a competitive BBQ cook's food curiosity
Indulge your taste buds with this savory and aromatic Miso Sesame Pork Shoulder with a hint of smoke. A dish that beautifully marries the rich umami of miso with the nutty warmth of sesame. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or a gathering with friends, …
Pork shoulder has this cooking option to transform into a magnificent morsel, into Pork Burnt Ends or call them Pork Bites, that will sweetly melt in your mouth. When you cook a pork shoulder as Pork Burnt Ends instead of pulled pork, you save cooking …
Do your pork chops curl up during cooking? Pork Tip: Cut 2-3 relief slits on the outside of your pork chop to enable the pork chop to lay flat during and after cooking Want to keep your pork chops juicy? Pork Tip: Grill your pork …
When I walked past the deep hue of a bone-in pork rib roast at Sunterra Markets the other day, my mind was distracted by flavor combinations during the rest of my coffee. All I could think about how delicious and juicy this pork cut could …
I am so fortunate to enjoy sliced pork belly often in my life. Asians love pork belly and it’s the perfect addition to a bowl of fried rice, a bowl of ramen, or the most dangerous, but most enjoyable, just a snack!! Sliced pork belly …
This recipe outlines a basic Smoked Pork Tenderloin sliced thin as an open faced sandwich, which I personally love. Alternatively, you can serve the pork tenderloin in thick slices with mashed potatoes and veg, or in a 4-6 oz piece, more similar to a steak. …
The beauty of grilled pork jowl ramen is that its quick, its comfort food and its perfect for cold days. Never heard of pork or hog jowls? You’re in for a treat! This unusual cut is from the pork cheek. This meat is heavily marbled …
Who’s craving pork chops for a weeknight dinner? Pork Rib Chops cook up juicy when grilled at lower temperatures, but rest assured, this is still a quick cook!
Be not afraid of game meat like pheasant breast! Extra flavor and extra liquid is key to grilled Teriyaki Pheasant Tacos!
The last time the McDonalds McRib sandwich was sold in Canada was in 2013. So, the only way to enjoy a McRib – Double Smoked Boneless Rib Sandwich at the SmellaQue house is to make it from scratch. There’s no $5.89 burger available around the …
When looking for an affordable dinner option, pork loins can be overlooked. At the Calgary Co-op grocery store, for regular price, I found a 2.1lb / 0.984kg Center Cut Pork Loin for $19.61 CAD. There were leftovers after feeding our family of 4 once this …
Most often we think of steak as associated with a steakhouse – Béarnaise sauce, mushrooms, asparagus spears and double stuffed potatoes. But, when one wants to enjoy a steak at home, it can be much simpler and also much more affordable. One of my favorite …
Barbecue in all its styles and flavors is a treat; including using lip smacking everyday barbecue rub and sauce by Kosmo’s Q to enjoy the authentic flavors of Char Siu BBQ Pork. Its amazing that an all- American barbecue base can be tweaked to showcase …
This week’s Supper Challenge is “poppy.” While I love lemon poppy seed loaf, the cooler weather and autumn season brings about pheasant if you know a few hunters. Cooking a savory dish with poppy seeds called for the color and flavors of cranberry, so Poppy …
I enjoy adding my own twist on classic flavors; an hour later, we devoured grilled lamb chops with garlic mustard cream. There is something magical about grilled meat and a cream sauce, especially when its nicely balanced. The cream needed a zing, an “ah ha” …
Cows don’t have hands, let alone fingers, so what is Smoked Beef Finger Meat? These big gnarly 1 inch strips of meat look like fingers off your local friendly giant. But thankfully, this cut is just the rib meat on your local cow. More specifically, …
Ooey gooey cheese stuffed meatballs is pretty much a non-discussion item for dinner. When I bought a 5lb package of lean ground beef from Costco for this week’s Supper Challenge “bite size” theme, I didn’t expect to prep the whole package. Nor did I expect …
I’ve got a hankering for the sweet crunch of Coconut Shrimp, the question is, can it be made at home? Of course! I live in the Prairies, so seafood is far distance away. The easiest and most economic way to access seafood is frozen. But …
The special aspect of BBQ, is that it is enjoyed in every country, with different ingredients and different flavor profiles. BBQ is a universal food experience. Grilled meats are not isolated to North America, Asia loves it too! It was so much fun to consider …
Krapow Gai or Thai Basil Chicken (or Pheasant) is a fresh Thai dish, especially great for a weeknight! The largest challenge of infusing basil into a dish, is to ensure the basil is highlighted, while keeping the dish fresh. The basil and the chicken must …
Avocado Basil Pheasant Salad Rolls is not your run of the mill salad roll. Similar to Thai Basil Chicken (Krapow Gai) without the spicey tingle, the infusion of basil and cilantro really accentuates the avocado. With “avocado” as this week’s theme for Supper Challenge, I …
Ready to cook? Follow this link to a recipe for quick BBQ Baby Back Ribs.
This style of BBQ Baby Back Ribs will be quick; cooking at higher temperatures will shorten the cooking time. BBQing at higher temperatures is also known as hot and fast. Of course, if you want to cook ribs at a lower temperature, you will also have …
There is something elegant about a dish that includes a pistachio crust, the great part is, its easy! Pistachio Matcha Crusted Halibut is uniquely nutty with a vibrant citrus zing! Halibut is a mild, firm fish that enables this combination well. Alternatively, another white fish …
What the duck? Duck breasts are a no fuss kind of meal, despite finding them in fancy restaurants. I like cooking this poultry in 15 minutes on a weekday. Its fantastic with a quick salad and a perfectly cooked breast requires no fancy layout or …
Pork Ribs are my go-to for BBQ when people are coming over for a backyard event, but before cooking, you need to know how to find them and what makes them different. Pork ribs come with their own handle, are individually portioned and everyone loves …
Super enjoyed myself, @jsmella_smellaque, as a guest on @prairebbq Instagram LIVE event. I smoked tri-tip steak and Rob cooked a tri-tip like a brisket. What fun! Tri-tip is incredibly versatile, affordable and so delicious. <Yes, our family devoured the steak once the recording was done!> …
So you bought a brisket and now, let’s smoke/ BBQ/ cook this brisket! If you’re trembling with excitement, then you are ready!. We all feel that buzzy, lightheaded feeling knowing an excellent meal is coming soon! For more information on the two muscles that make …
There is nothing better than grilled, plump, juicy shrimp complemented by Cuban mojo (pronounced “mo-ho”) on a hot summer night. It would be even better if such a meal could be enjoyed on the humid island overlooking a white sandy beach. Citrus, garlic and herbs …
My kid’s have excellent taste. They asked me to cook a Beef Wellington. Right…. I guess the a la carte must be excellent at Bistro SmellaQue? How am I going to execute this dinner request? Foodies often miss the level of difficulty in cooking a …
Asian cultures cook and serve whole fish all the time, so when I saw a fresh whole sablefish (black cod) at the store, my jaw dropped and I couldn’t wait to take it home and enjoy it roasted at home. My favorite dish at Japanese …
When my neighbor generously shared the finds of his hunting trip, I was ecstatic. Pheasant? Cleaned and prepped pheasant breasts? YES, I WOULD LOVE SOME <in my most polite and rational voice>. The real question was – how was I going to cook it. BBQ …
Save yourself some $$ and enjoy Oyster Rockefeller at home in a casserole form with a touch of smoke. When you can get double or even triple the value in oysters, this is a great deal. Even better, oysters pairs with smoke beautifully, so this …
Grilled octopus is a challenge and fascination for me. I’ve had memorable eating experiences when its tender and delicious, and I’ve suffered through chewy challenges as well. Like all cooking adventures, the goal is to ensure this delicacy is cooked well! Octopus and particularly the …
This week’s supper challenge theme is “TV or movie inspired” theme. There are so many options to choose from! Who doesn’t start drooling or find their stomach rumbling when watching a good show? Its a dream come true to think food could rain from the …
The best thing about Korean food is the flavor punch! It might have been the K-cup with spicy pork I had for lunch, but when I thought about cooking the young brussel sprouts in the fridge, I had to cook it. Conveniently, I live by …
In South American, European and Asian cultures, beef tongue is a delicacy. Its flavorful and very tender. The “trick” is not to think of it as tongue. Its simply beef! If there is a restaurant with beef tongue on the menu, I’ll be ordering. …
As this week’s supper challenge theme of “Halloween,” this is both a trick and a treat. Taco de Lengua is a beef tongue taco and smoking the beef tongue for extra flavor is worth it. Don’t worry, these tacos are not as scary as you …
Here it is, instructions to spatchcock with pictures below! I’m not sure I’ll ever get over this fowl word <haha, get it? Fowl for poultry, not a foul word!> I know you want to spatchcock, so you can brag to your buddies. Check out the …
No, its not a foul word, its a fowl word! Spatchcock means to remove the spine or backbone of poultry, flatten the poultry so it is ready for grilling. So, a fancy word for a butterflied chicken, duck, goose, turkey, cornish hen. So, why “spatchcock?” …
I’m Curious Marinating meat is first, to instill flavor into meat and then, often known to tenderize the meat and collagen via acid or enzymes. But does connective tissue in tough cuts of meat actually breakdown with acid? Do enzymes increase tenderness? How do acids …
There really are tips to better beef below! But first, a quick tip on a lesser known beef cut. Tri Tip is a triangular cut found at the bottom of the sirloin. Originally marketed and made popular in Santa Maria, California in the 1950s, this …
Fun facts about Albertan and Canadian Beef that will moo you: Canada is one of the largest exporters of red meat and livestock in the world? We export around 45 percent of Canadian beef and cattle production each year! Canada’s pasture and prairie store up …
What fishy facts or beef myths are out there? Are they real? Read on! Myth: The left brisket is more tender than the right brisket Answer: False! Come on! The brisket muscle is the front shoulder of a cow. Since cows stand on four legs, …
Ever heard of a tamale pie or a cornbread pie? If you live north of the American border, it turns out, a cornbread crust cooked on top of typical tamale fillings makes a tamale pie (also known as cornbread pie). But don’t get distracted, leftover …
YOU WILL RULE THE GRILL if you cook meat to the perfect doneness! You know what a perfect steak tastes like – perfect amount of salt and maybe a slight edge of pepper or spice. But your perfect steak is also perfectly done to your …
YOU WILL RULE THE GRILL if you cook meat to the perfect doneness! You know what a perfect steak tastes like – perfect amount of salt and maybe a slight edge of pepper or spice. But your perfect steak is also perfectly done to your …
Goal: Golden crispy fried chicken on the outside that is juicy, tender and thoroughly cooked on the inside. Fear: Chicken cooked on the outside and raw on the inside. Yeech. Answer (with fear resolved): sous vide fried chickenBy slowly cooking the chicken prior to battering …
Can you smoke Chinese Char Siu BBQ Pork Belly for an Asian meaty treat? Why is Char Siu, or more commonly known as Chinese barbeque pork not actually cooked on a barbeque? Why is Char Siu roasted? Born and raised in Canada, Char Siu was …
