Southern Lady: Why do you think grilling has traditionally been such a male-dominated hobby?
Shannon Mitchell: Whether it’s that primal connection to fire or just a guy’s way of escaping from kitchen cleanup duty, men love to cook outside. Grilling is a way to bond with your family and friends. Tending the grill gives guys a purpose and something to talk about when entertaining, and then they get accolades for the delicious meal—who wouldn’t love that?
Men tend to like the physical aspect of grilling and aren’t intimidated by using barbecue tools. Another reason why grilling has been a male-dominated hobby is that some women are happy to have their guy pitch in and help with the cooking process, so they have happily handed over the reins.
SL: How long have you been a grilling enthusiast and what sparked your interest?
Shannon: I never dreamed I would be a griller or in the grilling industry. I worked for Major League Baseball for seven years [before starting as recteq’s director of marketing in 2020]. Like baseball, grilling is as Americana as it gets, so jumping into the grilling world was easy, especially because grillers are a welcoming community. I went from never grilling to grilling four to five times weekly. Working alongside some of the best barbecue experts and chefs helped me understand the wood pellet grill’s functionality and sparked my passion for grilling. Now, I am hooked and want to encourage everyone to grill.
