#nbbqa

Be inspired during National Barbecue Month! Goldens' Cast Iron!

BBQ RESCUES Foundation and Chef Mick Brown featured in new NBBQA Article

-From the National Barbecue and Grilling Association (NBBQA)

VEGAN BBQ JOINTS POPPING UP AROUND THE COUNTRY JULY 18, 2018 Posted By: Stover Edward Harger III in NBBQA eNewsletter

It takes just two words to elicit laughter from some BBQ folks: vegan BBQ.

That’s the reaction Chef Mick Brown sometimes gets when he explains his passion for promoting vegan, vegetarian and healthier BBQ food.…

It was another great convention from my point of view, and I will expound on that in my next blog. But for now, I would like to dedicate this blog to OPERATION BBQ RELIEF, INC.

The opening session this year began with the introduction of the founders of Operation BBQ Relief, Inc. OperationBBQRelief.org “Offering Compassion, Hope and Friendship to People in Need”

Stan Hays, one of founding members, had contacted me a couple of months earlier and we had agreed to meet and talk at the convention. It was a pleasant surprise to see and hear Stan and their organization’s very positive and highly inspiring story and message during the opening session.

“Joplin, MO (May, 2011)

In the wake of nearly unprecedented destruction in which more than 140 people died and more than 8,000 structures were completely destroyed, competition barbecue teams from eight states arrived to help feed displaced families and police, fire, National Guard and other emergency personnel.  The group served more than 120,000 barbecue meals in less than two weeks… that was 120,000 meals in less than two weeks!!! and OBR was born.”

Before they were through with their presentation I knew that it was something that I wanted to be a part of. And I felt strongly that the barbecue community in Chicago, and most everywhere, would want to jump on board and be part of this most worthwhile endeavor as well.

I mentioned this to Stan and asked him if he would send a representative up to talk to us, and he assured me that if he could not make it, someone would. Soon after, I ran into Andrew Bloom, of Wichita Packing fame, and he suggested that Wichita Packing would be interested and supportive of an enterprise like Operation BBQ Relief. I spoke to a few more people and we all seemed to agree that it was something we wanted to be a part of. 

It is my intention to try to invite my barbecue friends and the Barbecue Brethren to our place in Elk Grove to have a barbecue dinner, fun and interaction with each other, and to hear about how we can become part of, and contribute to, Operation BBQ Relief, Inc. I have been looking for a purpose for a few years now to get our barbecue friends together and help bring more awareness to Chicago barbecue. What could be a better way than Operation Barbecue Relief, Inc.