Big Jim's catered a 50th. HS reunion for my class. The day arrived and I met a couple of his employees busy prepping everything. I paid them in full. When it came time to announce lunch was ready, I told everyone what the choices were but alas, one dish was missing. I was promised by the 2 employees that I would be reimbursed. That was Sept. 8th. On Dec. 12th. I finally received reimbursement. It took a lot of teeth pulling, calling, emails and a certified, return receipt letter but he finally came through and sent me a check. I'm happy to have received it, just wish it hadn't taken so long. It doesn't negate the fact that his food is delicious. I'd give the food 5 stars but the business dealings a 2 or 3. read more

We took Big Jim's BBQ class on 4/13/13. I had a great time and got to eat some great food! We were given a wealth tips, techniques and info for BBQing, a lot more than we were expecting. He also gives out some of his best recipes. If you want to learn some advanced BBQ info, take this class. Be prepared to take notes to remember everything. read more

I highly recommend this class to anyone that is interested in bumping up there BBQ stats. I've use so many of the technics that I learned from that one day. Thank you Jim!!! read more

Bought a coupon on Groupon. Looked online and no classes available. Called and guy said classes available soon. A year later, no classes.

a couple friends and I attended Big Jim's BBQ class 3 years ago. it was awesome! I came away with all kinds of basic knowledge. and I thought I was pretty good before the class. but I quickly found out I knew nothing. over the last three years (although not in competitions) have perfected the skills I learned in Jims class and now make the best Dam backyard BBQ ever! and although he doesn't teach this in class he shows you examples of what rubs to start with. in an overtime you learn to make your own! he teaches you temperatures hand smoke combinations and a variety of other details that you're not going to get on your own. Definitely worth the money if you love BBQ read more

Took Chef Jim's class today and really enjoyed it. His teaching style was good. He's personable and dynamic. He takes time to answer your questions. Food he served was good.. Bring and ipad to take notes you'll need it'... read more

I really enjoyed Big Jim's BBQ class. If you come prepared to take notes and listen, you will learn a lot. I did not think him full of him self as one reviewer suggested. He is just passionate about his BBQ, and he is very knowable and good at it. Will I make my brisket or ribs as good as his ... NO , but mine will be a lot better for having taken his class. read more

I was very skeptical to take the BBQ class after reading some of these reviews. But after asking around to a few friends who actually know him, I decided to go for it. Just had the class yesterday, and thought it was great. My printer died and I was a little nervous I'd get hassled since I didn't print out my groupon voucher (there are a couple of negative reviews below about this). But all I had to do was show on my phone and all was good. Super easy, no issues. The class itself was pretty technical and much of it over my head, but what a fun day of cooking and eating (lots of eating!). I don't have a smoker, but now looking to buy one. With some prior hands on experience using a smoker, this class would be much more useful. But it's still a good intro and got me excited and interested to take BBQ'ing to the next level. If I do get a smoker, then I will most certainly take this class again. I ordered the book, and it's a little frustrating that I have to wait a month (or more). He really should have these one hand. I understand if he runs out, but seems like the standard is to order and print as they are purchased. If there was anything to improve upon, it would be to have the books on hand. Perhaps even sold at the start of the class, so you could take your notes directly in the book. All in all, I thought a great day. I'll definitely recommend to my friends. read more

Big Jim's BBQ class on Sunday outside at Marin Rod & Gun Club (Richardson Bay for the backdrop). Great value. We learned alot about smoking/grilling, what products to use & sampled ribs, chicken, brisket,salmon,pulled pork sandwiches and then there was lunch-tri tip, sausage, 2 salads, great beans. Downside, considered being a vegetarian this week because of the meat overload. That quickly passed, fortunately. read more

Have since had Jim cater many events and he never fails to deliver! Jim is a great guy and fantastic chef. You cannot go wrong with either his classes or his catering. Strongly recommend!! read more

I'll never forget September 25th 2010. It was the day Chef Jim and his top-notch crew catered my 39th Birthday Party. We had a Bocce Tournament for over 100 people and Chef Jim really put on a show. He brought his 28 Foot grill and served over 9 appetizers for all my guests. Jim pulled together the menu to match the theme and exceeded my expectations: Fresh cut fruit Award Winning Baby Back Ribs Mushroom cups filled with shitake mushroom risotto Grilled tiger prawn and pineapple kebab with papaya Lamb skewers marinated with garlic and rosemary w/ red potatoes Sausages ( hot links and Italian mild sausages) Chicken skewers w/ red pepper aoli sauce Award winning pulled pork sandos Organic spring salad w/ light balsamic vinaigrette I can assure you that every dish he creates will be certain to delight your guest. Do you and your guests a favor and order the BBQ Ribs and Pulled Pork Sandos. You will not be disappointed. Chef Jim really earned my admiration and respect for his professionalism, vision and most of all his cooking! Clinch Fuentes read more

Went to his BBQ class yesterday in San Rafael. It was great. Really enjoyed the class and the food. His staff was great, too. I've never liked beans, but it was so good with the pork mixed in it. read more

Took Big Jim's class in San Rafael today. It was great. His brisket, bbq ribs, chicken and salmon were all delicious. Jim gave some great advice & instructions on how to do BBQs well, especially for those who want to take their backyard BBQ to the next level. He is friendly, knowledgeable, has a great sense of humor and makes the class informative and entertaining. Be ready to sample lots of great food, and after 4 hours, you too might be in a serious food coma. Definitely recommend this class for those who are serious about their BBQs and wish to learn more from the pros. read more

20 of us got together, and everybody enjoyed Big Jim's passion and his wealth of knowledge about barbecuing. Would recommend his class to folks interested in improving their grilling skills. read more

I just wanted to say thank you Jim and your family for an amazing catering event! We had you guys here last year and I suggested to have you guys host our event this year and you guys are always so nice, professional and caring. Your crew helped us wrap up a bunch of plates to take to my guys out on the field since there was an emergency and you guys did it with such ease! The food is and always has been amazing! I get compliments all the time about the food, so we will definitely see you guys next year! Thank you and your team for everything! read more

I had originally written a review after I had taken Big Jim's class in January. The class itself was wonderful and the recipes I took home have worked well for me. However, I rated the class 1 star because like so many others, I had paid $15 in advance for the cookbook that never arrived. I called Jim repeatedly. He offered to drive the book over until he learned I live in the East Bay. Why it made sense to hand deliver it rather than drop it in the mailbox was a puzzler. I began to doubt that the cookbook existed. But, this week, after nearly a year, I was meeting a friend for dinner in Marin, texted the address to Big Jim and the book was there waiting for me. Good outcome after lots of aggravation. But for the cookbook adventure, I probably would give 5 stars. My advice: Enjoy the class. If the book is on hand, it's worth buying. If it's a preorder, skip it and just enjoy the moment. read more

My son and I took Big Jim's BBQ class this past Sunday. What a great experience. I would like to start with giving a big thanks to Ashley of Big Jim's staff. I purchased the class for my birthday and between the time I made the purchase and the time I made my reservation, the class filled up. I had no idea the class was so popular! After a few email exchanges with Ashley, I was able to get in the class at the last minute. It really made my birthday (more on birthdays later). Jim's staff was a reflection of himself: friendly, helpful and inviting. No question was off-limit to Big Jim. He took the time to explain everything in a manner that left you wanting to hear what was next. My son is new to BBQing and it was a great start for him. I consider myself fairly experienced (don't we all ) and still found myself taking copious notes on tips and techniques I can't wait to try to "take it to the next level". I especially enjoyed the tips on doing pork butt and brisket. I also loved the tips on how to get great smoke flavor with a gas grill and my trusty weber kettle. Although we got some good tips for dry rubs and sauces, I would liked to have seen a little more on how to create your own. I think we got a little behind with all of the questions that were asked. On to the food...we were able to sample everything and for those with a birthday, there was always something a little special. By the end of the day, it was everyone's birthday! Combine all the samples with the lunch and you definitely experienced a day of more than you could eat dining bliss. Finally, the location was at the edge of the bay with a view that you could not beat. All in all, it was an outstanding day. I highly recommend the class. Thanks Big Jim for a great experience. read more

Big Jim makes some amazing, world-class BBQ. I've had the opportunity to experience his cooking many times, and I'm always left very full and extremely happy! I have also taken his BBQ classes multiple times in order to improve my own cooking skills. Jim is so amazingly generous with his time in explaining how to cook things, and has patiently answered all of my questions I've posted to his Facebook wall. He teaches his students how to make dry rubs, BBQ sauces, and many different kinds of meats. His "San Francisco Style" of BBQ should be featured on the Food Network soon...highly recommended to anyone that wants to kick their BBQ sampling up a notch! read more

My brother sent me to Big Jim's BBQ class as a birthday present and it was a real treat. I am a real fan of smoked BBQ and I have a tried a few recipes in my own home smoker with mixed results. Spending the time with Jim working on Ribs, Tri Tip, Brisket, Pork Shoulder Chicken, and even Salmon really gave me a lot of insights and tips to help me improve my own recipes. Also, Jim answers every question - except the secret recipes-and he has great insights on the different types of equipment as well (gas BBQ, smokers, etc...). Spending time with Jim is like spending time with a "BBQ professor" and I really loved Jims open and informative style. The food was great as well. Jim shows you tricks with the Rubs, Sauces, the Texas Crunch- braising technique and since you are tasting all day, every chef can choose what will work for him / her. Definitely take notes and for those of you who already BBQ , bring your questions. Thanks again to Jim and the staff for a great time, awesome food and a super education. read more

Slow and Low is the way to go! Big Jim's BBQ is awesome! I took Jim's class over the weekend with some friends and it was great. I had taken it before, a year ago, and when mentioning it to some other friends of mine I decided to go again with them. I'm thankful for it as not only was Jim a fun and entertaining host/teacher his knowledge bank is impressive. People were rattling off questions that were all over the place and he had the experience to answer, and also why he was answering that way instead of just yes or no. Jim isn't just some backyard bbq guy, he has a high-end bbq catering business, competes professionally (and wins!) and is a celebrity chef. To have this in our own backyard and the ability to learn from such a cool down to earth guy is amazing. We literally cooked the ribs that we ate at the end of the class and they were the best I've had. You get step by step instructions on cooking the ribs, tri-tip, salmon, chicken and also discussed was brisket, pulled pork, turkey, chicken and even more I'm sure I've forgotten. Not only that it covers how to clean the different cuts and some shortcuts in doing them as well. Did I mention you also get to taste all these different recipes? You will leave stuffed, make sure you come hungry! In addition to the wealth of food knowledge Jim also knows equipment. He has had or used just about everything out there on the market. He discusses pros and cons of each. He does not trash any equipment nor push anything on you from him sponsors. He honestly tells you what equipment he uses in competitions and for how long he's been using them. Also covered in class is maintenance of the equipment. For example how to properly care for your propane grill, tricks for cleaning and seasoning at once and how often you should clean the equipment. This class has convinced me to switch to charcoal, not part of the class but after eating the food and seeing how easy it can be to make quality Q I want to switch. Also the friends I were with were a bit leery before the class but at the end they turned to me and said "This guy is legit, that was a great class, thank you for bringing us." As other people mentioned bring a notebook if your serious about learning how to BBQ. If not bring an open mind to learn and pack this information away for future reference. Along with that open mind, bring an empty stomach! read more

Ok this is as good as it gets! I was beyond impressed by Jim's culinary talent, positive energy and most of all his "down to earth" humble spirit! We just hired Big Jim for our upcoming October wedding - and I honestly could not believe how generous he was to us - on our VERY FIRST meeting Jim drove all the way to our home in Healdsburg - preparing a mini feast for us to "taste" - However, what blew us away the most was Jim's overall willingness to just "be a part" of our special day ... I am seriously SPEECHLESS and so GRATEFUL that my paths crossed with this outstanding Chef! If you need a chef to "ROCK your World" and take your event to the next level - Then Big Jim is your Man! read more

I have an employee retiring after 30 years of service. jim (will not give him the credit of being big or capitalized j) and I talked over the phone at least 4 times, probably 5, since mid-July til today. My event was a mid-week retirement party, which should be good for a company that predominantly probably does weekend events. Was told "oh yeah, this is gonna be great! Food is gonna be awesome! We do big, big events!" I work for a city in the Bay Area. Called day before to check on things. "Oh, you are not in the calendar". "jim, do you recall you and I speaking on the phone a bunch of times? You asked me if you should provide beverages, I said no." "But, you are not on the calendar." "Jim, I have an email I sent you on July 18 that said I'd like to reserve your services". I never had an email reply. Absolutely F**ked me a day before an event for 40-50 people. read more

Enjoyed Big Jims BBQ pulled pork yesterday at a charity event for big brothers & big sisters, this was best pulled pork I have ever had. I spent a few years living in the Cincinnati/No KY area which is known for its pulled pork and other BBQ dishes, Big Jims was the best I have ever enjoyed. Looking forward to making a trip to San Rafael or finding out when he is catering another event! read more

Not a good class for beginners or novice bbq'ers. In Jim's defense, this was a competition level BBQ class. In our defense, we purchased our tickets on Living Social. We ate well, but didn't find the instruction to be detailed or helpful. If anything found Big Jim to be a bit of an egomaniac, who was rude to his staff, and dismissive of many questions. If you are a BBQ expert, this may be a good forum for you to share ideas, stories and ambitions. If you are truly looking for inventive recipes and detailed instruction, pass on this class. We were served Masterpiece BBQ sauce on almost everything we ate, and were given an award winning receipe for sauce that was equal parts honey, ketchup and Ken's Light Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing. I was not impressed. read more

This class focuses almost exclusively on using smokers and very little on gas grills. And if your grill's heating elements run the length of the grill and not front to back, there will be virtually nothing of use to you in the class. Check before you register so that you don't throw your money away like I did. Lots of good food served, but I registered to learn to cook, not really to eat. read more

The business... These people are an organizational train wreck. I purchased my $100 voucher for his course, and paid an additional $22 for the cookbook in October of 2012. My check was promptly cashed, but four MONTHS later I STILL had no voucher DESPITE sending five emails requesting confirmation. The last couple that I sent simply requested a refund as I no longer wanted to deal with the aggravation. All communications were ignored. After five months of unresponsiveness, I sent a final email and found Jim's cell number (415-203-4744). He called me back and seemed annoyed at my request for a voucher or refund, but his tone changed quickly when I stated that my next recourse was to go to social media and the Better Business Bureau. He blamed his "manager." Amazingly, there was a voucher in my inbox 48 hours later. I registered for the next available class which was about two months away. The website said something to the effect of "location TBA" and that registrants "will be emailed." Two weeks prior to my date, I had still heard nothing. This was despite two inquiring emails. As I was coming from almost three hours away, I emailed again five days prior, again four days prior, and again two days prior. All to no avail. AGAIN, I called Jim's cell, and although he provided me with the address, he AGAIN blamed his "manager." The class... I learned a few techniques that elevated my 'smoking techniques' from lower-novice to moderate-novice and we did eat A LOT OF FOOD, but overall, this was a waste of money. Here were the foods; SLS Spare ribs- Quite good. Sweeter than I care for, but much better than I'd previously done at home Chicken- I was SO IMPRESSED! YUMMY!... Until I replicated them at home. I didn't realize that I was out of charcoal, so I had to try this recipe in the oven. The injector sauce (Cajun creole butter by brucefoods.com/amazon) is what made this chicken! Jim was an innocent bystander to the success of this protein! Salmon- uck! My 5-year-old niece loves to 'cook' for me...and fish that's wrapped in foil and drowned in two-dollar/pound jelly is right up her alley! You can't even call that a braise or poach, just a syrupy salmon abortion. NY Strip- It was seared well, and served at a great med-rare...but there was no smoke. Was there a reason that I left my Weber? I've been making this since I was 13. Brisket- (in all fairness, I'm not a brisket fan) Bites alternated between shoe leather and pure fat. Tasted the same as EVERY other brisket I'd ever had. (Back to) The business... I was promised my cookbook upon attendance (subsequent to attendance I am even MORE sure that I just want a refund). Of course, they 'didn't have any with them'....but, they 'will send them out next week' and Jim will 'autograph them at no extra charge.' Yeah...his autograph is the one piece of history that my collection has been missing. Guess who he blamed for the lack of on-hand stock? I attended the class approximately two months ago...what do I think of my cookbook? I'll let you know when I get it. If I fail to get back to you, well, my manager has really been dropping the ball lately. read more

Can't find this place did they go out of business I tried his phone number his voice mailbox is full and it's been three days With no change in his voicemail status read more

After reading the reviews, it appears that even though Jim is great at bar-b-q ing. He needs to work on his business skills. Perhaps he should hire someone to handle that end of things. How can you accept money for books and not send them. How can you book classes and then not have a record of it. There are plenty of accounting software programs that would help you in organizing your booked events and stay on top of things. It appears your business grew but you did not. It sounds from the bad reviews that you are still operating as you may have when you first started. When a business grows it means you need to hire whatever staff you need to stay on top of that growth. Even if it is a contract hire where you are not responsible the same way you would be if they were an employee. read more

The guy brings a ton of food to the class, but it's pretty hard to translate what he does to real life...unless you want to spend $300 on a smoker. You'll definitely leave full, so if you're looking for a way to eat yourself through a day, try it. But if you're looking for a BBQ class, stay away. Oh, and don't fall for the cookbook scam. He takes your money and never sends you the book. read more

I just spent the last 6 hours in the best cooking class ever: Big Jim teaching his secrets (some of them) of competition BBQ techniques. I am a meat-aholic. But until this class just couldn't put all the pieces of BBQ together. Jim covered it all: Tri-tip, chicken, salmon, ribs, steak.... even asparagus. Great eating throughout the day. His secrets to BBQ chicken are worth it all. read more

finally this place is closed. big jim threw in the Towle. what a con man this guy was selling coupons he didn't honor and the cookbook that no one ever got after they paid for it. read more

Big Jim really is as good as everyone says!!! I was given the task of finding a caterer for the Lexus of Marin BBQ hosted by my company (Cooks Collision of San Rafael). The criteria was to find someone who would BBQ on site. So naturally I went to YELP to find the best person for the job. I'm so happy I listened to the stellar reviews and went with Big Jim!! Not only did he cook all the food on site, but he brought along his huge 15 ft BBQ!! He is definitely at the top of his game! He was professional yet very down to earth. He worked with me to set a menu that would be within our budget, yet still out of this world good! The coleslaw was amazing (and I'm not usually a coleslaw person) . But, I have to say the pulled pork was the show stopper!! Tender, smokey, and delicious!! Everyone left the BBQ with a full stomach and a smile... Thanks Jim!! read more

Big Jim and his team grilled up some delicious food and fun at our agency's annual summer picnic this past weekend. What a treat it was to have them at our event! The food was delish and Jim and his team were friendly, gracious and genuinely happy to be there. You can really tell that Jim absolutely loves barbecuing and is passionate about creating the best food he can. I use the word "passionate" because it's obvious that it's a passion for him, not just a job. When someone loves what they're doing that much, you know you'll be getting top notch end products because they won't settle for anything less. If you're looking for exceptional food prepared by great people...look no further than Big Jim's BBQ. read more

Well I sent Jim one last email and was pleasantly surprised that he responded in a short period of time. He said that he had cookbooks and would drop one by. I met him yesterday and received my copy of his cookbook as well as his sincere apology for the mixup. He said that he had left some of the clerical end of the business in someone else's hands and that they didn't do what was expected of them. Problem resolved. I am a much happier BBQ-er now. read more

I had been speaking with Chef Jim for approx a month to book a catered lunch for 80-100 people in June. I had been asking for an invoice so I could get a deposit check issued from my company. I also asked for a W-9. Once I asked for the W-9, he said it seemed like a lot of paperwork and told me to find a different caterer. Not sure why someone would give up an almost $3000 catered gig because of a W-9?? Very disappointed with the customer service and now 3 weeks out, need to find another bbq caterer. Thanks Chef Jim~ read more

An amazing workshop! My boyfriend and I took the class together and we learned so much! We ate and ate and ate, it was so delicious! We went home and slept for fourteen hours, I'm not even kidding. Jim really knows his stuff and was able to cater to our questions about cooking in the kitchen as well- not just on the outdoor grill/smoker. I will absolutely be purchasing vouchers for family members for christmas and can't wait to have his food again someday!! Thanks Big Jim, you rock! read more

I went to Jim's class today, and all my expectations were exceeded. Aside from being informative, his class was a lot of fun too. Though the class was packed, he made sure to cater to each one of our interests. I was glad he gave me tips on how to use my mini charcoal grill and how to cook seafood better. His food was great! I was stuffed! His pulled pork sandwiches are a taste of heaven and his ribs are deliciously smoky! It was a pleasure watching him in action. His cookbook is outstanding also! You won't be disappointed by Jim! read more

I took Big Jim's BBQ Class last weekend. It was amazing (not to mention, FILLING!) and learned a TON. Can't wait to put it into practice and thanks to Jim and his team for putting on a great show! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to "Q" with taste....it was SMOKIN! read more

A group of 10 good friends recently spent the weekend in Stinson Beach. I was in charge of organizing dinner on Saturday night. Rather than spend the money and time on a mediocre dinner in town we had Jim come over to the house and provide us with an outstanding BBQ meal. He brought two servers who made the experience that much more enjoyable. I can't speak highly enough about the quality, presentation and friendliness of Jim and his team. His prices were more than reasonable and his food was much better than we could ever have expected. We were pleased that Jim put that kind of effort towards an event of our size and I would highly recomend him to anyone wanting a BBQ dinner that will impress. Thanks again Jim! read more

Took Chef Jim's BBQ class today and all I can say is AWSOME!!! Everything was great from the food to amount of information he provided. This man knows his BBQ and is willing to share his secrets. He is a great teacher as well. If you are looking to improve your BBQ skills this is the place and he is the master. Looking forward to taking more classes with him. read more