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| Chef Tim Van Doren (Courtesy of The Food Network) |
For the last few years I've been following the growing success of Timothy Van Doren, an award winning pitmaster from Alabama. Also known as "Bama Grill Master", Tim was recently featured on the Food Network's BBQ Brawl, a show where some of the best chef's and pitmasters come together to compete as teams each week. His website describes him as a "God-Fearing Pitmaster from Alabama that competes on the world stage of the Steak Cookoff Association and shares the outdoor cooking lifestyle with as many people as possible."
I recently had the opportunity to have a Q & A with the Alabama resident about his appearance on the show.
Restaurant Raider:
How did you land this opportunity?
Bama Grill Master: A casting company reached out to me asking if I would be interested in being on the show.
RR: I know that you've had a massive success as a content creator. You have over 1.2 million followers on Tik Tok, your videos on there alone have over 15 million likes, almost 400k followers on Instagram and over a 1/2 million followers on Facebook.
How does that feel?
BGM: It feels surreal that so many people are watching my videos. I am so grateful for every single one of my followers.
RR: How long have you been a barbecue enthusiast & what sparked your passion for barbecue, and how did you become a pitmaster?
BGM: I have loved BBQ my whole life. I am from a family of foodies so the passion for all things grilling started early. I am far from a pitmaster, I am a backyard griller who has been blessed to share my passion with the world!
RR: What professional organizations are you currently a part of?
(The SCA is the Steak Cook-Off Association and KCBS is the Kansas City Barbecue Society)
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| Courtesy of Facebook (Tim Van Doren) |
RR: You have your own line of seasonings and rubs. How long did it take to develop those & where can they be found?
BGM: My rubs took around two years to develop; I tasted and tweaked & re-tasted and re-tweaked until they were perfect! They are sold at Academy Sports Stores, Amazon, Lanes website, ACE Hardware, many local butcher shops and specialty stores.
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RR: How do regional barbecue styles influence your techniques and flavors?
BGM: It's always good to try new techniques and learn different ways to prepare your favorite foods!
RR: If you could share one piece of advice for aspiring pit masters who want to compete, what would it be?
BGM: I would definitely encourage them to ask other cooks. Some of the best advice I've gotten was from my fellow competitors.
RR: Any plan to go into the restaurant or food truck business?
BGM: No, I feel that the stress of running a restaurant or food truck would take away from the joy I get from cooking.
For more information on Bama Grill Master, or to purchase merchandise, visit https://bamagrillmaster.com/
He can be found on all social media platforms using the handle @BamaGrillMaster. Be sure to subscribe to his YouTube channel for an array of southern classic recipe videos.
Thanks for reading & sharing!!
~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider
Est. 2009
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