Fanning the Flames

Recipes and Tall Tales from BBQ Hall of Famer Melissa Cookston
Melissa Cookston, renowned as the “winningest woman in barbecue,” judge on the Netflix hit, Barbecue Showdown, the only female, seven-time barbecue world champion, and author of two acclaimed barbecue cookbooks, returns with a collection of classic, blue-ribbon favorites plus 70% new internationally-inspired recipes with the stories behind them all.
Melissa Cookston, renowned as the “winningest woman in barbecue,” judge on the Netflix hit, Barbecue Showdown, the only female, seven-time barbecue world champion, and author of two acclaimed barbecue cookbooks, returns with a collection of classic, blue-ribbon favorites plus 70% new internationally-inspired recipes with the stories behind them all.

From her beginnings in the Mississippi Delta to becoming a BBQ Hall of Famer and award-winning chef, Melissa Cookston has always fused tradition with innovation. In Fanning The Flames, she expands her pitmaster repertoire beyond her classics, showing how fire, smoke, and bold flavors connect food cultures across the globe. Building on her earlier books Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room and Smokin’ Hot in the South, Melissa shares personal stories and 75 recipes that reflect both her Southern heritage and her travels through Sicily, Chile, Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Greece, and more. Each chapter reflects her belief that cooking with fire is both deeply rooted and endlessly adaptable.

The book begins with the foundations of Mississippi barbecue, with dishes like her award winning Brisket and Burnt Ends or Baby Back Ribs, before widening to showcase her global curiosity. Recipes such as Duck Breast with Smoked Blackberry Mostarda and Smoked Oxtail Peposo with Gremolata highlight her ability to marry Southern techniques with international flavors. Globally inspired meals like Peruvian-Style Chicken with Aji Verde Sauce, Cretan Goat and Tomato Stew, and Pork Tenderloin Souvlaki with Tzatziki demonstrate how smoke and flame can bridge cultures and inspire new ways of bringing the world to your table.

More than a recipe collection, Fanning The Flames is a passport to global flavors viewed through the lens of smoke. With expert tips, master techniques, and Melissa’s signature warmth, it serves as both a tribute to her Southern roots and an exploration of how barbecue truly knows no borders.

Contributor: Ken Goodman (By (photographer)), Michael Symon (Foreword by)

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