Hello from Chicago

[ralphster]

Hello Good People,

First post. Spent a good amount of time today reading through the forums - lots of very good and helpful information here. I've been in foodservice for going on 20 years - held most every position you can in restaurants and bars - and I've grilled extensively but never smoked anything at all.

I'm considering purchasing a Weber Smokey Mountain for summer fun, as I can't afford a Klouse or Lang just yet. Any tips or tricks you have to share would be much appreciated.

Thanks for putting up and maintaining one of the best sites I've come across in a long time.

 

[pineywoods]

Welcome to SMF glad you decided to join us. Sounds like a good smoker to buy we have quite a few members using them and they seem to really like them. Have fun and happy smoking

 

[rbranstner]

Welcome to the SMF. There are a lot of guys with that smoker on here and they work just fine. In no time you will be putting out killer Q and all of your friends and family will be begging you to cook for them. When you getting the smoker and what is your first smoke going to be???? Make sure you post lots of pictures!

 

[treegje]

Welcome to the SMF, We are glad to have you onboard

 

[chainsaw]

Welcome aboard. This site is like a family, so be prepared. Where in Chicago, wife & I go to the Drake about every year around Sept 30 (my b-day) eat & drink too much and visit with friends

 

[ralphster]

Thanks for the quick welcome!

@ rbranster: I am going to spend the next couple weeks looking at and reading up on smokers. I've got my eyes on traditional offsets but my wallet says WSM. First smoke will be ribs, st louis ribs. Then brisket, then chickens. Then who knows? Maybe a nice buck like in your pics (though with little fat I think venison is best grilled med rare to rare).

@ chainsaw: I'm in Albany Park - about 4600 N and 3400 W. I work near the drake, and it takes me about 25-30 minutes to get there with traffic. No traffic (ha!) and I'm there in 15, but that's only if I'm leaving at 5am.

For cost and ease of use it seems the WSM would be a good first bet. Still I've seen some of the stuff from Bell Labs and Klouse and Lang that makes my eyes water. I'd like to get started with my learning curve soon though, which is why I thought WSM. Any opinions or suggestions from the crew?

 

[chisoxjim]

welcome, another chicagoan, gotta like that.


I have a WSM, and love it.

 

[irishteabear]

Welcome to SMF. Glad you joined us.

 

[chainsaw]

Welcome, last year we ate at the Tavern on Rush (on my bday) HUGE prime rib, looking forward to going back again!

 

[mballi3011]

First off welcome Ralph to SMF. You'll like it here cause there are abunch of good folks here that would just love to help you out with just about anything to do with smoking. We really like to have newbies here because they can bring in a new propective to how things are done. There's nothing like a new set of eyes to give and new way to make things that little differant to make things alittle better. So I hope you know about the Qview here.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=58920
Here's a link to photobucket it's free and easy to download pictures. Then if your really new to smoking Look up the E-course.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...play.php?f=127
It's also free and it will give you the basics of smoking. So after all of that you just need to go grab something to smoke and if you have any question just post them here and we will answer it quickly so you don't have any mishaps with your smoke.
Welcome To Your New Addiction

 

[seajams]

Great to have another Chi-lander on board, Ralph, I am new here too. Enjoy, there is lots of info here.

 

[beer-b-q]

[font=&quot][/font]

[font=&quot]Welcome to SMF, Glad to have you with us. This is the place to learn, lots of good info and helpful friendly Members.[/font]

[font=&quot]For those of you new to Smoking, be sure to check out Jeff's 5 Day Smoking Basics eCourse.[/font]
[font=&quot]Click Here it's "FREE" ... 5 Day eCourse [/font]

[font=&quot]I Would Highly Suggest Reading these posts on Food Safety by bbally. [/font]

[font=&quot]This thread will tell you basically everything you need to know and the man explaining it is[/font]
[font=&quot]both a ServSafe Instructor and a HACCP Instructor.[/font]
http://tinyurl.com/ygg8gfb

http://tinyurl.com/yjavfkj

[font=&quot]Here you can get the 2009 USDA Food Safety Guide from his site.[/font]
http://tinyurl.com/ykq5p9t

[font=&quot]How to post Qview to Forum:[/font]

[font=&quot]When you uploading to Photobucket I always use the Large IMG setting, 640 x 480 it is a nice size...[/font]

[font=&quot]Everyone here enjoys seeing the Qview so be sure to post plenty of pics...[/font]

[font=&quot]Large ones that us old people with bad eyes can see.[/font]

[font=&quot][/font]

[font=&quot]For Step By Step Instructions On Posting Qview Check Out This Tutorial[/font]

http://tinyurl.com/yjm4xkh

 

[meateater]

Welcome to the SMF. Glad to have you here. Lots of good folks here and knowledge. Looking forward to your first qview.

 

[ralphster]

Wow guys thanks. Can't recall a warmer welcome in any other forum.

Quick question: I notice Beer B Q lists some New Braunfels as being pre-charbroil. I assume this is because quality has gone down since the Charbroil buyout? I've seen a New Braunfels Longhorn for sale locally and they wanted $125 for it. I'm tempted, but not if the smoker is inferior to its previous manufacturer's specifications.

Thanks in advance.
RF

 

[newbee]

From WI, I just bought a Horizon smoker... Should have it this weekend.
$800. on up

 

[chef jeff tx]

Howdy, welcome to the SMF!!

 

[bayouchilehead]

Welcome to SMF!

 

[etcher1]

Welcome to the SMF forum, You came to the right place. Good people and good info.

 

[nickelmore]

Boy oh boy us flatlanders are becomming pretty popular around here!

This is the place to find all the advice you could ask for.

Everyone has been a newbie once before and for myself a learn somthing everytime I fire it up.

 

[smokednarwhal]

Welcome from Indiana, I agree SMF is one of the best forum communities I have found.