Hello from California

valanze · Mar 30, 2015

Hey there,

My name is Russ and I am from the Central Valley here in California. I work in the manufacturing field. I am extremely new to smoking. Just bought the Camp Chef Smoke vault 18".

I have primarily used a grill for my our door cooking but I have always enjoyed smoked meats with the exception of turkey. Smoked turkey taste like ham to me and I am not a big fan of ham.

My first smoke was on Saturday and it came out phenomenal. I did a lot of reading and followed all the suggestions. I smoked two racks of ribs and two whole chickens. I used a combination of hickory and apple wood chunks. It was a huge success and by Sunday morning none of it was left.

I am looking forward to learning a lot from the experienced here.

rmmurray · Mar 30, 2015

Welcome Russ! :welcome:
Congrats to the new smoker. Be sure to post pics and recipes.
- Ryan

gary s · Mar 30, 2015

Good evening and welcome to the forum, from a cloudy and warm day here in East Texas. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about everything.

Gary

valanze · Mar 30, 2015

I work with a guy who is from Texas he speaks of it in extremely high regard.

Plus it's home to my Cowboys! I hope to visit and see a game one day.

one eyed jack · Mar 30, 2015

Welcome to the site Russ. Sounds like your off to a good start with your new smoker. Sounds like your hooked already.

valanze · Mar 30, 2015

I am 100% hooked. My family really enjoyed the meat and wife has already bought more meat to smoke. Guys at work think I am crazy spending 6 hours on a smoke but I really enjoyed it.

one eyed jack · Mar 31, 2015

Valanze said:
I am 100% hooked. My family really enjoyed the meat and wife has already bought more meat to smoke. Guys at work think I am crazy spending 6 hours on a smoke but I really enjoyed it.

Smoking can be a great reason to slow life down and take it easy for a while. It is great to have enthusiastic folks behind your efforts. Congratulations.

welshrarebit · Mar 31, 2015

Valanze said:
I am 100% hooked. My family really enjoyed the meat and wife has already bought more meat to smoke. Guys at work think I am crazy spending 6 hours on a smoke but I really enjoyed it.

I hear that as well! One guy at work asked me one day " you spend 60 to 70 hours every week cooking and on your one day off what do you do but cook some more?" I've since cut my work schedule down to 50 to 60 hours a week and still try to smoke something on my one day off...

It's a lot more fun cooking at home because there's beer involved!

valanze · Mar 31, 2015

Welshrarebit said:
I hear that as well! One guy at work asked me one day " you spend 60 to 70 hours every week cooking and on your one day off what do you do but cook some more?" I've since cut my work schedule down to 50 to 60 hours a week and still try to smoke something on my one day off...

It's a lot more fun cooking at home because there's beer involved!

I enjoy cooking very much and this was very laid back plus my wife loves the smell. So its a win win. Even got my older boys to come outside for a bit and hang out with dad. Which is a feat in itself when your competing again iPads and PS4 games.

one eyed jack · Mar 31, 2015

Valanze said:
I enjoy cooking very much and this was very laid back plus my wife loves the smell. So its a win win. Even got my older boys to come outside for a bit and hang out with dad. Which is a feat in itself when your competing again iPads and PS4 games.

Sounds like a real winner too me.

rmmurray · Mar 31, 2015

Welshrarebit said:
It's a lot more fun cooking at home because there's beer involved!

^^^THIS!^^^

themule69 · Apr 1, 2015

Glad you joined the group. The search bar at the top of any page is your best friend.
About anything you wanna know about smoking/grilling/curing/brining/cutting or slicing
and the list goes on has probably been posted. Remember to post a QVIEW of your smokes.
We are all smoke junkies here and we have to get our fix. If you have questions
Post it and you will probably get 10 replies with 11 different answers. That is
because their are so many different ways to make great Q...
Happy smoken.
David

valanze · Apr 2, 2015

That is a good sign to me.

Which gives lots of options until you settle on one you like or even better come up with one of your own.

lumpydrey · Apr 2, 2015

I live in Oakland, but lived down in Hanford a bit south of Fresno. Central valley is great for the fruit wood and nut wood selection

valanze · Apr 2, 2015

lumpydrey said:
I live in Oakland, but lived down in Hanford a bit south of Fresno. Central valley is great for the fruit wood and nut wood selection

Agreed.

Cali has its fair share of issues but I still think its the best.

lumpydrey · Apr 2, 2015

Hey man, in my backyard with smoke in my face, the only issue cali has to me is the Raiders.[emoji]128566[/emoji]

valanze · Apr 2, 2015

lumpydrey said:
Hey man, in my backyard with smoke in my face, the only issue cali has to me is the Raiders.[emoji]128566[/emoji]

Agreed, with PASSION!!! I am not a Raiders fan at all. Some of them burn things down when their team wins....

I am 100% Cowboys and I have lived in Cali more then 90% of my life.

lumpydrey · Apr 2, 2015

So my dad's from San Antonio! Both grandfathers and most of my family are Cowboys fans. Why I do this to myself, I'll never know man!

valanze · Apr 3, 2015

Your family sounds awesome. My whole house is Cowboys although my sister-in-law is a 49ers fan. It is better than being an Eagles fan at least.

lumpydrey · Apr 3, 2015

Valanze said:
I enjoy cooking very much and this was very laid back plus my wife loves the smell. So its a win win. Even got my older boys to come outside for a bit and hang out with dad. Which is a feat in itself when your competing again iPads and PS4 games.

Dude I've been trying to get my boys interested in the art of smoking. Tried teaching them how to start a fire. They are interested in the art of eating smoked meat.

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