Franklin Smoke

The ultimate guide to live-fire grilling and smoking at home, with recipes that will have you cooking up meat, vegetables, fish, and more like a Texas pitmaster—from the James Beard Award–winning team behind the New York Times bestseller Franklin Barbecue.

Aaron Franklin, bestselling author and proprietor of Austin hotspot Franklin Barbecue, turns to backyard live-fire grilling and smoking in Franklin Smoke. Along with award-winning food writer Jordan Mackay, Franklin addresses the mysterious area where smoker and grill intersect, describing when and how to best combine the two. This complete resource, which features inspiring and helpful photographs, proves that lighting a backyard fire is no big deal on a weeknight—and that you can (and should!) cook this way for fuller flavors and a deeper engagement with the elements. 

The trick is in treating fire as an ingredient, not a medium. Franklin and Mackay detail strategies for executing meals over the full lifespan of a fire, employing low- and high-heat techniques as well as indirect cooking and smoking. Whether you're an old pro looking for new tips or have just purchased your first grill or smoker, the book shares expert techniques designed for any type of backyard grill, from inexpensive kettle-style grills, Big Green Eggs, offset cookers, and hand-built fire pits.

Featuring detailed chapters on tools, techniques, and methods of grilling and smoking a variety of ingredients, Franklin Smoke answers all of your burning questions—from "How do I smoke a whole turkey?" to "What kind of wood should I use?"—while offering delicious new ways to incorporate both fire and smoke into your everyday cooking.

About the Author

One of the most recognized names in barbecue, Aaron Franklin is also the New York Times bestselling co-author of Franklin Barbecue and Franklin Steak. His restaurant has won every major barbecue award and been featured in magazines ranging from GQ to Bon Appétit. The line to get into his Austin, Texas, hotspot is as long as ever, and the restaurant has sold out of brisket every day of its existence.

Jordan Mackay is a James Beard Award–winning writer on food, wine, and spirits. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Food & Wine, and Gourmet, among other publications. He is the co-author of Secrets of the Sommeliers, Two in the Kitchen, Franklin Steak, and Franklin Barbecue.

Author Residence: Austin, TX (Franklin) and Hudson Valley, NY (Mackay)

Author Hometown: Bryan, TX (Franklin) and Austin, TX (Mackay)