Learning to Grill

Grilling might look like a piece of cake when you're watching someone else do it, but trust me, it’s a whole different ball game when you're the one in charge! I'm diving into my personal journey of learning to grill, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride filled with plenty of charred burgers and smoke-filled backyards. I often think of my late brother Gene, who had a way of flipping chicken that made it look like an art form. It wasn't just about the food for him; it was about creating something meaningful in his life. So join me as I share some laughs, a few flops, and the love behind the grill, all while hoping to make my brother proud with every sizzle and pop!

Grilling is more than just a way to cook food; it's an experience that brings back memories and emotions, as James A. Brown beautifully explores in this episode. He shares his personal journey of learning to grill, reflecting on the complexities that come with it. From lighting the perfect fire to maintaining the temperature of the coals, James dives into the nitty-gritty details that can make or break a grill session. He humorously points out that while it looks easy when someone else is doing it, once you're the one standing in front of the grill, it becomes a whole different ball game.

James also shares poignant memories of his older brother Gene, who was a grilling aficionado. Gene's grill was not just a cooking tool; it was a symbol of care and responsibility. James reminisces about how Gene expertly flipped chicken with calm precision, emphasizing that for him, grilling was about more than just the food—it was a way to take care of his family. The episode takes a turn towards the emotional as James reflects on how grilling has become a way for him to connect with his brother's memory. Despite the countless burned burgers and mishaps he faces, he keeps trying, hoping to make Gene proud. The warmth of these memories mixed with the light-heartedness of his grilling struggles creates a relatable and heartfelt narrative that resonates with anyone who has attempted to master the grill.

Takeaways:

• Grilling may seem easy when watching others, but it's a true test of skill and patience.
• Lighting the grill and managing the coals are trickier than they appear, trust me!
• Cooking is not just about the food; it's about memories and connections with loved ones.
• Each grilling attempt brings me closer to my late brother, and I hope to honor him through my cooking.

Links referenced in this episode:

• jamesabrown.net

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Learning to Grill this iscommentary from James A.
Brown I'm still learning to grill.
It looks simple when someoneelse is doing it, but when you're
the one standing there, yourealize it's complicated.
Lighting the fire, keeping thecoals at the right temperature, Cooking

(00:20):
the food without burning it,managing the smoke.
Every time I try, I think ofmy older brother Gene.
He's been gone about a decadenow, and hopefully he's off somewhere
hanging out with Jimi Hendrixand her older sister Annette on some
other plane.
That's bold as love.
I don't remember if he boughtthat old grill or if my mother did,

(00:43):
but it became his.
He worked it like it meantsomething because it did.
He would stand there, calm andpatient, flipping chicken with a
steady hand.
But now I realize it was neverabout the food.
It was one of the few thingsin his short life that he could own,
another way to take care ofthe rest of us.

(01:03):
Now I've burned more burgersthan I've gotten right.
I'm not a gourmet chef, but Ikeep showing up every once in a while,
hoping that maybe, maybe I'llmake him proud someday.
So what do you think?
Let me know in the commentsand check out [e-mail]

(01:24):
on that note, I'm James A.
Brown and as always, be well.