Page 37 - JAN2020 BBQNEWS Digital Issue

ries. This book needs to be on your bookshelf.
”Franklin Steak: Dry-Aged, Live- Fired, Pure Beef” by Aaron Franklin with Jordan Mackey ($29.99, Ten Speed Press, 216 pp.) – Yeah, this book was outstanding as well. We def- initely had a wealth of riches in great books this year to have these first two honorees plus our ultimate winner. Any of these could have ranked as the best. From the first time I sat down with this book I knew it was the great- est book on steaks that I’d ever read.
“BBQ&A with Myron Mixon: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Barbecue” by Myron Mixon and Alexander ($29.99, Abrams, 320 pp.) – The lastest book from the winningest man in barbecue. I liked this particularly because of the unique format in which it was posed, as if you were sitting down for a Q&A with Mixon.
Country as much as I do the ones from Steven Raichlen. They Country as much as I do the ones from Steven Raichlen. They
are always so well done in terms of bringing together written are always so well done in terms of bringing together written
“Smoked: One Man’s Journey To
Find Incredible Recipes, Standout
Pitmasters and the Stories Behind
Them” by Ed Randoph ($25, Page
Street Publishing, 240 pp.) – I loved
the stories told here and was envious of the travels that were made necessary to write it. I’m just waiting for the day someone says to me, “I’m going to write a book about the greatest barbe- cue joints and pitmasters in our nation and I need you to come along.” I am so there.
“The Brisket Chronicles: How to Barbecue, Braise, Smoke and Cure the World’s Most Epic Cut of Meat” by Steven Raichlen ($19.95, Workman Publishing, 278 pp.) – I already know it is coming – that email I get when- ever I review a Steven Raichlen book, accusing me of being a hopeless Raichlen fanboy. OK, I’ll admit it – I’ve always enjoyed his books, every one of them. And yes, they do com- mand a prominent spot on my book- shelf. But it is definitely not true that I have an autographed 8x10 on my nightstand that I bid sweet dreams to before turning in each day. Or at least as far as you know.
“The Ultimate Burger: Plus DIY Condiments, Sides, and Boozy Milkshakes” by the Editors of Amer- ica’s Test Kitchen ($26.99, America’s Test Kitchen, 256 pp.) – I probably enjoy the books from America’s Test Kitchen and associated brand Cooks’
Mifflin Harcourt, 352 pp.) – We get a – We get a new volume of these
new volume of these books under the books under the Weber brand and
Weber brand and written by Purviance written by Purviance almost annually
almost annually and each time I mar- and each time I marvel at how they
vel at how they keep it fresh and in- keep it fresh and interesting. Look at
teresting. Look at all the prolific all the prolific writers and see the
writers and see the lengths they go to lengths they go to in order to create
in order to create new books that new books that don’t just plow over
don’t just plow over the same ground. the same ground. Weber and Pur-
Weber and Pur- viance have been re- viance have been remarkable in stay-
markable in stay- ing on top of new ing on top of new trends and
trends and developing great content developing great content around it.
around it. So that’s seven finalists and So that’s seven finalists and we still
we still have a winner to add to that. have a winner to add to that. Eight
Eight great books this year, every one great books this year, every one of
of which I would say could be the one which I would say could be the one
you would use over and over until the you would use over and over until the
pages are dog-eared. It is noteworthy pages are dog-eared. It is noteworthy
that in a time when people are turn- that in a time when people are turn-
ing primarily to digital media for the ing primarily to digital media for the
bulk of their information, robust bulk of their information, robust
numbers of excellent printed books numbers of excellent printed
are still being released.
books are still being released.
2019 Finalist
content and visuals. This book really content and visuals. This book really
stood out. stood out.
“Weber’s Ultimate Grilling: A “Weber’s Ultimate Grilling: A Step-
Step-by-Step Guide to Barbecue by-Step Guide to Barbecue Genius”
Genius” by Jamie Purviance ($26.99, by Jamie Purviance ($26.99, Houghton
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 352 pp.)
SSoonoowwiitthoouttffurrttheerrddeellaayyiissttheewiinneerrffoorr22001199--““Opeerraa-- ttiionBBQ::200+SSmokiin’’ReecciipeessffrromCompeettiittiionGrraand Chaampiionss””bbyySSttaanHaayyss,,TiimO’K’KeeeffeeaanddCiinddiiMiittcchheelll($30, P(a$g3e0,SPtraegetSPturebelitsPhuinbgli,s3h5i2ngp,p3.)5.2Hpapy.s).iHs tahyes cisot-hfoeucnod-eforunder
2019 Book of the Year
and CEO of Operation BBQ Relief, and CEO of Operation BBQ Relief, the
the organization that comes into organization that comes into places
places following disasters or other following disasters or other situa-
situa- tions of great need and pro- tions of great need and provides
vides meals to those in need. O’Keefe meals to those in need. O’Keefe is a
is a certified barbecue judge and certified barbecue judge and compe-
compe- tition team member. Yep, tition team member. Yep, these guys
these guys are in our family. To- are in our family. Together they put
gether they put forth the feel-good forth the feel-good book of the year
book of the year by accumulating
by accumulating recipes from over 70
recipes from over 70 grand champion grand champion and world champion
and world champion teams. But it teams. But it wasn’t just the recipes
wasn’t just the recipes alone that alone that made this awesome; it was
made this awesome; it was the heart- the heartfelt stories from the many
felt stories from the many volunteers volunteers who donated their time,
who donated their time, sweat and sweat and commitment to further the
commitment to further the cause of cause of Operation BBQ Relief. I will
Operation BBQ Relief. I will warn warn you now that you will feel
you now that you will feel moved by moved by this book. We all owe a
this book. We all owe a huge thanks huge thanks to this group.
to this group.
Well there you have it, another year Well there you have it, another year
in the books. Thanks to you, our in the books. Thanks to you, our
readers, for taking this all in each readers, for taking this all in each
month. It is a privilege and a pleas- month. It is a privilege and a pleasure
ure to bring this to you. to bring this to you.
JANUARY 2020
BarbecueNews.com - 37