A fellow competitor asked for my secret rub before a contest

Last week, a fellow pitmaster asked me for my special rub recipe the day before a competition. I felt torn because sharing helps the community, but it could hurt my chances if he uses it against me. Where do you draw the line between helping others and protecting your own edge?

3 comments

3 Comments

beth_baker691mo ago

Swapping cayenne for cinnamon is just evil, I love it. Reminds me of the guys at my bar who ask for my "secret" cocktail recipes. How do you even measure friendship against a perfect bark?

claire_fisher411mo ago

Real friends get the full recipe, @beth_baker69.

julia_fisher281mo agoMost Upvoted

Give him the recipe but swap cayenne for cinnamon and watch his face the next day. Seriously though, I'd share a basic version and leave out the one weird thing that makes it yours, like that specific coffee grind or the exact brown sugar ratio. Let him figure out why his bark looks sad while yours is perfect.