Cha Cha Hut BBQ

a decade ago to my Cha Cha Hut BBQ days, the journey to my 1st cookbook & ultimately the Music & Food zine series. It all started with me buying my first smoker (yeah - that semi fit young guy is me) & throwing parties in my backyard in upstate NY.

That led to the idea of opening an actual Q joint - Cha Cha Hut BBQ in Arkville, NY. My specialties? Smoked turkey, killer sandwiches, & ribs. Though as proven by a photo here, I made brisket Morgan Spurlock dug

For a variety of reason I returned to Brooklyn, spent a bit of time cooking in NYC, then decided to leave hospitality & try writing cookbooks & a food blog. The book that started it all was a collection of memories & recipes from my Hut years.

The perfect gift for yourself or someone who digs Southern food & simple recipes. I'm letting this go out of print to focus on the zines side of this so only about 20 copies left.

CHA CHA HUT BBQ COOKBOOK
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/cchcookbook/

This Ribwich Named Char Sui has a secret. It's not that its Dad left it with only an ole guitar & an empty bottle of booze. The secret is it's vegetarian. Inspired by Calvin Eng's () Char Sui Ribwich on a recent episode of , I swapped out the pork for seitan. Then I used my old BBQ joint's spicy mustard sauce, whipped up some quick gochugaru pickles, and topped it with pickled red onions on a fresh baked sub roll. I've never had an actual McD Ribwich, but I'll bet this is better. Plus, it was so filling it ended up as two meals.

A RIBWICH NAMED CHAR SUI
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/a-ribwich-named-char-sui/

HOT. (VEGAN) BBQ!
The was a time where I was a professional firestarter & meat dealer. I had my own BBQ joint in the Catskills & ran the kitchen for a place in Bed-Stuy. I spent those years sneering at vegans who came to Q joints looking for vegan options. "Can I get beef brisket at your fave veg joint?" I'd respond. Little did I know where I would end up on my culinary journey.

This is seitan. Specifically sliced brisket style seitan & rib style seitan. Completely vegan - smoked on my - and served with my house BBQ sauce, Sweet Lightnin'. Had I known in my Q Days that I could make vegan Q like this, I'd likely still be cooking professionally & probably a hell of a lot richer! The ribs are still a work in progress, but the brisket recipe is below 👇👇👇

TAKIN' CARE OF BRISKET
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/takin-care-of-brisket/

THE YARDBIRD
"Well, if she had me back again, oh, I would never make her sad”

I believe The Yardbirds are an underappreciated British Invasion band. Sure it spawned guitar gods Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, & Jeff Beck, but for the most part The Yardbirds are a footnote to the careers of their famous former members.

While this recipe shares a name with a British blues rock group, it's technically not inspired by them. A "Yardbird" is a Southern term for cooked chicken. I first used the name when I created a riff on Nashville hot chicken for a local pub. I consider remaking that recipe in a vegan mode, but felt that would be unethical. So, I embraced my Southern roots & went full-on saucy messy vegan BBQ. Grilled chickwheat coated on brown sugar jalapeno BBQ sauce topped with fennel apple slaw on a homemade pretzel roll. It's the deliciously sloppy definition of

THE YARDBIRD
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/the-yardbird/

This post proves I'm not all seitan & veg recipes all the time. This is the Rib Meat sandwich from my old Q joint, the Cha Cha Hut. I'd take any leftover ribs or ribs not. Good enough to sell as ribs, chop them up, simmer in my house sauce, & serve on locally baked rolls. Messy as hell but worth the napkins.

The rub, sauce, sides & general rib philosophy for this sandwich can be found in my Cha Cha Hut Cookbook

https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/cchcookbook/

It's been a minute since I spent any time in the studio printing & assembling recipe zines. Clockwise in the photo: "All You Need Is Rub b/w I Love Your Sauce" (a recipe single of spice mixes & sauces), the BGC promo mini zine, "Paint A Little Can Of Soup" (a Warhol inspired 4 track soup recipe zine), & "Would You Make Me Seitan?" (my pandemic inspired guide to seitan as a meat alternative).

All are available in my store & by Saturday will be in stock at Quimby's Books NYC. Honestly, if you are in the NYC area & can make it over to Quimby's in Williamsburg - buy these there. It's a vital part of zine culture & Steven is one of the coolest people I know.

If you are not in NYC, you can buy these from my Shop Of The Pops
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/bgcshop/

THE B.T.O.
The 2nd recipe in my BTO Rock Block (see yesterday's brisket post) is a Bachman-Turner Overdrive tribute in a BLT sorta vibe. Seitan brisket (fried in olive oil) replaces bacon. Pickled red onion is FAR superior to lettuce. And, well, you can never go wrong with ripe tomatoes. I finished this with some Sweet Lightnin' BBQ sauce & mozzarella on a plain bagel. If you can tolerate vegan cheese, use that for a completely vegan version.

The theme for this, "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," is my favorite BTO song. I know it's kinda of cheesy but I don't care. It reminds me of simpler times cruising in my Camaro & looking that that kid with glasses in Dazed & Confused.

THE B.T.O
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/the-b-t-o/

TAKIN' CARE OF BRISKET
Yes, this is actually a Meatless Monday post. No, this is technically not brisket. It's seitan shaped like brisket, braised like brisket, seasoned like brisket, then smoked like brisket. Yes, it's delicious. No, it won't fool carnivores but I'll bet they will like it. Cheaper & from a culinary standpoint easier than its beef counterpart, it's a brilliant filling for sandwiches & tacos. (Or just eating off the cutting board.)

The theme here is actually not my favorite Bachman-Turner Overdrive (or BTO if you will) song. Check back tomorrow for the 2nd part of this BTO Recipe Rock Block for my fave song.

TAKIN' CARE OF BRISKET
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/takin-care-of-brisket/

CHA CHA HUT BBQ COOKBOOK
There is still time to give the gift of comfort food this holiday season. Order deadline for the Cha Cha Hut BBQ Cookbook to arrive in time for Pigmas is December 12th. Give yourself and/or your loved ones the recipes for Bread & Butter Pickles, Maple Espresso Sauce, The PBOB (Peanut Butter Oreo Brownie), and more!

Order Now
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/cchcookbook

SHOP OF THE POPS
I'm interrupting the usual food puns & strange vinyl posts to make this Small Business Saturday mention of my online store, Shop Of The Pops (which actually is a Smithereens pun). Music inspired recipe zines & t-shirts perfect for gift giving or just a 2020 Treat Yo' Self.

SHOP OF THE POPS
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/bgcshop/

This is a VEGAN sandwich. My continuing devotion to Seitan Worship has led me to expand my cooking methods into BBQ. This seitan was made in a brisket style - braised in Guinness then rubbed & smoked on the grill. Sliced & stacked on a potato roll with bread & butter pickles & a Guinness BBQ sauce. Very satisfying & solid flavor but needs a little work on the crust. For a first effort I'd give it a 7/10 (as did )

Sunday Throwback making old school Cha Cha Hut roast pork. To be fair, I never actually served this at the Hut (always made pulled pork) but the same recipes is used. My All You Need Is Rub & a Dijon mustard slather then slow roasted on a 300 degree grill for 5 hours. Took me back...

Get The Cha Cha Hut Cookbook
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/cchcookbook/

CHA CHA HUT BBQ COOKBOOK
The heat is on so get out of the kitchen & into the backyard. My 1sr cookbook is filled with great easy-to-follow accessible Southern Comfort recipes from a true Mom & Pop Q Joint. A DIY labor of self-published love perfect for any home cook or BBQ fan. Order Now at Shop Of The Pops.

SHOP OF THE POPS
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/bgcshop/

I WANNA BE YOUR HOT DOG
Summer's here & the time is right for grilling hot dogs in the streets. We here have your hot dog recipe needs covered with the now classic 1st issue of More Recipes About Music & Food. 14 regional hot dog recipes & the music that inspired them. Still time to get shipping before your big July 4th grill fests. Buy now at Shop Of The Pops.
SHOP OF THE POPS
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/bgcshop/

MOCHA JAVA JIVE PORK
This ugly delicious mess of a sandwich is the pork continuation of yesterday's caffeine driven grilling. Smoke roasted pork shoulder seasoned with a coffee cinnamon cocoa rub, topped with caramelized onions & mushrooms, & finished with Maple Espresso BBQ sauce. The perfect example of comfort food: decadent, sloppy, & nap-inducing.

I could have chosen from dozens of "Java Jive" recording for the theme song here. I went with The Puppini Sisters because they were featured prominently in my old BBQ joints playlist & they do amazing swing covers of modern pop hits. Yet another joyous soundtrack we need right now.

MOCHA JAVA JIVE PORK
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/mocha-java-jive-pork/

Punk Rock Grandpa has ya covered with the best fu***ng pimento cheese in Brooklyn! The 1st of my Cheeses Of Subeerbia Series (yes - much more to come). DM for details & ordering info or hit the link below. Also open to trades.

CHEESES OF SUBEERBIA
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/cheesesofsubeerbia/

LIFE'S BEAN GOOD
This is the single greatest BBQ Beans recipe I have ever encountered. That it was also a signature dish made by for our Catskills Q joint only makes it sweeter. Three beans - black, small red, & vegetarian baked - jacked up with peppers, onions, brown sugar, & Sweet Lightnin' BBQ sauce. A perfect weekend & pandemic BBQ comfort side dish.

Joe Walsh's solo work is massively underrated. Of the various Eagles solo artists, he is by far the most interesting. The theme song here is a particularly cutting look at celebrity and all the more poignant in the age of InstaFame.

CHA CHA HUT BBQ COOKBOOK
Order the CCH BBQ Cookbook this weekend & I'll send a digital copy of this BBQ Beans recipe to make for your quarantine holiday.
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/cchcookbook/

PIMENTO AT WORK
Handcrafted pimento cheese is coming to the Bushwick area this weekend. Venmo & PayPal. Pickup & possibly limited delivery. DM me your email address for details & to get on the list. Many thanks to for the props on the batch I made for him.


• • • • • •
Red Hook, Brooklyn

This is how you quarantine properly. makes the best Pimento Cheese you have ever put in your mouth. Hands fu***ng down! Do yourself a favor and get some. You will also be supporting a small business. • • • • • •

CHEESES OF SUBEERBIA
Later this week I'm planning to launch a pimento cheese project via Venmo. It's also possible I may be making pub cheese. Specifically pub cheese made with locally brewed beers & curated cheese combos. This is one such pub cheese: Gridlock Hazy IPA with extra sharp cheddar & Monterey jack cheese accompanied by Bulgogi sausage & grilled flatbread.

If you're in the Bushwick Brooklyn area & would be interested in pickup or limited delivery, send me a DM with your email & I'll put you on the list.

BEHOLD! THE P.B.O B. CUPCAKE
That stands for "Peanut Butter Oreo Brownie Cupcake." Oreos, coated in peanut butter, placed in brownie batter & baked like a cupcake. It's also one of the dessert recipes in my 1st cookbook, The Cha Cha Hut BBQ Cookbook.

A collection of sauces, rubs, sides, sandwiches, drinks, desserts, & ephemera from my Catskills BBQ joint. It's perfect for making the comfort food we need right now. $10 at the BGC store. Free shipping for orders over $20. Venmo orders, DM me.

SHOP OF THE POPS
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/cchcookbook/

When the world is running you down, make a big ass pan of BBQ Beans. These were a staple at my Q joint - the Cha Cha Hut. 3 beans, peppers, onions, & Thundernagi BBQ sauce. The recipe is available in my 1st cookbook - see link below or the store link in my bio.

CHA CHA HUT BBQ COOKBOOK
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/cchcookbook/

THE BEST PIE IS FRITO PIE
The first version of my Frito Pie happened at The Hut. Over the years I've tweaked my black bean chili & how I make the Frito Pie but I always think of the Hut days when I make it.

There are two ways to make Frito Pie: the Midwest Casserole topped with Fritos and the Right Way. The Right Way is chili poured over Fritos topped with sour cream, yellow cheese, scallions, and perhaps jalapenos. It’s known as a Walking Taco if you use the snack-size Frito bag as a bowl. Let the whole thing sit for a couple of minutes so some of the Fritos can soak in the chili sauce, then mix everything into an ugly delicious mess and ascend into chili comfort food heaven. (Make this vegan by swapping out the cheese & sour cream for vegan versions)
Black Bean Caught Stealing Chili, Fritos, sour cream, cheddar, scallions, & Aleppo pepper
BLACK BEAN CAUGHT STEALING CHILI
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/black-bean-caught-stealing-chili/

SWEET CHILI O’ MINE
As far as I know, there is no law that requires one to use taco sauce when eating tacos. Sure, there is a wide range of great hot sauces, and of course the so last decade Sriracha option, but I humbly offer up a sweet-spicy alternative. Frank’s Red Hot Sweet Chili sauce is one of my wife’s favorite, but it is often difficult to find in Bushwick and, honestly, not that great often WAY too sweet. I set out to create a more balanced sauce swapping heavy sugar for a balanced chili garlic heat with a lightly sweet base. The result is Sweet Chili O’ Mine. A combination of fresh garlic, soy sauce, and Sambal Oelek with just a touch of sugar. I keeps for ages (though never lasts that long) and it perfect on just about anything - including tacos.

Appetite For Destruction is the only Guns & Roses album I ever owned or listened to. Even then, there were only about 4 songs I actually liked; the inspiration for this being one of them.

SWEET CHILI O’ MINE
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/sweet-chili/
BUY THE “I LOVE YOUR SAUCE” B/W “ALL YOU NEED IS RUB” SINGLE ZINE
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/recipesingle01/

STRAY KATSU STRUT
There is a great deal of discussion in both music & food about authenticity. Is "authentic" intrinsically better than "influenced and/or inspired by"? In the end, the only thing that truly matters is if the song or dish brings us joy. This is not the greatest most authentic katsu in the world, it's a hillbilly tribute. Chicken katsu, tonkatsu sauce, napa slaw, bread & butter pickles, & mayo on a sub roll. (From the upcoming Cheesed To Meat Me issue of Music & Food)

In much the same way katsu purists might dismiss this sandwich, The Stray Cats were dismissed as pop-a-billy by music nerds. The reality is, they are a great band that just happened to catch the MTV spotlight & exposed some VERY authentic influences to a new generation.

STRAY KATSU STRUT
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/stray-katsu-strut/

VISIT SHOP OF THE POPS & SUPPORT DIY PUBLISHING
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/bgcshop/

TRASHLAND ZINEFEST 2 ON AUGUST 3
I'm making my zinefest debut on August 3 at the Trashland Zinefest at Footlight Bar in Queens. From 2PM - 6PM check out great zines, comics, & art - listen to acoustic sets from Onesie, Scott Kodi, Pocket Protector, & Warm Canopy - buy baked good to support Footlight - & day drink. In addition to the Music & Food zines & Cha Cha Hut Cookbook, I have a handmade 7 recipe "single" of rubs & sauces specifically for this event. So - find the time in your Saturday plans to support a great live venue & DIY publishing - just don't forget to come by & say HI!

FOR THE EVENT PAGE LINK, HEAD OVER TO:
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/trashland-zinefest/

TRASHLAND ZINEFEST II
Saturday August 3 : 2PM - 6PM
Footlight Bar
465 Seneca Ave, Queens, NY 11385

DIRTY RICE BOY (REMIX)
I wrote the first version of this recipe about a year ago, but while working on the Music & Food sandwich issue decided I wasn't happy with the original. The remix adds the option to grill the chicken breast or thigh (as well as oven roast) - combines the rice, chicken & BBQ sauce into a more balanced filling - adds some Rock Candy Jalapenos - & is the debut of my latest seasoning recipe "Hot Blooded (Chicken & Sea)" which is perfect for grilling poultry or seafood. The lesson here is no recipe is perfect & revisiting & refining is what cooking is all about. That - and tasty fricking sandwiches.

The rub recipe used here was the first version of what would become the Hut's "Born On The Bayou" rub.

DIRTY RICE BOY
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/dirty-rice-boy/

VISIT MY STORE & SUPPORT DIY PUBLISHING
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/bgcshop/

MEATLESS MONDAY SEITAN WORSHIP
Plans for an August Music & Food Hot Dog party started me searching for a great & affordable vegan dog. The great ones weren't affordable & the affordable ones sucked. So I hit The Interwebs & started researching vegan dog recipes. That led me to seitan and the revelation of how easy it is to make. Infinitely adaptable to flavors - requires only a handful of ingredients - plus no special equipment or skills needed. The Hell's Balls from my Meat Is Murder zine is a seitan take on a meatball sub. Spicy seitan balls, fresh marinara, & nacho cashew sauce. The best damn plant-based sub I've ever made.

SHOW YOUR LOVE OF SEITAN WITH FRESH THREADS
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/seitanservantshirt/

GET HELL'S BALLS & OTHER GREAT VEGETARIAN & VEGAN RECIPES
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/musicfoodissue02/

CELEBRATE NATIONAL HOT DOG DAY!
July 17th is National Hot Dog Day and here's a great way to celebrate. Order a copy of “I Wanna Be Your Hot Dog” & get a free PDF download for your National Hot Dog Day party. Then listen to our Hot Dog mixtape while ordering a t-shirt for next year's party. This zine is a recipe mixtape of 14 regional hot dog recipes including Hanoi Rocks (a banh MI tribute to forgotten 80s hair metal), Sweet Oblivion (cream cheese & jalapenos from the land of grunge), and Wanted Dead Or Alive (leave it to New Jersey to put fried potatoes, peppers, & onions on a dog). Plus many more! Order now and we’ll throw in a free PDF digital download to get you cooking for today's party!

BUY NOW!!!
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/musicfoodissue01/

MUSIC & FOOD HOT DOG T-SHIRT
https://bushwickgrillclub.com/product/issue01tee/

MUSIC & FOOD HOT DOG MIXTAPE
http://bit.ly/musicfoodone