It’s Memorial Day Week, which means the official start to grilling season in the USA. While many of us cook over open-fire year-round, our guests on Episode 116 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show Podcast offer some tips - along with sharing their BBQ backgrounds - to the backyard grillmaster.

New Orleans might not be known for its BBQ cuisine, but James Cruse of Bluff City Smokers put the Crescent City on the map recently by winning the Memphis in May World Championship in Ribs. Also a pitmaster and part-owner of Central City BBQ in New Orleans, we discuss competition and restaurant-style BBQ with James, who also says fire management is key to a great backyard cook.

As we conclude National BBQ Month, we welcome another first-time show guest, Brie Blackford. Brie has developed a grilling website EldasKitchen.com which features recipes and a variety of artisan-made, small-batch, one-and-done-sized sauces. Brie tells us about learning about cooking from her grandmother, Elda, thus the name of the site and offers up her spin on grilling ideas to help backyard cooks.

Meanwhile, Lyndal and Steve remind everyone that the grill is for more than meat. Veggies and even desserts can benefit greatly from that smoky sear from an open fire for a complete, fresh off-the-grill meal.

Thanks to our sponsor/marketing partners who make our show possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Affordable Income Tax & Payroll, DDR Fabrication, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden, Domino's Pizza of the Ozarks (official American Royal World Series BBQ Sponsor of our team) and The BBQ League.

Have a great BBQ Week!

#SmokeEmIfYouGotEm