A legend on the barbecue circuit, a master of the craft, a true son and practitioner of the art, Paul Kirk is also a teacher and mentor. At last he shares all his experience so that anyone can achieve barbecue glory in his or her own backyard. The Baron explains it all: the differences between barbecuing and grilling; how to build different kinds of fires and what kind of fuel to use; setting up the pit or grill and what tools are needed; how to prepare food for the grill or smoker; when and how to use bastes, glazes, sauces, and rubs; and how different cuts of meat work best. There are also handy charts of smoking and grilling times.

Those kings of BBQ, beef and pork, get the royal treatment with recipes like Terrific T-Bone with Redeye Marinade, the Baron’s Famous Barbecued Brisket, Apple-Smoked Pork Tenderloin, and Grilled Cuban Garlic and Lime Chops.  It’s all rounded out with plenty of stories about Paul Kirk’s adventures in barbecue competitions. And if they sound like too much fun to pass up, there are even tips on how to get involved in competition.