Smoke Stone Cuisine

Ryan Franck

Meet the Team

Fueled by Flavor and Fun

I am a BBQ and grilling addict based in the Chicago suburbs. My social media pages are all about non-traditional backyard grilling, mouthwatering recipes, and a sprinkle of dad jokes. From cheese-pulls to egg pops (and a few steaks and pork butts), I share recipe inspiration and grilling how-tos with my audience. My barbequing journey has evolved over the last 10 years from gas grills and electric smokers, to charcoal grills and offset smokers. Early on in my BBQ journey I learned that you can cook bacon on a smoker and I’ve been obsessed with grilling ever since. I started creating cooking content on social media in the spring of 2022 starting with pictures of the food I cooked for my family - I never expected that so many people would take any interest, but here we are. I hope you will follow along for more barbequing adventures.

Hometown:
Naperville, IL
Favorite Recipe:
Smoked Candied Bacon is by far my favorite because it is so unique. Smoky, Salty, Sweet, and Spicy!
Fun Fact:
My kids think I am “the best dad ever,” but they only eat 10% of the food I cook.
Favorite Activity:
I am a dad of three young boys, so I don’t have time for much outside of BBQ. When time allows, I do enjoy watching sports, and traveling with my wife and kids.

FAVORITE GRILL

Versatility and Size for Every BBQ Need

Smokin' Pro™ Barrel Grill and Offset Smoker

It is so versatile and easy to use, plus it's a great size to feed a small family or a large crowd. I love that I can use the main barrel to cook something hot and fast over charcoal or use the side firebox to cook low and slow.

Char-Griller Q&A with Ryan Franck

What inspired you to start barbecuing? How long have you been doing it? Tell us how you got started?
I started my barbecuing journey with a digital electric smoker and cooking in my driveway. I've always enjoyed cooking, but the simplicity of operating that smoker and the infusion of smoke into foods had me hooked! I really enjoy everything that comes with barbequing (even the cleanup because I am a weirdo), but the ultimate satisfaction for me is the feedback from family, friends, and strangers. The flood of compliments and requests for recipes keep me motivated to bring out more creativity in everything I cook.
What advice would you give to Someone new to grilling? do you have any advice for a new content creator in the BBQ space?
Don't put yourself in a box as to what barbecuing is. Try different techniques, different grills, and absolutely try smoking foods that are not normally cooked on a grill. If you are a new content creator in the BBQ space, my advice would be to make friends with other creators. I have “met” several fellow content creators that have become close friends. We support each other and lean on each other to learn new techniques, discuss the newest gear, and give honest feedback on each other’s content. The content creator space can get so competitive at times, but there are plenty of likes, views, etc. to go around, so let's help each other out
What is your favorite grilling technique that you've learned and why?
Understanding fire management is key. Once you learn how to control fire temperatures and smoke intensity, you can apply that approach to any grill you use (with slight modifications of course).

Ryan Franck’s Favorite Recipes