Grill Maestro

I saw this bad boy at the library the other day and Al Roker’s smiling face convinced me I should borrow this man’s big bad book of barbecue from the biblioteca. Inside were 100 easy (yeah, they really are easy) recipes and each looked delicious. The best part about this book is that you can sense Roker’s personality shining through and it’s a joy to read cover to cover, something you don’t often think of doing with a recipe book.

The book starts with a brief introduction by Roker where he pays homage to his father and his younger years. What it reminds you is that Roker isn’t a professional chef on television or in a restaurant and he doesn’t own a chain of BBQ joints - he’s you. He’s just another guy who has spent a lot of hours over a grill and now he’s sharing his stories with you. The book goes on to explain some of the basics of grilling, debating gas versus charcoal (he thinks charcoal tastes better but his main complaint about gas is that people laud their ability to cook quickly with one and he thinks we’re in too much of a rush-rush society…), explaining different types of charcoal, and so on and so forth.

The next is a funny little aside, Al Roker’s Five Rules of Grilling and Barbecue… I won’t give it away, they’re funny and he’s right.

Then the next few sections hold the recipes. There are appetizers, followed by main dishes, followed by side dishes, and then desserts. Then there are two sections for drinks and a chapter called Marinades, Rubs, Sauces, and Dressings. The book has lots of pictures, great delicious pictures, and some hand-drawings that Roker might have drawn himself!

Overall, I enjoyed the book and it’s definitely worth getting and putting by your grill.