answers questions about the next season of BBQ Pitmasters . Make sure to check out the Smoke in Da Eye Blog as well.

There is a new host for season two of BBQ Pitmasters.  Kevin Roberts has been selected by TLC to host the second season of BBQ Pitmasters.

Kevin Roberts is an executive chef, cookbook author, sports bar owner, and radio & tv personality. Here is his bio from his website Munchies TV He also goes by the nickname “the Food Dude”

Recently he was on the Today show introducing him as the new host of TLC BBQ Pitmasters and his segment certainly elicited a variety of responses. The vast majority of those being unflattering. Between the incessant mustard shots and the advice to boil your ribs in beer it certainly made for cringe worthy TV in the eyes of many bbq’ers who vehemently oppose boiling ribs (I am in this group). He definitely got people talking on BBQ forums and foodie websites.

Overall until the show airs we will all have to wait and see how he fares as the new host with the new format. I would not dismiss him right now. The show I believe is being changed to appeal to a wider variety of audience. Not just competition BBQ’ers and our focus on the 4 main meats (brisket, ribs, chicken, pork butt) but more to the general public. Obviously there had to be changes to the format.  They averaged 900,000 viewers by all accounts that I have read against some tough other shows. The ratings must increase. How they get there remains to be seen. I wish the show and the future teams appearing on the show all the very best. My hope is that once again we see an increase in people coming out to the competitions and more people joining up to the various sanctioning bodies all over North America.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Additionally if you are in the LA area and are a BBQ lover or look like a BBQ judge (seriously?? )
http://www.realitywanted.com/call/7547-now-casting-bbq-judges-who-look-the-part