The Firestarter
Fire is essential to barbecue and cooking in general. It stands to reason, then, that without a firestarter — a match, a lighter, a torch, a pair of sticks rubbed together — there is no cooked food.
The Firestarter is a blog series that aims to be that firestarter for people, products, and places in the barbecue or culinary industry. By highlighting their stories we hope to share what makes them great, unique, and worthy of your patronage.
Note: These are not sponsored posts. No free products or services have been received in exchange for endorsements.
People
Stories of professional pitmasters, cooks, influencers, and interesting shenanigans.
The Firestarter: Johnny Fugitt Discusses the Ultimate Barbecue Road Trip
365 barbecue joints. 48 states. 1 definitive list. Johnny Fugitt lived out your barbecue dream. Go inside his year-long road trip to see where he went, how he ranked them, and what impressed him the most.
The Firestarter: Grillmaster Joe Pichey of GoBlueBBQ
Joe Pichey of GoBlueBBQ discusses his barbecue journey, his favorite and least favorite foods to cook, and how he went from trying to impress his girlfriend by lifting weights to a barbecue influencer with over 10,000 followers.
Places
A hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint, an off the beaten path market, or a must-visit farm.
The Firestarter: Top Chef CJ Jacobson delights with Mediterranean-style cuisine at Aba Chicago
One of Chicago’s hottest restaurants, Aba Chicago serves delicious Mediterranean style cuisine from Top Chef CJ Jacobson, and it’s a must-visit if you’re in Chicago.
The Firestarter – Hidden Gems: George & Pink’s Market in Edisto Island, SC
Down a tree-lined dirt road off of State Rd 174 in Edisto Island, SC sits a dirt floored hut with a storied history and some of the best produce and pies you’ll ever eat. A relic with ties to the 18th century, George & Pink’s Farm & Market is beloved by locals and tourists alike.
Products
From BBQ rubs and sauces to useful tools, accessories and so much more.
The Firestarter: Chigger Creek
While some rely on their big brand name and others claim to have the secret formula or the most unique and exotic wood, Chigger Creek lets its products and customer service speak for themselves. From the understated packaging to the hard work that kept them going through the pandemic, Chigger Creek has proven worthy of…
The Firestarter: Spaceman Knives
How does a healthcare administrator with a passion for barbecue carve out a niche in the crowded barbecue industry? He identifies an opportunity and builds a brand around it. It’s not as easy as that sounds, but that’s just what Ryan Fowler did with Spaceman Knives.
The Firestarter: BLiS Gourmet
A pioneer of bourbon barrel aged food products BLiS Gourmet fills a need in the kitchen for gourmet chefs and backyard barbecuers alike. Bourbon barrel aged maple syrup, soy sauce, fish sauce, and other products were developed by an ex-chef with decades of experience.
The Firestarter: Rosewood Block
Want to know how to catch lightning in a bottle? Get an endorsement from Matt Pittman, the award-winning pitmaster and founder of Meat Church. But you can’t do that without a damn good product, and that’s precisely what Rosewood Block has.
Hidden Gems
Hidden gems are the places you may not have heard about, but need to visit next time you are nearby. These are 100% Pasatiempo approved.