BBQDoorway — Beyond the Backyard

Good food. Fresh air. Your kind of play.

LEAD BBQ REVIEWER & WRITER

Mark Ellison

Mark has tested grills, smokers and outdoor cooking gear since 2012. He writes BBQDoorway's hands-on equipment reviews and buying guides, drawing on experience cooking with more than 80 grills and smokers across fuel types.

12+Years testing
80+Units cooked on
50+Articles written

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Practical experience, one cook at a time.

Mark grew up in the American Midwest, where backyard grilling is part of the warm-weather routine. Weekend charcoal cookouts led to a deeper interest in smoke, heat management and equipment after he bought his first offset smoker in 2013 and spent a summer learning how much temperature control matters.

At BBQDoorway, Mark reviews everything from entry-level gas grills to pellet smokers. His approach is practical: cook real food over multiple sessions and pay attention to build quality, grate materials, grease management, temperature stability and cleanup. He considers how equipment performs in ordinary backyard conditions, not only ideal test settings.

His coverage includes gas grills, pellet grills, charcoal cooking, smokers and outdoor cooking technique. The goal of every guide is to help readers understand the trade-offs and make a confident choice for their own space, cooking habits and budget.

Gas grills Pellet grills Smokers Cold smoking Charcoal grilling Outdoor cooking Equipment testing BBQ techniques

BBQ FIELD NOTES & REVIEWS

Articles by Mark Ellison

All BBQ guides ↗

Recent equipment explainers, cooking guides and BBQ stories by Mark.

Grill and smoker combination for an autumn backyard cookout
Seasonal BBQ

Fall backyard BBQ guide

Plan an easy cookout for cooler weather with a flexible menu, safe cooking setup and comfortable gathering space.


Read guide ↗