MICHAEL GREENLEE
@BLACKSTONECOOKING
Michael Greenlee, original Griddle Crew Member and YouTube host of Blackstone Cooking, brings bold flavors and community spirit to every cook on the griddle.
Q: WHEN DID YOU FIRST FALL IN LOVE WITH COOKING?
I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED COOKING BUT REALLY STARTED LEARNING TO COOK FOR REAL WHEN I GOT MY BLACKSTONE IN 2019. I STARTED CHALLENGING MYSELF TO TRY NEW TECHNIQUES AND TO SEE WHAT ALL I COULD MAKE ON THE GRIDDLE BECAUSE IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. IN THE PROCESS I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT COOKING AND TECHNIQUE. PRIOR TO THAT I MAINLY JUST BAKED AND MADE SIMPLE RECIPES. NOW I MAKE ALMOST EVERYTHING FROM SCRATCH.
Q: WHEN DID YOU HEAR ABOUT BLACKSTONE, AND WHEN DID YOU START COOKING ON ONE?
I SAW THEM IN WALMART. ALWAYS KINDA THOUGHT, “THAT WOULD BE COOL.” THEN I MOVED TO AUSTIN AND IN OUR FIRST YEAR HERE WE TRIED TO FIND A HIBACHI STYLE RESTAURANT, WHICH WAS ALWAYS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS BACK WHEN WE LIVED IN FL. WE FREQUENTED WASABI IN PLANT CITY - MMMM. ANYWAY, WE FOUND THAT THESE TYPE OF RESTAURANTS WERE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN IN AUSTIN AND THE ONE WE DID FIND COST US LIKE $200 FOR OUR FAMILY OF 4 TO EAT AT. DRIVING HOME AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE I COMMENTED TO MY WIFE JUSTINE THAT FOR THE PRICE WE JUST PAID WE COULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE BLACKSTONE GRIDDLES AND I COULD HAVE DONE IT MYSELF. SHE LOVED THAT IDEA AND THE NEXT WEEKEND WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST BLACKSTONE.
Q: WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING AND HOW DID YOU GET STARTED DOING IT?
THIS IS A LONG STORY BUT IN A NUTSHELL I AM A TEACHER. I BEGAN MY CAREER AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER. AFTER ABOUT 10 YEARS OF THAT I MOVED INTO A SCHOOL BASED MATH COACHING POSITION WHERE I HELPED TEACHERS AT A SCHOOL SITE WITH THEIR MATH INSTRUCTION. AFTER JUST ONE YEAR OF THAT I WAS TAPPED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE IN POLK COUNTY FL TO BECOME ONE OF THEIR FIRST DISTRICT LEVEL MATH COACHES. IN THIS JOB I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE SCHOOL MATH COACHES AT ALL 85+ ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN POLK COUNTY. I HELPED THEM TO BE BETTER COACHES AT THEIR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SITES.
Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT COOKING?
I HAVE A LOT OF REALLY NERDY HOBBIES WHEN I AM NOT COOKING, I LIKE TO DRAW AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES. WHEN I LIVED IN FL MY WIFE AND I WERE OFFICIAL DISNEY ADULTS. NOW THAT WE ARE IN TX I HAVE PICKED UP PLAYING WAR HAMMER AND JUST HANGING OUT WITH MY KIDS. MY DAUGHTER IS IN HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND SO DURING FOOTBALL SEASON PRETTY MUCH EVERY WEEKEND IS AT GAMES CHEERING ON THE BAND AS A PROUD BAND DAD!
