Mo' Smoke Betta'

Konrad Haskins, RIP

Sorry to report that since the following was posted, Konrad Haskins has passed away. The links in the posting are no longer connected.

Took a BBQ class from Konrad Haskins, aka., Teddy Bear BBQ, yesterday and came home with a headful of new ideas and stomach full of some mighty fine babybacks, spares, brisket, pulled pork (aka-Boston Butt, Pork Shoulder, Pork Butt), tri-tip steak, and chicken. Fortunately I didn't overdo at each offering, so no pepto or Rolaids were needed when I got home.

Konrad, born and partially raised in England, is a large man with a definite Teddy Bear "look" - but don't let that fool you. He is a former helicopter maintenance engineer and he worked as a Microsoft consultant in the highly intense environment of corporate America.

At some point in time he gave all that up and dove all the way into the deep end of the pool with BBQ where he says he and wife are now "living the American Dream." He has won far too many awards to list in this tiny space on the blog, so just let it be said that he, and his wife, Phyllis, have won over 70 awards since 2002 alone; but just in case you are wondering, he is a Five time Grand Champion including two-time Montana State BBQ Grand Champion and the Nebraska Grand Champion; and he has been invited to six "invitation only" world championship BBQ contests.

Check out this video broadcast by the Food Network regarding Konrad's leadership in Operation BBQ where he and Phyllis fed fall-off-the-bone BBQ to over 5,000 returning members of the Stryker Brigade out of Fort Lewis. Check out the website for Operation BBQ Northwest at this link.

In all of Konrad's achievements in the BBQ world, nothing is mentioned regarding the excellent classes he runs all over the country. I only hope that with my exposure to two of them I can reach a level of "Mo' Smoke Betta" BBQ in my own backyard.

More to come, later.