Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristopher French.
Hi Kristopher, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Wow, where to begin! I started BBQ with my dad at a very young age, around 6 or so. Helping here and there and being the “goffer.” Always enamored by the art of cooking, BBQ, smoking, and grilling, I knew it was going to be a passion. My father learned to cook & BBQ from his mother, my grandmother – which is usually not the case, but she can sure whip up a full BBQ spread!
So, I learned to cook at an early age, often going to youth cooking classes. Growing up my dad was in competitive BBQ, and we would travel around Texas with his friends doing it. My father was/is still my go-to for recipes especially BBQ & southern cooking.
In high school and college, if there was food to be cooked for events/gatherings, I was doing it. Even if it wasn’t my house or planning, I would be offered as the cook. This is where I think my love for feeding people accelerated and the joy on their faces knowing that I did that made me feel good.
Fast forward to my life post-college, I’m married to my amazing wife Tristian. I haven’t had grill personally in some time because college/work got in the way. I get a hand-me-down smoker from a neighbor when they were moving out. Then shortly after my wife buys me a new kettle-style grill. Little does she know she has just created a monster. We now have more grills than we do children, haha.
6 grills (after selling a few) and 2 beautiful girls, hence the name GirlDadBBQ. I am surrounded by female influences in my life and was raised with strong females in my life, starting with my mother, aunt, grandmother’s, and now to my wife who continues to keep me in line!
Just as a lot of people, in 2020 the world stopped. I am a traveling medical rep (across Texas & Louisiana) and have been in the medical field for almost 10 years now. Well, when travel came to an abrupt stop, I was at home with a wife, daughter, and one on the way.
I figured that I cook/BBQ all the time and I’ve posted a few times in the past. Let’s try this “BBQ influencer” thing out. I started with little to no following, mainly consisting of friends & family. As of today, I crossed the 8K mark and not slowing down one bit.
BBQ has become my therapy and has helped me express a lot. Now I am passing that along to my girls and having yummy food is always a plus.
The future seems to be a bright one for work and BBQ. My plan is to begin selling BBQ by the serving for holidays, parties, and gatherings.
Eventually, I would like to get into catering but for now, focusing on getting my name and BBQ into as many mouths as possible.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think all success comes with challenges, but you have to face them and learn to grow from them.
I never want to consider myself “insta-famous” because I am not, even though friends and family think I am. Plenty of people have paved the way for BBQ on & off social media.
Early in 2020 & into 2021 a lot of people had the same idea as me. Create a BBQ account and do something with their downtime at home. A lot of people fizzled out because either they didn’t “make it” fast enough or they weren’t consistent.
Now I will say that now with the world being back to somewhat normal it does make it harder to provide content daily, but planning is key!
So now juggling family, friends, work travel and social media has become harder it is still my therapy.
One obstacle that I overcome was cooking for myself on the road for work. Nothing is better than a steak prepared by your hands while on the road. Not a lot of drive thru & restaurants for me. I get content by doing “Hotel Cooking” at grills at my hotel. It relaxes me and I get to continue my passion.
I’m not the typical guy making crazy things for likes, shares & follows (even though I loves those). I’m a guy putting delicious food on the table to feed my family and making content at the same time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
GirlDadBBQ is not just BBQ, even though it is in the title. It’s all styles of cooking, I try to incorporate every style of cooking on a grill/smoker. This encourages cooking outside and imparting smoke flavor on things.
Smoking meats has been around for generations, why not use your grill to make a cake, bread or cookies? Trust me when I say Smoked Chocolate Chip Cookies with sea salt are Game changing!
I think what sets me apart is I’m just a guy who loves to cook and feed people. Everything I make is something I put 110% effort into. For people to tell me how good it is or how they can’t believe how good this tastes. It makes my heart full all while knowing their bellies are full.
My social media life is what you see in real life. If I didn’t do that then I would have fizzled out long ago too. I have made some amazing friends and partnerships along the way. I value them like they are family!
People tend to gauge success on social media by likes/comments. But to me, it’s when I get a DM asking, “how I did that” or “can I pick you brain about that recipe”. What really does it for me is people sending me pictures or videos of something I did that they recreated.
So yes, I want to be successful but successful in heart not just numbers.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Be humble & always keep learning. People think being an expert means you are done learning; this is not true.
I’m a big believer in continuing to “polish your craft”, rather that be your day job, cooking, woodworking or gardening.
I am always looking to learn and push myself in every aspect of life, not just BBQ.
Pricing:
- Smoked Turkey Breast – $50 (4lb avg)
- Smoked Pork Ribs – $30/rack (10-12 ribs)
- Pulled Pork – $60 (5-6 lbs avg)
- Brisket – $120-160 (10-12 lbs avg)
- Pork Belly (Burnt Ends or Sliced) – $70 (7 lb avg)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/girldadbbq
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegirldadbbq
