Chef Blog

Whether he’s grilling up a kraken from the oceans of Croatia or baking bread in the scorching desert sand, David Olson is all about pushing the limits and trying new things. Over the course of his career, he’s learned all kinds of recipes, techniques, and tips for cooking on a live fire, but perhaps the most important thing he’s learned is the willingness to fail if it means he’ll learn something more along the way. David told us all about where he’s been, where he’s going, the best and worst things about live fire cooking, and why he calls Michigan beer city. 

If you’re looking for tips on how to get your grill up to temp, your brisket on point, or how to finesse your live fire cooking experience, James is the guy to ask. He took some time to tell Dalstrong about his own learning experiences.

For born storyteller and world champion spear fisherwoman Kimi Werner, cooking is all about telling stories with food. Together with her pro videographer and editor husband Justin and their baby Buddy, Kimi started a backyard cooking show where the stories all begin with “just this morning, in the ocean by our home.” She sat down with Dalstrong to tell us about her journeys with food.

Self-proclaimed animal “bites” activist Al Wasserberger (@eatmorevegans) sat down with Dalstrong to chat about how he’s catching up to lifers in the BBQ community through passion, perseverance, and pragmatism.

Some people are determined to prove there are no limits, and NASCAR driver Jeffrey Earnhardt is one of them. Whether he’s pushing himself to win, noodling for catfish, or duck hunting with his dog, Earnhardt has his eye on excellence. And to maintain his  adrenaline-driven lifestyle, he’s gotta eat well too, and it’s no surprise he chooses Dalstrong’s high-performance knives to fuel his fire.

Erica B. Roby keeps all the plates spinning at home, at the office, and on the road. Between raising her family, running her law practice, and filming her own digital series showcasing the BBQ community, she sat down with Dalstrong to chat about passing some hard tests, her journey to BBQ mastery, and what she’d have for her last meal.

BBQ Coach Sean Hill of the 205 Pitmasters took time to speak to Dalstrong for our Elite Spotlight Series.

Shereen Pavlides (@cookingwithshereen) took time out of her busy schedule, which includes writing her first cookbook, to sit down with Dalstrong to talk about her favorite food hack, her cooking philosophy, and her best advice for people just starting out with cooking.

Jennifer Plemmons (@Thegirlthatgrills) sat down with us at Dalstrong to talk about culinary heroes, choosing the right grill, and why you should never, ever throw out your veggie scraps. 

Artust BBQ (@ArtustBBQ) sat down with us at Dalstrong to talk about the evolution of BBQ culture in the UK, the importance of building a robust BBQ community, and much more. 

Things haven’t always been easy for James Greenleaf, AKA @greenleaf.bbq. Fending for himself as a kid without the supervision of a parental figure, he craved more guidance and structure in life. After serving in the military, Greenleaf is now a family man who has fallen completely in love with all things BBQ.

Jesse Stanley (@pitmasterpastor) sat down with Dalstrong recently to talk about his favorite kitchen tools, what makes a great chef, and why everyone seems to mess up their brisket. 

When his new BBQ spot was hit hard by the pandemic, Chris hit back with his own line of handmade rubs in March 2020, which became a quick success. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about his latest rub sensations, building an audience, and the late rapper he wishes he could cook for. 

Growing up in a single-parent household, pitmaster CJ Volkmann’s love of cooking began out of necessity with his first pan of scrambled eggs. Since then it’s become a life-long passion, fueled by a desire to share his creations with family and friends

Gio Borges (@Smok3hous3_bbq) sat down with Dalstrong to talk about weekend picnics on nearby islands, his advice for newbie influencers, and the one person he  transports his grill to cook for.

Self-taught pitmaster Steve Hernandez displays mad BBQ skills on his fast-growing Instagram account @mexibeastbbq, but his true passion is inspiring people and building community. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about why he’s not interested in food staging, why he started a mentor group for BBQers, and how the long cook is helping him heal from grief.

Backyard pitmaster Christopher Bhoorasingh has made an art of combining Jamaican jerk and Texas brisket. Born in Jamaica, he traveled the world with the military before landing in Texas where his addiction to BBQ took off. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about keeping life simple, his hack for perfect bark, and what it means to be an island boy.

Trained in France from an early age, Chef Romain Avril applies his world-class culinary skills to teaching gourmet cooking in an approachable style. Though he’s not a vegan, his passion for the healing power of food has inspired him to work on a mostly vegetable-based cookbook. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about his favorite new recipe, why he hates shortcuts, and his advice for cooks just starting out. 

Argentinian meat master Ruben Maislos doesn’t just cook to eat. For him, it’s a way of life. Influenced by his South American roots, as well as cultures all over the world, he draws inspiration from fellow social media food influencers and is passionate about sharing what he learns. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about his love of asado, his frustration with food waste, and why pizza is life.

Tway Nguyen sat down with Dalstrong to talk about her mom, her love of McDonald’s Sprite, and how her dream to open a froufrou Malibu restaurant shifted to sharing her love of Vietnamese dishes with the world.

Guga Goods and his culinary laboratory has produced shocking results — both delicious and horrifying. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about his love of sous vide, why he’d like to cook a peanut butter steak for Joe Rogan, and his favorite new discovery that came from an internet troll.