Rodney Scott's World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day: A Cookbook

Written by Rodney Scott and Lolis Eric Elie

Narrated by Rodney Scott

In the first cookbook by a Black pitmaster, James Beard Award–winning chef Rodney Scott celebrates an incredible culinary legacy through his life story, family traditions, and unmatched dedication to his craft.

“BBQ is such an important part of African American history, and no one is better at BBQ than Rodney.”—Marcus Samuelsson, chef and restaurateur

Rodney Scott was born with barbecue in his blood. He cooked his first whole hog, a specialty of South Carolina barbecue, when he was just eleven years old. At the time, he was cooking at Scott's Bar-B-Q, his family's barbecue spot in Hemingway, South Carolina. Now, four decades later, he owns one of the country's most awarded and talked-about barbecue joints, Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ in Charleston.

In this cookbook, co-written by award-winning writer Lolis Eric Elie, Rodney spills what makes his pit-smoked turkey, barbecued spare ribs, smoked chicken wings, hush puppies, Ella's Banana Puddin', and award-winning whole hog so special. Moreover, his recipes make it possible to achieve these special flavors yourself, whether you're a barbecue pro or a novice. From the ins and outs of building your own pit to poignant essays on South Carolinian foodways and traditions, this stunningly photographed cookbook is the ultimate barbecue reference. It is also a powerful work of storytelling. In this modern American success story, Rodney details how he made his way from the small town where he worked for his father in the tobacco fields and in the smokehouse, to the sacrifices he made to grow his family's business, and the tough decisions he made to venture out on his own in Charleston.

Rodney Scott's World of BBQ is an uplifting story that speaks to how hope, hard work, and a whole lot of optimism built a rich celebration of his heritage—and of unforgettable barbecue.

A Selection of Stories and Recipes
Recipes included in the audiobook and downloadable PDF are:
Rodney's Spare Ribs
Potato Salad
Banana Pudding
Punch-n the Carolinas
Rib Rub
Rodney's Sauce

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Apr 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9780593501368

Reviews for Rodney Scott's World of BBQ

[schneider_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Recipes you can actually make!
The cookbook that Rodney Scott has put together is one that barbeque enthusiasts have been waiting for for a while. Its a little bit biography, a little bit philosophy and it is all love greasy goodness.
The book begins with Rodney's background and how he has ended up becoming a fantastically award-winning chef. Then he get's into the nuts and bolts. The different woods out there, how to build a BBQ pit and burn barrel and finishes it as it should, how to cook on it. In this case, Chef Scott teaches us how to cook a whole hog on it. He then gets into a more traditional BBQ cookbook. There are recipes for cooking on a grill, the stove and other kitchen appliances, sides and snacks, desserts, sauces and rubs and even a few pages of cocktails!
This is a well written, well presented BBQ cookbook. What I appreciate is that the recipes are all relatively simple that anyone could make. You don't need specialty markets, crazy ingredient lists, or culinary training to get through the recipes. They are pretty basic, straight-forward, foods that will remind you why you love barbeque.
My rip on it or why I didn't rate it higher is that as for the recipes, while they are all staples in the BBQ world, they are in about every BBQ cookbook out there.
But this is good, his story is a good one, his philosophy is a good one, the foods are good, and ultimately his book is a good one. I recommend this to those who like to cook and cook BBQ specifically. Three and a half stars.

[gincam · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Legendary pitmaster, restaurateur, and James Beard award-winning chef Rodney Scott's life is as colorful and flavorful as the incredible food he prepares and shares with those fortunate enough to partake of his uniquely delectable cuisine. "Rodney Scott's World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day: A Cookbook", coauthored with acclaimed writer and filmmaker Lolis Eric Elie, is a memoir, a cookbook, a vivid snapshot of Southern culture in Scott's lifetime, and of course, a homage to all things BBQ--done Rodney Scott's way. The work ethic instilled by his family during his growing-up years is still driving Scott to attain a higher level of functional perfection. "BBQ" is a simple term for a richly-varied, regional-specific manner of cooking--and way of life--that encompasses much of local resources combined with a universally-favored style of food preparation and enjoyment of delicious food. Rodney Scott's "World of BBQ" is centered in South Carolina, with sauces, spices, and cooking techniques changing not just from county to county, but also from city to city and the little towns in-between. One constant is that pork is the favored meat, with appearances here and there by beef and chicken. Scott, with his thoroughness and "do-it-right" persona, details selecting and using wood, building the BBQ pit, maintaining the fire, and the all-important process of cooking the meat to perfection--then the recipes begin. You'll find incredible dishes "From the Grill" and "From the Stove", "Snacks, Salads, and Vegetables", "Desserts", and "Cocktails". A section called "The Pantry" helps you build your own foundation for preparing such mouthwatering edibles as "Smoked Prime Rib", "Steak Sandwich with Sauteed Onions", "BBQ Bacon Burgers", "Honey-Butter Fish", and "Smoked Turkey Breast". Side dishes include "Marinated Tomatoes and Onions", "Coleslaw", "Cornbread with Honey Butter"', "Hushpuppies", and "Hoppin' John". Smoky, spicy BBQ done right will make you crave something sweet and make you very thirsty. Try desserts like "Apple Hand Pies" and "Banana Pudding", and cocktails like "Red Pickup" and "Punch-n the Carolinas" to make your taste-filled travels through "Rodney Scott's World of BBQ" a complete culinary adventure.

Disclosure: "I've received a free copy from Clarkson Potter in exchange for a free and unbiased review."