Our Story - NY Fire & Steel Academy

OUR STORY

Executive Chef • Marketing VP • Forge Master

Where fire meets steel, legends are forged

The Journey Begins Below

The Beginning

I didn't grow up with a silver spoon or a trust fund. I started in the back of a pizzeria — 16 years old, broke, and elbow-deep in dishes. But even then, I knew I wanted more.

I watched the line cooks and felt the heat. The rhythm. The fire. That kitchen was my first classroom, teaching me that excellence isn't given — it's forged.

As a classically trained chef who earned every skill through professional fire, I learned that shortcuts don't exist in real kitchens. I earned my stripes the old-school way: sweating in hot kitchens, going to culinary school, and moving to New York City with nothing but a chef's coat and some grit.

I packed up and moved to New York at 20, working my way up to Executive Chef at a high-end Italian restaurant that did everything from scratch.

"That kitchen was my first forge. Every burn, every rush, every lesson hammered into steel."
Kitchen Origins

The Climb

I rose through the ranks in NYC kitchens, learning the hard lessons, and sharpening not just my knives — but my skills, my taste, and my fire. My executive chef experience taught me what it means to forge every skill you earn.

When a restaurant purchase fell through, I pivoted into promotional marketing — a career that has now spanned over 25 years. Today, I'm a Regional Sales Manager and Vice President of Promotional Marketing, managing national accounts and building brands with the same obsession I brought to the kitchen.

This unique combination of executive chef experience and professional marketing expertise allows me to build empires, not just content. The lessons from those kitchens never left me — the attention to detail, the commitment to quality, the understanding that tools matter when the stakes are high.

Then the climb reached its peak: my first two posts on Reddit both hit #1 on r/BBQ, reaching nearly 1 million people combined. No paid promotion. No celebrity backing. Just decades of earned expertise meeting a community hungry for real knowledge. Back-to-back victories on the world's largest BBQ forum proved what I've always known — when you've truly mastered your craft, people recognize it instantly.

The same principles that earned Michelin consideration in professional kitchens now earn community validation at scale. The climb never stops, but the view from here is extraordinary.

Reddit Success - Back-to-Back #1 Posts

Fire Changed Everything

"Out here, it's not about stainless steel or Michelin stars. It's about wood, steel, heat, and heart. But it wasn't until I stepped outside the kitchen — and into the smoke — that I discovered what I was really meant to forge."

The Obsession

What started as a love for live-fire cooking has become a full-blown obsession. NY BBQ Guys isn't just a brand — it's the forge where ordinary cooks become extraordinary pitmasters.

From Brazilian-sourced knives to custom-built grills, every product we create is something I personally select, test, and stake my reputation on. This line is made for those who understand that mastery isn't given — it's forged in fire and shaped by steel.

But products are just tools. What I realized is that people don't need more gadgets — they need transformation. They need someone who's been through the fire to show them the way.

"120,000+ monthly views proved I wasn't alone in this obsession. There's an army of fire lovers ready to forge their legacy."
BBQ Obsession

NY Fire & Steel Academy

This is where everything I've learned meets everything you're about to become.

FOUNDATION

$10/month

  • Monthly technique guide + video
  • $10 monthly coupon (orders $100+)
  • 24-hour early access
  • 30-day guarantee

ADVANCED

$25/month

  • Everything in Foundation PLUS
  • Advanced variations
  • Second monthly technique
  • Equipment deep-dives
  • $15 monthly coupon
  • 48-hour early access
  • NY BBQ Guys tee at 3 months

ELITE

$50/month

  • Everything in Advanced PLUS
  • Quarterly gear drops ($75+ value)
  • Championship techniques
  • Founding 500 challenge coin
  • $25 monthly coupon
  • 72-hour early access
  • 10% off custom builds
  • Members profit $300+ annually
Explore The Academy

I Forge What I Teach

Every technique, every tool, every lesson comes straight from my journey — dishwasher to executive chef to marketing VP to forge master.

Battle-Tested Methods

These aren't YouTube theories or forum folklore. Every technique was forged in professional kitchens where failure meant closure, then refined over thousands of cooks.

Fire-Forged Equipment

Each knife, each tool, each piece of gear is personally selected from Brazilian craftsmen, tested in my own pit, and proven worthy before it ever reaches yours.

Steel-Grade Standards

No celebrity endorsements. No shortcuts. Just 25 years of burns turned into blueprints, lessons forged into legacy, and ordinary cooks transformed into forge masters.

"Most people spend years hoping to get better. You're about to spend months becoming unstoppable."

THIS IS WHERE YOUR LEGACY BEGINS

Enter The Forge

Built for Real People. Loved by Real Pitmasters.

Real Reviews • Real Results • Real Fire
Verified Facebook Review
" I don't usually leave reviews, but I had to drop a note after getting my gear from NY BBQ Guys. Picked up a gold knife, silver knife, the tongs, forks, and bear claws — and every single piece feels like it was made to last a lifetime. The knives are razor-sharp and balanced beautifully. This is the kind of gear that makes you look forward to firing up the pit.
DD
David D.
Premium Tool Collection Customer
Verified Customer Review
" Just got my custom knife from NY BBQ Guys and I'm seriously impressed. This thing is a beast — razor sharp, perfectly balanced, and built like a tank. I've used a lot of knives over the years, but nothing comes close to this. Used it last night on a brisket and it sliced through like butter. Worth every penny.
AC
Anthony C.
Custom Brazilian Knife Customer
Verified Customer Review
" I love my Santa Maria style cooker from NY BBQ Guys! Mike and Co. are wonderful people and are extremely down to earth. They treated me like we were old friends. If you like supporting small businesses and appreciate craftsmanship, these are the guys you want to build your new grill or completely custom dream smoker.
JN
Jen N.
Custom Santa Maria Grill Customer
Verified Facebook Review
" Been using these knives for a bit now and honestly, they're solid. Super sharp, feel good in the hand, and make prep way easier. Didn't think I'd care that much, but now I use 'em every cook. Definitely a step up from the cheap ones I had before.
SC
Scott C.
Brazilian Knife Customer

WEAPON ARSENAL

Built for Battle • Forged for Fire • Designed to Dominate
BEAST MODE

Custom 250 Reverse Flow Smoker

w/ Insulated Firebox

Built for serious pitmasters. Featuring even heat distribution, double-walled heat retention, and ¼-inch steel construction, it delivers clean burns, rich smoke, and all-day control. With custom details and an optional trailer mount, it's made to perform—whether you're catering, competing, or cooking for a crowd.

FIRE BEAST

66" x 30" Santa Maria Grill

Where power meets precision.

This oversized beast gives you full control over live-fire cooking with a hand-crank system that raises and lowers the grates over open flame. Built from heavy-gauge steel and designed to handle anything from whole primal cuts to rows of ribs, it's the ultimate weapon for bold, open-air grilling.

TANK

Weber Summit Kamado

Precision meets primal. Built like a tank. Cooks like a dream.

This isn't your average backyard egg — it's a double-walled, insulated steel beast that locks in heat and airflow with surgical precision. From low-and-slow smoking to steakhouse-level searing, the Summit delivers flawless control, faster heat-up times, and rock-steady temps without the ceramic fuss. Once you fire it up, there's no going back.

POWERHOUSE

Weber Summit 6-Burner Gas Grill

Professional-grade firepower. Built to feed a crowd.

This is your outdoor kitchen powerhouse — six high-performance burners, dedicated sear zone, rear infrared rotisserie, and a built-in smoker box for that extra layer of flavor. With massive grilling real estate and precise heat control across the board, the Summit turns backyard cooking into a full-on production. Whether it's 2 steaks or 20, this rig handles it with ease.

COMMAND CENTER

Custom 55x30 BBQ Table

w/ Built-In Gas Grill - Function meets firepower.

This handcrafted BBQ table is more than a prep station — it's a full-service command center. With a built-in 2-burner gas grill seamlessly integrated into a 55" x 30" butcher block surface, you get instant heat, rock-solid workspace, and the freedom to sear, sauté, or smoke without leaving the station. Steel frame. Clean lines. Built to cook and built to last.

AUTHENTIC

Brazilian & Hand-Forged Tool Collection

Hand-forged tradition. Live-fire precision.

This collection brings together the raw craftsmanship of Brazil's finest bladesmiths and the power of purpose-built BBQ gear. Each piece — from full-tang knives to forged tongs, skewers, and carving tools — is made for fire-first cooking. Built by hand. Backed by steel. Designed to dominate the flame with authenticity and style.