Consumable Products

The next time you’re in a grocery store, look at the ingredients list on consumable products like BBQ sauces, spices, and BBQ sauces. If you can pronounce 80% of the ingredients you’re doing better than most. What these labels are saying is these products are all additives, preservatives, and flavor enhancers.

Look at our consumable products and right away you can see the difference between our products and theirs. It is our goal to allow the natural flavors in foods forward as opposed to tastes created in a laboratory. We make healthy products for a reason and that reason is so you know exactly what you’re consuming.

Outdoor Cooking Changes Everything

There's just something special about preparing food outdoors. Many years ago, we were at a Southern California lake catching red ear sunfish. One evening, we deep-fried a bunch of them and thought we had discovered fire. For all of us, outdoor cooking changes everything. Sure, as a Boy Scout, we cooked outdoors on hikes and around the campfire. Being much older now, cooking outdoors takes on a whole different meaning.

People often grill outdoors using charcoal (real wood or preformed briquettes), wood, or propane gas. They cook food using direct radiant heat. Most outdoor grills have a cover so users can use them as smokers or for grill-roasting/barbecue. Deep frying has always been an effective cooking method for different types of foods. Deep frying turkeys is as popular today as smoking, grilling. or roasting. In most circumstances, the best way to cook it is with a fire that is burned down to a good bed of embers with little or no flame or by indirect heat, such as heated rocks. This provides a much more controlled and consistent heat than an open flame.

outdoor cooking changes everything

Cooking outdoors allows you to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, and natural surroundings, promoting a sense of well-being. Outdoor cooking offers numerous benefits, including enhancing living spaces, promoting healthier eating, and providing stress relief. It also offers practical advantages like keeping heat and cooking smells outside, reducing energy consumption, and providing a great space for entertaining.

Why Outdoor Cooking Changes Everything

If I had my dithers, my outdoor kitchen would be one for the ages. An outdoor kitchen can add anywhere from 55% to 200% of its cost to your home's value, depending on factors like thIn regions where people highly value outdoor living, they can find the added value to be even higher.e quality of materials, location, and design. In regions where outdoor living is highly valued, the added value can be even higher. Outdoor kitchens, while enjoyable, can present several drawbacks. These include the need for substantial space, vulnerability to weather conditions, higher maintenance requirements, potential security concerns, and the possibility of increased costs.

An outdoor kitchen is what you want it to be. For that reason, I won't even try offering costs. Kitchens can be as simple as a single grill to what your facility and wallet allow for. Outdoor kitchen costs vary by size, materials, appliances, and customization. They can range from $6,000 to over $100,000, with the average for a mid-range set-up around $16,000. Please do not hold me to these numbers because a lot depends on what goes on in the kitchen as well as any construction costs.

Imagine inviting friends and family over for a dinner cooked and served under the stars. The atmosphere is awesome, drinks are flowing, and a good time for all. You will need awesome accessories for your awesome outdoor kitchen. Clicking the button below will take you to our store for some equally impressive food preparation products and tools.

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"Life's Good When You're Cookin Wit' Gus"

Got Gravy Let’s Eat

Growing up, gravy was always a staple in my mother's kitchen. Even today, many people smother my favorite meals in gravy. We often prepared gravy last, and I know when we got gravy, let's eat was coming. Even today, I look for smothered items on the menu and regularly order them.

Gravy is a sauce, typically made from meat juices, thickened with a starch (like flour or cornstarch), and seasoned. Chefs often serve it with roasted meats, mashed potatoes, and other dishes. While cooks make most gravies brown, using meat drippings, they create white gravy as a popular variation with a roux (fat and flour) and milk. Merriam-Webster defines gravy as ``a sauce made from the thickened and seasoned juices of cooked meat.'' Further detail from What's Cooking America tells us that gravy often has a thicker consistency due to its use of flour, cornstarch, or some other thickening agent (Wondra, anyone?).

What is called sugo or salsa, which translates to sauce, not gravy, is what has always been made by Italians to top their pasta. The term “Sunday gravy” became popular among Italian Americans in the U.S., but that was just an Americanized way of describing a slow-cooked, meat-infused tomato sauce. When most Southerners talk about gravy (particularly biscuits and gravy), we're talking about sawmill gravy — that delicious, creamy white sauce that often has cooked breakfast sausage folded inside.

Got Gravy Let's Eat
Got Gravy Let's Eat

Gravy Making - Got Gravy Let's Eat

There are as many recipes and methods for preparing gravy as there are people making gravy. What chefs will all agree upon is that good gravy begins with good ingredients. Being the connoisseurs that we are, we have created mixes using all-natural ingredients. You can use our mixes for making gravy for each of your favorite food groups. Different gravy specialties cater to diverse culinary preferences and regional traditions. Chefs commonly serve gravy, fundamentally a sauce derived from meat or vegetable juices, with roasts, mashed potatoes, and other dishes. Cooks typically thicken it with ingredients like flour or cornstarch and can further flavor it with spices, herbs, or wine.

We offer a seasoned blend you can use as is or add your favorite specialty items like meat, vegetables, etc. Many chefs use flour, and that is what we use as the base for ours. Gus has created gluten-free versions for our friends with food allergies. All gravy mixes are sold in resealable bottles to maximize freshness. Click the button below, and it will take you directly to our page containing these mixes. Let Got Gravy Let's Eat become a slogan in your kitchen.

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"Life's Good When You're Cookin Wit' Gus"

Common & Uncommon Spices

There are many different types of spices, encompassing a wide range of flavors, aromas, and uses. Chefs everywhere have their common & uncommon spices. Experts can broadly categorize spices by their flavor profiles (e.g., sweet, savory, pungent, bitter), the part of the plant they come from (seeds, fruits, barks, etc.), or by their botanical classification. Common spices used in cooking include salt, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and paprika. Other popular spices are cloves, cardamom, cayenne pepper, oregano, basil, and bay leaves. Chefs frequently use most spices in this category in various cuisines around the globe.

Common spices and their uses vary widely, with each spice offering a unique flavor profile and culinary application. Some ingredients, for example, add flavor in baking, like cinnamon and nutmeg. While others, such as cumin and coriander, are staples in savory dishes. Chefs use black pepper, a versatile spice, in virtually every cuisine. For the sake of argument, we categorize uncommon spices as specialty spices that chefs do not use every day. In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance. They come in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. People distinguish spices from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants. Cooks use each for flavoring or as a garnish.

Common & Uncommon Spices Differentiation

Depending on where you live globally, common spices flavor that region's dishes. Most people genuinely accept that Black Pepper is the 'king of spices' and rightfully so. Unlike its perennial companion, salt, which is easily available in any nook and corner of the world. Black pepper owes its origins to Kerala – a state in South India. For Chefs, one of the most highly prized and exotic spices is Cardamom or Elettaria Cardamomum Maton. For this reason, it rightly deserves the name “queen of spices”. People also commonly refer to it as the “green cardamom” or the “true cardamom,” and it belongs to the family of ginger.

We have many of the common & uncommon spices in our store. Glass jars are an excellent choice for storing spices. That is because they are non-reactive, won't absorb odors, and allow you to see the contents of the jar. They're also environmentally friendly and reusable, reducing waste in your kitchen. We ship all spices in this category in glass jars for maximum freshness. The best way to store spices is in airtight containers in a cool, dark, and dry place. Keeping them away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture helps preserve their validity. This helps preserve their flavor and potency. Clicking the button below will take you directly to the everyday spices in our store. We have 60+ unique spices in our store, and our goal is to make it easier to keep your cabinet well stocked.

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"Life's Good When You're Cookin Wit' Gus"

Aloha Baby Summer Sauce

One thing I always look forward to is the freshness of summertime fruit. Crisp, fresh, & sweet are a few adjectives that come to mind. We use these summer fruits to make our Aloha Baby summer sauce. Fresh fruit is the base for making this sauce, and because we use no additives or preservatives, you can taste the difference.

Summer is a fantastic time for a wide variety of fruits. Some popular choices include berries like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries; stone fruits such as peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, and cherries; and other favorites like watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, mangoes, grapes, and pineapples. Several fruits are particularly healthy during the summer, including berries like strawberries and blueberries, stone fruits like peaches and cherries, and watermelon. These fruits are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, offering benefits like improved heart health, reduced inflammation, and boosted immune function.

Aloha Baby summer sauce is our answer for a sauce that complements, is flavorful, and good for your system. Our two favorite uses for Aloha Baby BBQ sauce are smoking pork shoulder for pulled pork sandwiches and ribs. Wrapping the meat or not, the fruit in this sauce adds pizzazz to the meat, and you can taste. Pork is traditionally served at Luau’s, and that was the impetus for this sauce. If you’re smoking a whole pig, this sauce is the only choice. Pork is the best use for this sauce, but it has also been used on seafood or poultry tacos. Aloha Baby is extremely versatile, and we would love to hear back regarding how you use it.

Aloha Baby Summer Sauce Ingredients:

Peaches, Mangoes, Pineapple, Red Onions, Sliced Garlic, Tomato Sauce, Brown Sugar, Cider Vinegar, Chili Powder, Parsley & Basil.

Let us not forget to mention this sauce, like all our others, is additive, preservative, and flavor enhancer free. The next time you're in stores looking at BBQ sauce, just take a look at the ingredients list. These engineered ingredients are what make it so easy to sell their products cheaply. We want you to taste the flavor of the food, not what someone concocted in a laboratory somewhere.

*** Refrigeration required before and after opening ***

“Life’s Good When You’re Cookin Wit’ Gus”

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We Love Grilling Baskets

Most of us have grilled fish, shellfish, or burgers over an open flame. If so, you have undoubtedly experienced the frustration of losing part of your dish. Turning delicate food items often results in something falling through the grates. Here is where grilling baskets show their value and why we love grilling baskets.

Today, grilling baskets come in many shapes and sizes. One thing they all do is allow you to season, baste, and cook foods over an open flame. The only risk we foresee is burning food. This happens when it's been left on too long or over a flame that's too high. They're also available with non-stick surfaces. If you cook foods that tend to stick to the grates or smaller items, a grill basket is for you.

Brussels sprouts, asparagus, chickpeas, and small potatoes would all benefit from being cooked in a grill basket. Seafood (any and all!) is also a great candidate for cooking in a grill basket. The baskets protect them from having to touch the grill grates, giving you an added layer of insurance. To prevent grilled food from clinging to the basket, be sure to oil it. You can also coat it with nonstick cooking spray before cooking.) Forget running back and forth from your kitchen to your grill. Grill baskets allow you to cook both mains and sides in the great outdoors.

We Love Grilling Baskets But......

It's a common misconception that olive oil's smoke point is too low to grill with. High-quality extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of over 410°F. While you don't want to have oil dripping into the flames. A light brushing will do wonders in keeping your food from sticking. To prevent fish from sticking to a grill basket, properly prepare the fish and the basket, ensuring a non-stick surface. This can be achieved by oiling the basket, using a non-stick spray, or even brushing the fish with mayonnaise. We love grilling baskets but remember proper heat management and seasoning can contribute to a successful grilling experience.

A grill mat is a great way to prevent unnecessary loss of food and keep your grill looking clean. Mats, usually made of Teflon, are placed on top of the grill. The effect is minimizing food lost into the grill and preventing contact with the grill as well. This also means that your food will be cooked more evenly. Grill mats can be a worthwhile addition to your grilling setup, especially for certain situations, but they also have drawbacks. They offer benefits like easier cleanup and preventing food from falling through grates, but they can also hinder the authentic grilling experience, like grill marks and smoky flavor.

The mat provides a continuous non-stick surface that eliminates all of the issues above. The mat picks up the temperature from the grill mat, and I get the same grill marks as if the food were directly on the grill grate and not on a mat.

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Carolina BBQ Sauce

Growing up, I was never a fan of Mustard. I only ate it at my parents' insistence. What did happen is I tried a Carolina BBQ sauce on a pulled pork slider. It was like I had discovered fire or the wheel. The sauce was tangy because of the vinegar, and a bit spicy. That experience was enough to make me dig deeper. After researching the history and recipes for this Carolina BBQ sauce, I created Flaming Fiend.

Much to my surprise, many of my friends like me had never tried a mustard-based sauce. They like it now, and it's always a hit among family and friends. What makes it unique is its heavy reliance on vinegar, particularly apple cider vinegar, which gives it a tangy and acidic flavor. It's super-tangy and acidic with the natural spiciness of yellow mustard as well as added spices and flavors. This blend complements slow-cooked pork especially.

This sauce is not traditional, being mustard-based but it depends where you are from. We have added a few twists and turns that differentiate ours from others. One of the significant differences is the absence of additives, preservatives, or flavor enhancers. Using natural ingredients is also one of our claims to fame. If you read labels on store-bought sauces, what you see are ingredients, many of which you can't pronounce. Our research says that these ingredients are easy to make, extend the shelf life, and make products cheaper.

Our Carolina BBQ Sauce Ingredients

  • Mustard
  • Brown Sugar
  • White Sugar
  • Cider Vinegar
  • Chili Powder
  • Black Pepper
  • Water
  • White Pepper
  • Cayenne Pepper (30)
  • Soy Sauce
  • Real Butter
  • Rich Hickory Flavoring
  • Packed in 16oz Bottles

Most people can enjoy Flaming Fiend, despite its slight heat.. If I do say so myself, this sauce is good. Care was taken to ensure seasonings in this sauce do not overpower the meat you're using it on. This is a problem with many sauces you find in the market. The sauces are blended to taste a certain way, rather than complementing the food.

I like this sauce best on pork. Ribs and pulled pork are where I use this sauce the most. That's not to say you can't use it on other meats, we have, but it's like a cold drink on a hot day. Click the button below and see the sauces we have created. They are additive and preservative-free, and cost comparable to what you find in stores. Refrigeration is recommended after opening.

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"Life's Good When You're Cookin Wit' Gus"

Bent Sombrero for Awesome Mexican Dishes

Mexican cuisine encompasses the cooking traditions and styles of the modern country of Mexico. Its earliest roots lie in Mesoamerican cuisine. Mexican cuisine's ingredients and methods originated with the first agricultural communities, such as the Olmec and Maya, who domesticated maize, developed the standard nixtamalization process, and established their foodways. Mexican food has a reputation for being very spicy, but it has a wide range of flavors, and while many spices are used for cooking, not all are spicy. Many dishes also have subtle flavors. Many dishes also have subtle flavors. To encompass the spices used to prepare Mexican dishes, we have blended "Bent Sombrero".

Chile en nogada, maize, tamales, pozole, mezcal, pan de muerto, and cóctel de camarón Mole sauce, which has dozens of varieties across the Republic, is seen as a symbol of Mexicanidad and is considered Mexico's national dish. Having grown up in Southern California, I've had the opportunity to enjoy all the traditional Mexican dishes above. Bent Sombrero can be used to make them all and then some. Traditional and non-traditional dishes will be served in the upcoming Cinco De Mayo holiday. Adding Bent Sombrero to your spice rack is just a point-and-click away.

This spice blend is made to be spicy, so our recommendation is to use it sparingly until you understand the heat index. Use too much and you'll know it. It's an awesome seasoning containing the appropriate amounts of seasonings you'll find in top shelf Mexican dishes.

Bent Sombrero Ingredients:

  • Chipotle Chili Powder
  • Hungarian Paprika
  • Sea Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • White Pepper
  • Cayenne Pepper (90 SHU)
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Dried Serrano Peppers
  • Dried Green Peppers
  • Dried Red Pepper
  • Coriander Powder
  • Chili Powder
  • Cumin
  • Mekrur Lime Powder

One of our favorite uses for Bent Sombrero Mexican Seasoning is when making chicken tacos. We mostly use thigh meat, and the end result is nothing left over. We use this sparingly because it does not require a lot of this seasoning, so we recommend the medium bottle unless you’re a food service establishment. Most of our commercial customers are food trucks, so you may have had our seasoning without knowing it.

Because we use no additives, preservatives, or flavor enhancers, we recommend you add a mortar and pestle like the ones you find in our tools section. This allows you to grind the seasoning, should it clump. Bent Sombrero is available in three sizes. Click the button below and it will take you to where you can review this magnificent seasoning.

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"Life's Good When You're Cookin Wit' Gus"

Assist Hooks

Designers create Assist hooks, often used with jigs, to hang freely and to be lighter than the jig. This configuration increases the hook-up rate by getting into the fish's mouth before it even reaches the jig. These hooks are frequently used for vertical jigging with heavy jigs. The beauty of fishing with assist hooks is they can help reduce fish mortality. It also increases the chances of a safe release

With the Assist hook, no matter where the point penetrates, the hook is securely fastened to the jig. Finally, the assistant offers a smaller probability of pricking in the gills and thus injuring the fish. Compared to the single hook, the assist again has advantages. Of the two most common assist hooks, the single and the double are the most common.

As single ones, which means that every assist hook end up on its own solid ring. Or the double with a single solid ring that has two assist hooks hanging from it. You can use both types but two single assist hooks in one solid ring perform better. This is because of increased joint ability, meaning that they move more freely! Inline singles have the eye in the same plane as (in line with) the hook point. That way they'll hang perfectly in line with the lure, not at a right angle to it. Many experts contend that the ratio of fish landed to fish hooked is better with singles than trebles.

Rigging Assist Hooks

Assist Hooks are rigged with a line or chord that inherently has a strength that will absorb the hit. Common materials including Kevlar and Dyneema that are woven and are available in a variety of strengths and thicknesses to pair with hooks. Monofilament should NEVER be used to make assist hooks because they could be rubbed against structure and you just lost a beautiful jig.

The size hook on the Assist Hook in the Image is a 4/0 and it would not be difficult to imagine a 5/0 on it as well. The hooks I normally use are Live Bait Hook with an eye that is straight up and down with the shank and not inclined. Not to sound corny but fishing with assist hooks can be addictive because larger fish are more inclined to inhale the jig. Hookup rates are increased so you have a better shot at catching the largest fish of the day and winning the jackpot.

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Jerk Baiting Surf Fish

Injured minnows or other sea creatures caught in the surf are easy prey for predators in the surf. Enter the surface or shallow running stick aka jerk bait. Designed to look like a minnow that's in a lot of trouble, these baits don't disappoint. They are easy targets for predators and are quick to fall victim to fish looking for an easy meal. Jerk Baiting Surf Fish is a blast and triggers explosive strikes in shallow water.

These baits are colorful and with their internal rattler, they alert predatory to their presence. When inhaled, the treble hooks lodge in the fish and don't let go. They are designed to obfuscate themselves using color and clear bodies. Fish looking for them only see a part of the body and attack what they can see and feel. The thumping made by the rattler is a time-worn trick and helps differentiate the bait from the crashing of the waves. The erratic fast action can often trigger fish in ways few other baits can. This is especially true in warmer waters. While jerk baits are great when fish are lethargic, they excite schooling fish out on the hunt.

Jerk Baiting Surf Fish Season

Remember jerk baits are one of the few baits that are truly effective the whole year through. Even during the cold water period, when the fish are more inactive and more vertical in their location, the jerk bait can be an effective tool. Ideally, a spinning reel with a gear ratio from 6:1 to 7:1 is the sweet spot. If you use a reel that's too fast, you run the risk of overpowering the action of your jerk bait by pulling in too much line. As a general rule, clear water calls for natural or transparent jerkbait colors. When fishing more stained water, solid colors and those with a little flash tend to do better.

Since you'll be using jerk baits in the surf, the water will usually be dirty because of the sand but try basing your decision on how clear the sky is. Throwing this bait around wind-blown points, banks or pockets are all great locations during these conditions. Forage is another important factor when throwing a jerk bait. Jerk baits imitate fish such as shad and bluegill, so it's important that bass feed on similar types of forage.

There's a lot more I can say about using jerk baits in the surf so the best advice I can give you is to get out there and try it out. If the fish aren't biting, just remember that is why it's called "fishing" and not "catching". You won't be disappointed.

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Surf Fishing With Poppers

Just imagine standing in the ocean with the surf rushing past your ankles. Waves crashing, foam everywhere, and the knowledge that fish are all around looking for something to eat. What I know is I'm surf fishing with poppers and the anticipation is about to get the best of me.

This is exactly where I like throwing poppers. Water crashing everywhere and a popper struggling to make its way someplace safe. And WHAM, something inhales your bait and takes off in any direction except towards you. Seeing a fish boil on your bait, exiting the water with their mouth wide open gets your blood pumping. When throwing poppers into the surf, throw the bait out as far as you can and let it tumble in the water. A few sharp jerks when the popper is in smooth water, let it coast in, and be pulled back out with the side should get you bit. Remember to vary the retrieve because what works one day may not work the next. One of my favorite techniques is to stand in knee-deep water

In my surf fishing experiences, you should expect that you have no idea what's going to inhale your bait. And that's part of the excitement. I wouldn't recommend line weight less than 12lb test for mono or 15lb test braid. The reason for this recommendation is halibut can be caught in the surf. They can get big and are mean and will take off for deeper water in an instant. Sharks and rays are also prevalent in the surf. Rays are flat and can hide in extremely shallow surf so prepare your drag accordingly. Sharks will destroy plastic baits so consider yourself lucky if you get it back if a shark inhales it.

Scouting Surf Fishing With Poppers Locations

When preparing to go surf fishing, visit a local shoreline or beach when the tide is low and look for the shallow areas and the deeper holes. These bottom features will be much easier to see at low tide when water levels have dropped with the tide. During low tide, the typical wave builds up and crashes onto the outer bar. During high tide, waves often build without breaking and roll over the outer bar. So it's always better to scout out prime fishing locations on a low tide when the breaking waves make cuts easier to spot. Fish are more active and closer to shore at night, especially predatory species like snook, tarpon, and striped bass. To surf fish safely and effectively: Use glow-in-the-dark lures or attach small lights to your line for better visibility.

When planning a surf fishing session, look for calm conditions with wave heights of 1 to 2 feet, ideally during the incoming tide from two hours before to one hour after high tide. Wear reflective gear for safety.

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