This one was a special treat, enjoyed on an unusually sunny day in South San Francisco at the home of David Lake. Dave as you probably all know is the Northern California Meco Superstar, preferring to cook on a gift box shaped Meco with one of those "adjustable height grills" on it. At this event however, Dave kicked back on the couch while I did all the work. Erica (Dave's splendid lady-friend) and Darrel (one of Dave's derelict friends) were also in attendance.

Prepare your smoker early in the morning. This is a difficult task at Dave's House (especially after a Saturday night with all the disco retro noise making and Saturday Night Fever type celebratin' going on). However, soak the wood chips and prepare your water pan per your usual routine. If you like, add beer or wine to your water pan. I used a 40 ouncer of Miller High Life (because it is a very aromatic beer), and Dave threw in some old red wine (wine that he couldn't trick his friend's wives and girlfriends into drinking). I also chopped up a large yellow onion. The total cooking time for the cut was about 6 hours to bring it to 170 degrees, a tender pink middle and slightly dry tips and outer top. When I tell you that good old fashioned smoked flavor was goooooood! I kid you not!

SIDE DISHES: Green beans snipped into three piece lengths, mixed with chopped mushrooms, and a liberal amount of butter, some seasoned pepper and light sprinkle of salt. I placed this on the smoker with the meat in an aluminum boat. I later finished them off in the microwave (in a glass dish) to soften them up. Darrel said. "Boy these are so good, they don't even taste like beans." I took that to mean, that as a child he was forced to finish his green beans before he could get up from the table and return to playing with the other kids.

We also had corn in a beer boat, however I will save that recipe for another time, because it goes with something else I got coming up, just as good if not better.

A slab of Monterey jack was placed on foil and left on the smoker after the initial steady heat had died down (after 5 hours or more). I telephoned Dave and his splendid lady-friend Erica, from the airplane (back to L.A.). 

"Don't forget to take the Monterey Jack off the smoker before you go to sleep." 

"Thanks for reminding me," Dave said. 

Next day he had a feast on leftovers. I asked him about Johny who had missed out on the Sunday feast, cause he'd rather be sleeping.

Dave said, "they must have smelled the leftovers when I warmed them up and mixed in all that smoked Monterey Jack, cause they came by my house circling like vultures!" 

"It may take a long time but as you can see by your instant popularity, it is obviously worth it!"

I said good-bye and went on dreaming of the day when it would be time for me to buy a new smoker. What kind should I get? A Brinkman or a Meco, or maybe a Luhr Jensen, brushed aluminum or traditional sportsmen black? Ahhh, so many smokers to choose, so little time till summer.

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