“Going to this barbecue school was one of best gifts that my wife ever bought me. Since then, I have smoked more brisket and pork shoulder than I can list, and I would never have started in that direction without the huge head-start that these guys gave me! ”
— Richard C. 9/12/2024
“Best BBQ cooking school. Great info. They cover the basics and make it fun too. It’s a full day of BBQ.”
— Bart R. 2/14/2024
“Went today and thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot!! I’ve been smoking meats for years but it was hit and miss technique. Now I have a better understanding as to what real BBQ is and how to make it right. They truly have a knack to train even an old dog like me!! If you want to get a good education on how and why to BBQ then you need to sign up for their class.”
— Patrick M. 10/7/2023
“First off, I want to thank you for a wonderful, hands-on BBQ learning experience on Sept. 24. Loved the class and how you simplified the BBQ process for a newbie like me - and debunked a lot of the B.S. I see online. Wanted to share the attached photo from my first smoke last weekend on my new Weber Smokey Mountain - spatchcock chicken and pork tenderloin - using the recipes provided in the student manual. Not only did everything taste great, but it sure was fun from start to finish! I have a new hobby that I’ll enjoy for many years to come.”
— Dan L. from Tennesee (Sept. 2022)
“Class was great! I gained confidence and feel that my smoking results will be more consistent. Can’t wait to get home and try out my new skills. The whole Southern Thunder Team was great! Glad I have the manual to refer to. Thanks Guys! P.S. Best brisket ever!”
— Lisa H. from S. Carolina (Aug. 2022)
“We had a great time and learned we have done everything wrong!! Kelly jumped right in and did Chicken and ribs last night and had our neighbors over. It was fantastic!”
— Ken Y. from Georgia (Mar. 2022)
“Guys, I was in the 3/26/22 class and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences. My only regret is that I did not take the class sooner. I attended the class with my two son in laws and when my wife and daughters got together the next day, they all said they had to hear each of us go on and on, for over an hour when we got to each of our homes on Saturday about what we learned. I have always been pumped about BBQ, but my excitement has reached a new level.”
— Scott M. From Pennsylvania (Mar. 2022)
““Awe mannn! What a time! These guys are truly amazing. The class is so so informative. It’s so much to take in I’ll probably take it again. Between the 3 guys who run it, they have a unimaginable wealth of knowledge. I love BBQ and I have been cooking for years, but these guys really helped me up my game. Don’t think twice just add to cart and PAY NOW! It’s worth every penny!””
— Kenneth W. from Florida (Mar. 2022)
““This class was awesome! I learned so much and had a great time. The food was also amazing. Would recommend to anyone - especially those, like me, who have experience cooking but want to take their BBQ game to a different level. These guys are the best!””
— Scott B. from Georgia (Oct. 2021)
““I had a lot of fun in this class, the instructors are a blast and teach you what to do and what you might be doing wrong. Things they took years to perfect they teach you in a day. They also give you a book or a guide to help you when you’re out in your own doing this. I would recommend this to anyone interested in BBQ, I had no experience with BBQ and they showed me that just about anyone could do this. I really enjoyed this class and hope to be able to take another one soon. Thank you guys so much for this experience.””
— Lloyd M. from Georgia (Sep. 2021)
“Best class and best teachers. I took this class last October 2020 after being sick of spending so much money on meats and screwing it up on the smoker. Now I’m the BBQ king!!!! Well not the king but my BBQ is awesome. Not only will you learn a lot but these people make this class really fun. They will also give you a manual to take back loads of sauce and rub and injection recipes and detailed instructions on everything you went over in class plus more.”
— Anthony N. from Georgia (Mar. 2021)
“My son and I took the class and it was GREAT!! Casual, fun, and we learned a lot!! Would highly recommend this class for anyone who wants to learn real BBQ.”
— Kim W. from Georgia (Nov. 2019)
“This was a great, hands on class. It was helpful to have the hands on, and with the instructors to be there at the table giving tips and tricks of doing things easier. Many of us in the class at one point or another said, “I’ve been doing that wrong all this time.” • You just show up. Lab Tables, tools, everything is set up for you. The meats are brought to the table, for each lab. • 75-page (at least at the time of August 2019 class) manual in a nice binder that you take away with you • Nice Apron that you take with you • Comprehensive out of town packet (I came to the class from MI) that has a ton of things to think about doing. The Friday before class, I used the packet to schedule things to see, then Saturday the class, and Sunday, found some more things to do. • You have the opportunity to purchase the same tools you use in class, so you can be comfortable at home BBQn. • For each lab, there is an instructor, who is from the bbq competition team, at each table helping you with the lab. They are there giving you tips on trimming, injecting, and easier ways of doing things. • 5 or 6 to a team\table which helps everyone at each team\table get a chance to partake in the lab exercises. • You start with Theory and a demo, and then move to the lab table, with your team to do the exercise. • The most important aspect of the time in the class, is the hands on you get to do. You aren’t just listening to theory and how and why, but you get to “Do” as well. • You get to dispel all the BBQ BS that’s out there and really learn the ways of things that work. The morning may feel hectic for some. BBQ gets done when BBQ gets done, so you are on a tighter timeline in the morning to get the larger meats out to the cookers. You also, won’t be dealing with the smokers, a pitmaster is outside handling that for you. You do however go over each smoker and their pros/cons during the class. Over all a great experience!”
— John M. from Mount Union, Iowa (July 2019)
“I just attended the last class of the year, November 10th, 2018. From the time I stepped foot at their facility I knew I had made the right choice in coming. I was cheerfully greeted by everyone and made to feel welcome. Then directed to the coffee pot and a hot breakfast. When we started all 28 of use were welcomed by the entire staff , and we started right off with learning all these guys had to offer. The entire day was non-stop, but it was more than just a class - it was more like 28 guys and women were invited over to cook BBQ. Each instructor was very complete and has a great amount of expertise. You could tell these guys were not only good pit masters but were friends as well. All questions were answered and everyone got to participate with the preparing of all meats. There was story telling (not bragging) and humor thrown in throughout the day. The best part was the food itself, all we cooked , we ate and it was some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had....Would I go back? Hell yes....probably will, and take a few friends with me....I’ve been to 3 other schools and this one was the best by far....I highly recommend it ! ”
— Bob G. from Sarasota, FL. (Nov. 2018)
“What an awesome experience! Pete, Rick and Dave made this class such an enjoyable time! The One-on-one, hands-on instruction is second to none! All instructors are as humble and down to earth as they come, while backing up everything they teach! We can’t wait to apply everything we’ve learned and make some awesome BBQ for our family and friends!”
— Mikey J. from S. Carolina (Nov. 2018)
“Fun. Informative. Delicious. I attended this experience (it’s much more of an experience than a class) with my cousin and can’t express enough how much we enjoyed it. The instructors, who are competition winners, are engaging and incredibly well-informed. I was surprised at how they were able to break down a process that seems very complex into simple steps with an undeniably excellent finished product. By the way, you eat what you prepare under the direction of the instructors. The tips they offer throughout the course can’t be found elsewhere. This is a great experience for newcomers to BBQ (such as myself) to even the more experienced folks (there were competition folks in the class room who also thoroughly enjoyed the experience). Don’t bother looking anywhere else - you will be amazed at what you learn and the enjoyment you’ll get.”
— Andrew W. from Toronto, ON (Sept, 2018)
“We had an amazing time, learned a ton about BBQ, made friends and had a lot of fun doing it. It was extremely informative, the chefs were great and imparted those little tips and tricks that only come with years of experience and aren’t in any book. Plenty of one on one teaching as well. Highly Recommend taking the course!!!”
— Torry S. from Atlanta (Sept. 2018)
“I went here in 2016 and had an overall wonderful experience. First of all, these guys clearly are doing it more for the love of BBQ than to make any money because its an amazing value given all of the food you’ll make and the education you’ll receive. The class is only a day but you will likely learn more in 10 hours or so there than you would by reading a dozen books. The class is structured really well with lecture time and food prep/smoker time broken appropriately to keep it interesting. The location works well with separate areas for class, food prep and the smokers in the back. Another great thing about this class is that it really is a BBQ class and while they provide their own recipes which are very good, they really focus on proper techniques and not fancy recipes that require some exotic ingredients you’ll struggle to find. They also have a ton of good advice which they’re happy to share with everyone. Overall I’d highly recommend this class to anybody that’s either new to BBQ or is looking to improve their skill level with it, there’s no question you’ll learn a lot in ‘Que University. ”
— John B. (Dec., 2018)
“ I just wanted to follow up and say what a great time Spencer and I had on Saturday. It was a great father and son trip and we really learned a lot. It was great having the hands on experience and the other attendees were really nice people to meet and share the class with. This is a must for beginners and enthusiasts alike!! I’d be glad to give any of a recommendation to anyone interested in attending the Que!! Keep in mind we came from Massachusetts specifically for this class so even with all the added costs of travel and lodging, it was totally worth it (plus you can’t put a price on the father/son experience).”
— Robert C. from North Andover, MA
“Southern Thunder BBQ school was the best BBQ class/training I have attended. What makes this experience so much better is it is all hands on, first hand experience and it includes every aspect of BBQ cooking, making your own sauce, rub, injections, wood choice, type of grills/smokers, which tools to use and the list goes on and on. I recommend bringing 3-4 buddies w/you and don’t forget your cold libations (bring your own cooler w/fav beers, cocktails). Prepare to learn. ”
— Tom T. from Smyrna, GA
“Just writing with a testimonial for the folks at Southern Thunder/Que University. Be sure to share with Rick and the rest of the crew. I went to a party at a friend’s house on Saturday. My friend is a big BBQ guy, and he competes in the amateur division at some local BBQ competitions. He was smoking a pork butt, and I offered to bring some BBQ chicken as my contribution to the spread. I smoked the chicken Spatchcock style on my Big Green Egg, using the recipes and methods I learned at Que University. It was a HUGE hit. My BBQ cooking friend was hitting me up for tips on how I prepared it. The guests loved it. The best was when I heard a guest whom I had never met go up to the host and ask for the name of the restaurant where he got the chicken, because she HAD to go there with her husband. It was extremely cool to hear the host point me out as the cook. My friends have already volunteered me to cook BBQ for upcoming neighborhood socials. If you get an influx of new students from my neighborhood, you’ll know why. It was very cool to be able to cook something that everybody enjoyed, and I am glad to have been able to put the skills I learned at Que University to good use. Keep up the good work.”
— Austin G. from Marietta, GA
“The manual has pictures and very detailed steps. I needed that. I took that what I learned and made FANTASTIC ribs the very first time because I learned what I was looking for at the store, how to prep the ribs and smoke them and how to finish them. Slap my momma they were so good..”
— Terry W. from Marietta, GA
“This was such a good class, the guys really know their stuff. The hands-on application of trimming, injecting, and rubbing the different types of meats during the class helps your comfort level when you go home and try it on your own. With the knowledge gained from this class, you’re sure to serve up some good ‘que to your friends and family!”
— Michael D. from Atlanta, GA
“Very knowledgeable instructors. I enjoyed hearing all the anecdotes and stories and tidbits of experience. The food was exceptional! I liked that we learned and talked about many different cuts and type of meat. Clearly, it was a lot of work, but it made the learning experience excellent! I can’t wait to start experimenting with all the new knowledge. Enjoyed myself tremendously and it was worth every penny. Can’t wait to see you in a competition.”
