Mike Mills and Amy Mills Share Their Legendary Lives in Barbecue – 17th Street BBQ Interview|Behind The Smoke Podcast #47 - a podcast by Shawn Walchef

RIP Mike Mills
The world lost a legend on Dec. 29, 2020 when our friend and iconic BBQ pitmaster Mike Mills died.Legend Mike Mills was the essence of #BBQFamily and true hospitality. The BBQ legend and great person genuinely cared about our small BBQ business and gave us tips that we still use to this day.



We will never forget hosting the @17thstreetbbq crew and the legendary Mike Mills and Amy Mills at Cali BBQ when the NBBQA Annual Conference landed in San Diego in 2012.Mike Mills And Amy Mills Recorded A Behind The Smoke Podcast At Nbbqa

We are so grateful that we also got to interview Mike Mills and Amy Mills on our podcast to hear in person the incredible life he lived.To Amy Mills: We are sending our love from California and are here for anything you might need. ❤️??

  










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A post shared by 17th Street Barbecue|Amy Mills (@17thstreetbbq)“How can I help?” - Mike Mills

When the BBQ Hall of Famer and legend Mike Mills and the @17thstreetbbq team visited @calibbq as part of the @nbbqa San Diego Bus Tour, we were just a small BBQ restaurant learning the ropes of the true slow-smoked barbecue world.Mike Mills took the time to ask us questions, answer our questions, give us advice and even thank us for our hospitality.

No matter how big his fame got he always took time to humbly share his knowledge. We learned of stories like this from all over the globe.Thank you Mike Mills for teaching the next generation how to do bbq right and more importantly, how to lead with your heart.

  










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About this Interview with Mike Mills and Amy Mills:This BBQ podcast interview featuring Mike Mills and Amy Mills was recorded at the River Ranch Stockyards during the National Barbecue and Grilling Association’s IAMBBQ 2018 National Trade Show and Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.



 10 Moments from this Episode:

Southern Illinois Former Miner, Metropoulos wins home run derby over Canseco {18:14}Local Man Recalls Clinton’s Love of Baby Back Ribs {19:38}
“Following up is not only half the battle in PR&Marketing, it’s the whole battle.” Amy Mills {32:50}
“If you do not have a customer, then you are on break, if you have a customer in line, then you are not on break.” - Mike Mills {34:35}“Marso’s don’t take breaks.” - Derek’s father, Don Marso {35:55}
“You don’t work until you are tired, you work until you are finished with the job. Derek Marso {36:55}“Shawn, why are there no other cars on the road this Sunday? Because we work when everyone else doesn’t.” Shawn’s grandfather, Luben Walchef {37:41}
“Danny Meyer and Michael Romano came on a surreptitious visit to (17th Street BBQ) and asked to talk with Mike Mills.” - Amy Mills on how the Blue Smoke partnership began. {41:47}“They went all over the country and tried BBQ everywhere. I feel like (Danny Meyer and Michael Romano) were the first ones to that kind of field work. People didn’t do that. Now it’s a big thing to make a BBQ pilgrimage.” - Amy Mills {42:20}
“Danny Meyer is just an incredible individual. His mind and the way he thinks and the way he talks to people...and treats people, it is just incredible.” - Mike Mills {43:45} 

In 2012, the National Barbecue and Grilling Association (NBBQA) hosted their annual trade show and educational conference in San Diego, California. We were very excited for BBQ legends and industry leaders to visit our restaurant in Spring Valley. Before the NBBQA Conference, Gene Goycochea lobbied successfully to get Cali BBQ on the BBQ Bus Tour of San Diego.During the San Diego BBQ Bus Tour, the great Mike Mills and his daughter Amy Mills visited Cali BBQ and their curiosity and hum...

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