I was invited to apply for Blackstone's official Griddle Crew ambassador program by fellow members who believed in what I was doing on the patio. Here's what that means to me — and why this community is unlike anything else in the outdoor cooking world.
I still remember the message. A fellow Griddle Crew member reached out and said, "You should apply." That was it. No hard sell, no pitch — just a fellow flat-top cook who saw what I was doing on the patio and thought I belonged in the crew.
That's the thing about the Blackstone Griddle Crew. It doesn't feel like a brand program. It feels like family.
What Is the Griddle Crew?
The Griddle Crew is Blackstone's official ambassador program — a community of passionate outdoor cooks who represent the brand, share their love of flat-top cooking, and push the boundaries of what you can do on a griddle. We're not professional chefs. We're backyard cooks who got obsessed with the craft and decided to share it with the world.
Blackstone hand-selects members who embody the spirit of the brand: real food, real people, real fire.
How I Got In
I was invited to apply by fellow Griddle Crew members who had been watching what I was building here at Daddio on the Patio. That kind of peer recognition means everything to me. These are people who cook every week, who know the difference between a good smash burger and a great one, who understand why the Blackstone is the centerpiece of the backyard. When they say "you belong here," you listen.
I applied, and I got in. And from day one, it felt right.
The Family Atmosphere
What sets the Griddle Crew apart from any other ambassador program I've seen is the culture. It's genuinely warm. Members support each other — sharing techniques, hyping each other's content, collaborating on cooks. There's no ego, no competition. Everyone is just trying to make better food and help others do the same.
When you're part of the Crew, you're not just repping a brand. You're part of a community of people who wake up on a Saturday morning and think about what they're going to cook that day. My kind of people.
Cook the Out of the Ordinary
One of the things the Griddle Crew pushes you toward is thinking beyond the obvious. Yes, smash burgers are incredible on a Blackstone. But what about a full hibachi spread? A reverse-seared ribeye finished on the flat top? Bacon roses for Valentine's Day? Breakfast nachos at 7am?
The Griddle Crew culture is about using the griddle as a canvas — not just a cooking surface. It's about surprising people. It's about putting something in front of your family or your guests that makes them stop and say, "Wait, you made that on the patio?"
That's the energy I bring to every cook. And it's the energy that got me noticed in the first place.
What's Next
Being part of the Griddle Crew has pushed my cooking to another level. It's given me a community of like-minded people who hold me accountable and inspire me constantly. And it's connected me to Blackstone in a way that goes beyond just using their products — I believe in what they're building.
If you've been thinking about leveling up your flat-top game, follow along. The patio is just getting started.