11/01/2026
THE YEAR THANKSGIVING CHANGED.
Thanksgiving is the ultimate "food" holiday. And most families have a designated "turkey cooker" with whom the fate of the whole holiday is entrusted. Regardless of whether its baked, fried or smoked a long, expensive and arduous process awaits this designated bird cooker who literally looses his/her ability to join in the holiday fun because of above noted responsibilities.
Now in my family, since 2006, that unfortunate individual has been me. Going to the absolute madness of the grocery store to buy the bird, washing the bird, brining the bird, massaging it in olive oil, injections, getting up at 4am to do final prep and get in oven. Dealing with the knowledge that a dried out old bird is not conducive to holiday cheer.
You get it. You have been there.
Years ago I met a couple who we not only started doing business with, but became good friends with. Chef Rob Zipprian and his wife Susan started a BBQ business called Zippys Smokeshack BBQ. And it is amazing. The man has been an executive chef, serving an impressive list of celebrities over the years....but he loves BBQ. And he also loves his smoker.
One Saturday they set up at Chateau MerrillAnne and Rob tells me he has a new menu item, turkey. Now I like turkey as well as anyone I suppose and smoked turkey sounded good but it didn't sound like a life changer.
I was wrong. It was literally, without anything else coming close, the most incredible turkey I have ever tasted in my life. Moist, tender and so flavorful it made me question why anyone would cook turkey any other way. The answer to that of course is, not everyone has the experience, equipment or time.
As we approached Thanksgiving that year Rob told me he was going to be smoking a limited amount of turkeys for the holiday and asked if I wanted one. Without hesitation the answer was YES.
It was a snap decision, based solely on my knowledge of how absolutely delicious I knew it would be. What I realized over the next week was that I suddenly had time to enjoy the season. No mad rush to buy a bird, no week long storage, no bird prep, not prep cleanup, no messy injections, no brining, no 5 hour bake times, no tied up oven.....NO PRESSURE.
I got in the car the day before Thanksgiving and drove to Robs. A short, pleasant conversation and the bird was in the car and I headed home. This incredible smelling masterpiece is already in a foil baking pan with handles, already wrapped in foil, it goes in fridge. Emily and I had the most pleasant pre Thanksgiving evening we have ever had. Next morning there was no 4am alarm. We slept in and had a leisurely morning. Stuck bird in oven at 10am to warm up. Spent morning with family instead of being stuck on turkey duty. Turkey came out, while it was resting we popped all the casseroles in the oven.
We had an incredible, stress free meal, and it was absolutely delicious.
This SaturdayZIPPYS Smokeshack BBQ will be at ChateauMerrillAnne. THEY WILL BE RAFFLING OFF ONE TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING. See thier page for details. NOW, THEY ARE ALREADY SOLD OUT, SO THIS WILL LITERALLY BE THE LAST ONE LEFT.
Im addition WE WILL BE CONTRIBUTING 2 BOTTLES OF W**E TO THE DRAWING WINNER. The combined value is over $130.
Come out Saturday, it may give you the most stress free Thanksgiving you have ever had.
Cheers, peace and good health,
Kenny
