Dan Gertsacov, CEO of Big Green Egg, shares his journey from leading strategy at McDonald's to revolutionizing home grilling. He discusses the brand’s unique marketing approach and the loyalty it generates among 'Eggheads.' Bryan Ford, a talented cookbook author, talks about his new book, 'Pan y Dulce,' celebrating Latin American baking traditions. They explore culinary travels across 29 countries, the emotional connections food creates, and how outdoor cooking fosters family memories.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Big Green Egg Origin
Big Green Egg's founder, Ed Fisher, initially sold Japanese pinball machines.
He started cooking chicken wings on a kamado grill to attract customers, eventually pivoting to selling the grills.
insights INSIGHT
The Iconic Green
The iconic green color of the Big Green Egg was initially chosen for its boldness.
It later became a trademark and a symbol of the brand's commitment to quality and lifetime warranty.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Retail Strategy
Big Green Egg prioritizes high-touch retail experiences over mass-market sales.
This allows for personalized customer service and fosters a sense of community among 'Eggheads'.
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This book, initially published as 'The Complete Book of Barbecue & Rotisserie Cooking' in 1954, was later retitled as 'James Beard's Barbecue Cookbook'. It includes a wide range of recipes for barbecue, rotisserie cooking, and picnic foods. Beard's definition of barbecue and rotisserie cookery is broad, encompassing not only traditional barbecue but also other outdoor cooking methods and recipes such as sandwiches, sauces, and party foods.
Invitation to a Banquet
Fuchsia Dunlop
Pan y Dulce: The Latin American Baking Book
The Latin American Baking Book (Pastries, Desserts, Rustic Breads, Savory Baking, and More)
Bryan Ford
Modernist cuisine
The Art and Science of Cooking
Nathan Myhrvold
This encyclopedic treatment of cooking spans 2,438 pages and is divided into six volumes. It covers the history of cuisine, the science behind contemporary cooking, and includes over 1,500 recipes. The book is designed to be accessible to both professional chefs and home cooks, with detailed chapters on techniques, equipment, ingredients, and plated-dish recipes. It features extensive use of illustrations, photography, and scientific explanations to make complex cooking techniques understandable and practical.
McAtlas
McAtlas
A Global Guide to the Golden Arches
Gary He
We’ve long been fans of the Big Green Egg, the kamado-style ceramic charcoal grill and smoker that has a legitimate cult following. The fans are called Eggheads (for real), and leading the company is CEO Dan Gertsacov, who joins us for a really great conversation. Dan is the rare corporate executive who is truly a home cooking and food geek, in the best way. We talk to Dan about how we became fans of the Atlanta-based company, and its unique approach to generating loyalty. We also get into Dan’s world travels and his previous time leading strategy at McDonald’s.
This Is TASTE 
