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BBQ Smokers, Pig Roasters, Chicken Cookers, and Grills From Meadow Creek

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I'm Lavern Gingerich, advocate for Meadow Creek barbecue equipment and editor of StoryQue magazine. Take a few minutes to discover our blog, recipe library, StoryQue Magazine, and revolutionary barbecue equipment. You can find us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Good Reading

My Birthday BBQ Story

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

Birthdays are always a big deal at our house. My special day three weeks ago was no exception and somehow it ended up involving barbecue. (How did that happen?) Anyway, I gathered the goods, fired my Meadow Creek SQ36 Smoker, and cooked up a storm.

The latest (March) issue of StoryQue contains my story and a bunch of dazzling photos. I shared quite a few tips for beginners, including how I cooked and prepped everything. Here is a video from the magazine and the first part of my story:

As you may have heard, I had a birthday earlier this month, and I just had to cook some good barbecue. I’d like to talk about my day, what I cooked, and briefly how I cooked it. The whole experience was a little extreme but I had a great time.

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A Trip to Famous Dave’s

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

Famous Dave's Menu

I’ve known of Famous Dave’s Barbecue and even met Dave himself a few years ago at the National Barbecue Conference in Memphis. But for some reason, I had never gotten around to eating at one—until a few weeks ago.

My in-laws were here for a few days over Christmas, and one day the ladies all went shopping in Chattanooga. The rest of us decided to make it a good day too. First we headed to Best Buy and took care of some tech shopping, then on to Famous Dave’s for an unforgettable experience.

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You Can Fly

Monday, October 8th, 2012

Wright Brothers

Last week, I wrote about our week-long family vacation on the Outer Banks. One day we visited the Wright Brothers Flight Museum. I’ve had a long-time fascination with airplanes, but I had no idea it would be such an inspiration. In fact, Wilbur and Orville Wright have become my heroes in vision, creativity, and perseverance.

So what does flying have to do with barbecue? A better question to ask is, “What do Will and Orv have to do with my barbecue venture?” According to the National Barbecue Association, barbecue has expanded beyond the traditional South/Midwest boundaries here in the USA to a national level. We’re not only talking about backyarders, but also other segments of barbecue, including barbecue businesses (people making money cranking out delish que).

Are you stuck in a 9-5 job, wishing you could get out on your own? Do you dream of setting the neighborhood on fire with unbelievable flavors? The business of barbecue offers some amazing opportunities for people wanting to start a small business, such as a restaurant, catering company, or road-side stand. Even part-time or weekend setups in town can be extremely successful once the word gets out.

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What’s So Great About Barbecue?

Monday, September 17th, 2012

There is so much more to barbecue than grilling. And (for the sake of mankind!) there is more to it than drowning oven-cooked meat in barbecue sauce. In fact, there is more to it than barbecued meat or the many other foods you can grill or smoke.

If you don’t know what I am talking about, it’s high time to learn the basics of real barbecue. While I love grilling and eating grilled burgers and chicken, that’s less than half of “the story”. A more wonderful part of barbecue is cooking “low and slow” with a moderate amount of smoke. The slow cooking process keeps the meat from drying out before it’s done and the smoke gives it indescribable flavor.

But it gets even better. The experience itself is a big part of barbecue—cooking outdoors, sitting around the fire eating, having a party with family and friends. Even if you cook barbecue commercially for a living, these experiences are an important part of the barbecue tradition.

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Your Customers Are Talking About You

Friday, July 20th, 2012

Some days experience brings us face to face with a worthwhile lesson even when we’re not out “digging for dirt.” This recently happened to me when I was browsing the SmokeRing forums and came across a very sad thread. The story of a victim of bad customer service. This poor guy had purchased a smoker from one of our most popular competitors, but he was having a terrible time communicating with the pit maker. Finally, he got so tired of waiting, he asked for a refund. Even then the company was not keeping their word, and the last I heard, he was about to get a lawyer.

Of course, I haven’t validated whether all the details of this story are true, but it certainly seems authentic. Either way, this story is terrible for the brand.

In small business the stories people tell and how your market perceive you is your brand. If you were Pepsi or Nascar, you could afford to spend millions on a 30-second commercial, but you’re not. Build your brand by creating a good experience with your market, the people you are targeting in business.

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Father’s Day Thoughts (Behind the Times)

Friday, June 22nd, 2012

I’m having a hard time staying ahead of the curve here on my blog. I wanted to post some Father’s Day gift ideas and Father’s Day recipe suggestions, but the time came and went. Still no blog post.

But hey, perhaps you can relate and this makes you feel at home. 🙂 You know, sometimes we get behind the times and just need a little permission to be late.

Father’s Day is very special to me because I have a dad I am very proud of and I have the blessing and honor of being a Daddy to three very sweet children.

Maybe you are a tough barbecue dude and that sounds a bit too mushy for you. But I think we all have a soft spot in our hearts for children.

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Credit Cards We Accept
Struggling to choose the right cooker for your needs? Check out our Meadow Creek cooker comparison charts. If you would like to discuss your dream cooker over the phone, call Marlin toll-free at (877) 602-1568 to get some good, friendly advice. Or if you're close by, come visit our display lot in Pikeville, Tennessee to check out these fine barbeques! We offer a 30-day money back guarantee on all our Meadow Creek barbeque equipment (except the Ultimate Caterers—sorry, too much risk). Please realize that we (Yoder’s Smoky Mountain Barbecue) are a dealer for Meadow Creek. This promise applies only if you buy from us. If for any reason you are not happy with your unit, you may return the cooker to us within 30 days of the delivery or pickup date, and we will refund the purchase price minus the shipping and handling. You are responsible to pay the return shipping.
What did you think of the videos? Meadow Creek makes some amazing smokers, pig roasters, chicken cookers, and grills. All this equipment is made in the Amish Community of Lancaster County, PA. The talented craftsmen at Meadow Creek hand-make each unit. They seriously go the extra mile to make sure you’re smoked pink. What really puts the sauce on the brisket is all the revolutionary features and options that make barbecue fun and easy, and even a money-machine, if BBQ is your business.
Integrity: Meadow Creek cookers are made in a culture of Godly ethics—honesty, diligence, and fairness. Whether it’s a Shoo-fly pie or a barbecue smoker, you will be treated right.
Stainless Steel Grates: Every Meadow Creek barbecue cooker comes standard with non-rusting stainless steel grates. This eliminates the hassle of scrubbing rust and the danger of possible rust contamination on your meat.