Lifelong friends Dan aka "Biff" and Ray developed a passion for delicious smoked meats and barbeque in the early 90's. Ray started off in Florida when one of his patrons gifted him a smoker for his bar, and taught him the right way to make pulled pork and smoky tender ribs. It was love at first bite, and the whole process of an all night cook and feeding the smoker was the best part. Around 1998 Ray moved back to NJ and held regular BBQs at his place and would get together with friends to share some fine food and drink. Dan and Ray would often talk smack at each other about who could cook what better and would even host a few backyard competitions where our guests would to blind tastings, and Ray would always win of course.

Around that time, our guests suggested that we get together and form a BBQ team and try our hand at competition, BigMan BBQ was born, and yes Biff, it was your idea. We signed up for our very first competition, which was part judging and part people's choice. It was quite a ride out there and we were the team that traveled the furthest somewhere in the middle of PA. We cleaned house (See the picture up top of the awards table). We narrowly missed Grand Champion honors by a few points, and settled for Reserve Grand Champions. First place Chicken, First Place Ribs and Second and 4th in Brisket and Pulled pork respectively. Not bad for the only rookies at this competition