(MONEY Magazine) – 1 Weber Ranch Kettle Grill A big grill isn't just about ego; it's about flavor. Large cuts of meat need space--space near the heat for searing, space away from the heat for smoking. Raichlen's favorite is the Ranch from Weber. At around $1,000, it's not cheap, but it is big enough for 12 racks of ribs. If your family's not that hungry, check out a smaller Weber, such as the Performer, which sells for about $300.

2 Chimney Starter If you're using charcoal, you should be using one of these to light it. Unsatisfied with what was on the market, Raichlen designed his own $30 starter (grilling4all.com), but models from Lodge and Weber are also good and cost around $20. Best of all, lighter fluid isn't needed, so your food doesn't taste like super unleaded.

3 Kurobuta Pork For Raichlen, barbecuing reaches its apogee when pork ribs are involved. And if the pork involved is Kurobuta, you're in BBQ nirvana. Sometimes dubbed Kobe pork because, like Kobe beef, it's often bred in Japan, Kurobuta pork is also found in the Midwest. Raichlen's favorite cuts come from online butcher Lobel's (lobels.com). A one-pound rack of these baby back ribs goes for $24.98.

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If you want to know what your auto mechanic is thinking after you leave the shop, check out the Mechanic's Tale column on Thecarconnection.com. Written by Douglas Flint, a grease monkey of 25 years, this blog is one of the best sources for making sure that the only fix happening in the garage is the one done to your car.