Old timer named Earl set me straight on brisket trimming

I was over at a competition in Kansas City last month and this guy Earl with a beat up trailer walked over while I was hacking away at a packer brisket. He told me I was leaving way too much hard fat on the top and that it would never render right, and he was spot on. I followed his lead and took it down to about a quarter inch all over, and that brisket came out so much more even and juicy than my last 5 cooks. Has anyone else had a random stranger at a cookoff totally change your approach like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

finleyfox22d ago

Happens all the time in this hobby. Keeps you humble and reminds you that there's always somebody out there who knows way more than you do.

the_vera22d ago

Used to think it was just about being shy or not confident enough when I first started out. Then I spent six months building a really complicated pedalboard, only to have a guy at a show show me a much simpler way to get the same sound with just three pedals. Totally changed my mind about this hobby being a competition. Taught me it's way more fun to just keep learning from everyone around you.