Slap Yo Daddy BBQ

What a great, fun investment for my son and I! We’ve been grilling for years, but had no idea how to barbeque and were also interested in any grilling tips. We got all of that and much more in his January 30^th class!
This is a fun, good-​paced, informative class and Harry does a perfect job of teaching in an understandable manner and he obviously loves his craft. The booklet he gives each student is of great value and helps greatly as a future reference.
You will learn:
How to select meat
What ingredients are needed to make rubs and marinades
How to make various rubs and marinades
Hoe to properly prep meat
How to set up your smoker and grill
What wood to use and how to use it
How to really know when the meat is perfectly done (No, you don’t know!)
How to prep side dishes
Proper cleanliness and overall safety
Much more!
Pay attention, take pictures, take a few notes, and listen to Harry! Getting tips and guidance from a BBQ Champion was worth every penny for my son and me.
Heck, we may take his class again in 2017!
Thank you, Harry!

I’ve been meaning to review the Slap Yo Daddy BBQ class that I took last Thanksgiving but have been busy so here goes…
The cost to attend the course is $ 375 (I think it cost $ 395 now). Now that may seem like a lot of money but, some of the proceeds from Harry’s classes go to charity and the skills that you attain are valuable if you are serious about BBQ. You also get appetizers throughout the 6.5 hour class, a bag of rub to take home, an all you can eat lunch (pork ribs, beef ribs, pulled pork, brisket, lamb lollipops, sausage, corn bread, Harry’s delicious seared ahi tuna, and so many other delicious dishes), a custom SYD apron, training guide, and a box of BBQ leftovers! In my opinion it is worth the money.
Harry and his fiancé Donna are professionals and they break the class down into what they call «scenes» like a movie. Topics included: food safety, trimming, seasoning, meat quality, rubs, marinades/​injections, wood/​charcoal, wood flavors, sauces, smokers, thermometers, and techniques for cooking ribs, pork butt and brisket.
I learned or refined my knowledge in smoking meat from a champion BBQ pit master. Harry would also teach us a few of what he refers to his «black belt» or «pro» tips that he has picked up from competing in BBQ competitions.
I totally recommend this class it’s fun, well organized, and COOL!

I love this class! Harry’s Slap Yo Daddy BBQ class will be one of the best investments you will ever make. He will teach you step by step instruction for the perfect BBQ. He is a great instructor, and is willing to share his infinite knowledge with you. He truly has a love and passion for his craft, and it shows when he teaches you. If you were to try to learn this on your own the money you would of spent on trial and error will be 10 times as much. Whether if you are a back yard BBQer like myself, a competitor, or a famous chef, you will learn something invaluable from this class. It is a hands on class, so it is not just sitting back and watching, you will get your hands dirty. You will learn how to make is famous rub/​sauce, meat prep (especially useful if you are a competitor), the science behind the BBQing, and much much more. I like that the class size is small, usually around 14 students, so you do get a lot of one on one interaction with Harry. And if you have any future questions after the class, he welcomes emails. He even mentions it, you will have lifetime, free support from him. Come hungry because by the end of the class you will be stuffed, and you get to bring a box of food home too!

I’ve been BBQing for a long time. Wife gave me this class as a present as she knows I enjoy the hobby. Both of us loved the class and learned an incredible amount. Harry mixes a bit of science, a bit of story telling and a lot of hands on to make this a superb experience. One thing you certainly learn — it isn’t about the equipment. I will definitely up my game with his rubs/​sauces and techniques. I cannot imagine a better class for this topic.
Tom

Harry is truly a great guy. He is so generous with his knowledge, time, and resources. I took his bbq class and was there with other novices, but also advanced barbecuers and even three catering company chefs. There are no secrets, he tells you how he does it! He covers the theory behind different parts of the barbecue process like meat selection, barbecue science, wood, fires, rubs, sauces, and philosophy. You’ll have overnight improvement with this class. This is one of the better things I’ve spent time and money on. Thanks, Harry and team.

when you tell people you are spending $ 375 on a smoking class most people think you are crazy. However, this was one of the best investments I have ever made regarding my passion for cooking. If you would think about the cost alone in meat, charcoal, wood, and equipment I would have had to go through to acquire the skills I learned on one long hard day of cooking with the Champ, I would have greatly exceeded the money I invested. This class works well for anyone, from a complete newbie to an intermediate to the circuit hobbyist trying to hone in on their first trophy.
What I learned over the course of the day was invaluable. I learned how to properly fire up my pit (which I have been doing wrong), I learned what pits work the best, and how to make «any pit» work for me. I learned how to make a rub from scratch and how to in the future redesign rubs through reverse engineering.
I learned how to cook chicken I WOULD EAT… AND I HATE CHICKEN.
I learned to take a deep breath and roll with my strengths and faults and enjoy both in the process of BBQ.
I look forward to using my new found and reinforced skills with my future cooks and cant wait to try and pull off a competition…
would I do it again? YES and I plan too! I will absolutely do this class again in the future!

Harry debunk all myth of BBQ. His science, «black belt» techniques, and love of BBQ is all in this class. Harry explain his cooking method with science and hands on class really help me become more confident with my BBQ. Thank you Harry for sharing your love.

With zero experience smoking BBQ, Harry’s class is nothing short of amazing. He explains the science of what’s happening and why his techniques work. I really enjoyed learning from him and eating all the tasty Q at the end of class. Highly recommend.

I am a certified BBQ judge and not far from becoming a master judge. I have tasted a lot of BBQ and wanted to learn from the best in CA. This is a very hands on class and you will learn how to cook great BBQ. Also you will eat a lot of great BBQ in his class. Harry does not miss a step as he shows you how to cook all of the four meat basics plus as a added bonus he shows you how to cook other meats as well. I enjoyed every minute of this class.

Well worth the wait.
Harry and his «black belt» tips are worth the price of admission alone. The food is incredible and the techniques are really amazing. Harry himself is a joy to just be around. He’s one of those people that just has such a positive energy about him that it becomes infectious.
All the reviews are correct about the knowledge imparted, the skills obtained, and the level of cooking expertise displayed. There is no hyperbole in any of it. It is really that good.
The best part? Lifetime tech support. After a class, Harry invites… heck, he expects… everyone to stay in touch via email. He will answer questions about equipment, materials, and cooking tips… forever. He really loves bbq and it shows in everything he says and does.
Insider tip: Come hungry and skip the free donuts. You’ll want the space for other things.

My wife had no idea that I’d go to a class and return home with not just a deeper knowledge of food but the ability to explain why exactly I love it so much.
Harry has the teaching ability of a college professor and the energy of a 5^th grader whose had to much candy hahaha I learned more in 6 hours about cooking and the love behind it then I have in the 8 years I’ve seriously been cooking.
I went in expecting to learn about BBQ and left feeling like family and couldn’t have been more satisfied with my experience!

This was the best Xmas gift ever… I mean ever. Harry provides such a detailed lesson plan that even I left knowing that I can make some great BBQ. He gives us many, many recipes and I have already begun to use them. Everyone receives a container of food to take home so pace yourself when you eat and taste throughout class. I overate, not wanting to miss tasting the results of his spices and flavor. I generally do mot eat brisket, Tri Tip, etc., but this was the best. We learned detailed information on how to prepare 15 different meats. You can’t beat this class and I can comfortably say that it was worth ever dollar. There were BBQ business owners, BBQ competitors and just plain folks like me in the class. If you have watched the pitmasters on cable TV and would love to to learn how to bbq like them, enroll now!

After almost half of a year trying to attend to this class finally did it. I can agree 100% with all the comments here, harry is an amazing teacher and person he not only teach you to cook, he also show you how to see and make everything in your life thru bbq. In about 7 – 8 you will learn a lot of tips and ways to make you a pitmaster.

Harry’s Backyard Pitmaster Class was AWESOME! So much more than I possibly imagined. He is so informative and makes everything fun & interesting! It’s totally hands on and you really learn the techniques from one of the very best in the BBQ World! I highly recommend for everybody!

Some of the best instruction on preparing award winning bbq… great teacher and an awesome end result… I suggest everyone book a class and learn from the master of bbq.

I took the class today with Harry. I was really looking forward to it and it did not disappoint. Harry was great and it seemed like all in our group enjoyed. The previous reviews have just about everything covered, so I will be brief. Great time and great food. Certainly worth checking out! I highly recommend it.

Last weekend my son and I took Harry ’ s bbq course. It was beyond outstanding. His passion and love for bbq was wonderful to experience. The chance to learn the tricks of the trade from one of the leading Pitmasters was a thrill for all who attended. Harry is a g-​d and we were so fortunate to have had the chance to learn from the master.
Highly recommended the course if you can get in.

super fun time at Harry’s house with my brother. Learned some real trade secrets and then got to eat the food we made! Special menu for our class, besides the regular 15 dishes that are typically made, we got to enjoy holiday Lamb Lollipops and a Prime Rib. Once in a lifetime experience. Harrys new fiancé is also part of the class and also a Grand Master Pit Master, bonus!
Thank you Harry and Donna!
Steve and Jared Out

I’m an 2013 Slap Yo Daddy class alumni (giving my special Slap hand sign)… I haven’t taken a BBQ class before but I’ve seen some videos and read some articles. I was reading about BBQ classes on
and found out about this. Noticed it was in the area and signed up.
Harry’s class was very fun and educational. Harry is very modest but has been to the big show (Jack Daniels Invitational) and won over 50+ first place championship including team of the year, multiple state championships, winner of season 1 of Pitmasters and more! If you want to learn, learn from the best.
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Slap Yo Daddy BBQ is the love child of TLC’s BBQ Pitmasters Head Cook Harry Soo. Preparing a bucket list of wishes to do before kicking the bucket, he started competing in 2008. And the rest, as they say, is history. Slap Yo Daddy BBQ, one of the top-​ranked Kansas City BBQ Society teams in America, was chosen among over 5,000 professional teams to appear on TLC’s BBQ Pitmasters Season One in 2010. In the Season Finale, SYD stunned the nation by defeating all the teams in the show including two BBQ World Champions in the winner-​take-​all Rib Throwdown in Texas.
Awarded California Team of the Year 2010 & 2011; Arizona Team of the Year 2010 and 2011; 2010 Grand Champion in Langley, Canada; 2012 Hawaii State Champion, 2012 British BBQ Champion at Cartmel, UK; 2010 3^rd ranked Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS) team in the nation; 1^st KCBS Ranchers Reserve National Brisket Cup 2010; 1^st KCBS Ranchers Reserve National Beef Cup 2011; winner of 27 Grand Championships including a history making 1^st place in all four meat categories in the 2009 Way Out West BBQ Championship has proven this BBQ team knows their stuff.

If you have a passion for BBQ and live near So Cal, this is the place for you! Sign up for a day class and it will be the best $$$ you have spent in a looooong time.
Priceless to me in terms of knowledge learned today. Harry is a great man with a great soul and I am honored to have been made a student of his Pitmaster program.