Introducing Shirtless Mike's BBQ

I've created this blog in anticipation of the DC Barbecue Battle, our first foray into the very wide world of competitive barbecue (more on that to follow).

I anticipate this blog will serve as an outlet for my many food-related, stream-of-consciousness ramblings on barbecue, meat, grilling and the logistics of building, promoting and fielding a BBQ team.

Much has been written and produced about barbecue in the past several years. You can't turn on basic cable without catching a re-run of some overweight huckster waddling around the South, stuffing his face and making small-talk with other fat, hairy, possibly-inebriated barbecue enthusiasts. From Steven Raichlen's award-winning and informative books on BBQ and BBQ culture to the proliferation of BBQ-themed television of varying degrees of quality, the American media (and presumably the American consumer) has embraced the joys of being a carnivore.

You might be thinking: "Why start another blog about barbecue?" or "What makes you so damned special?" or "Hasn't Anthony Bourdain already written the same thing?"

The answer is simple-- I'm not special (don't tell my mom). I'm just another guy prattling on about his life-long obsession with fire, smoke and meat.

I know I can't offer some unique insight into the art of finger-lickin-good barbecue. I'm clearly not qualified.

I will also try to avoid employing a semi-detached journalistic perspective on why barbecue is "a true American art form." I'll gladly leave that task to the next frat-house-hero-turned-American-Studies-major who wants to sit outside, drink too many beers and call it "research" for his thesis.

My real goal to provide readers (if any exist) with a story about how three friends took their favorite Saturday afternoon hobby a little bit too seriously and wound up in a grueling 48-hour barbecue marathon against some of the best BBQ cooks in the country.

Welcome to the newly-launched Shirtless Mike's BBQ Blog.