Mike Riddle | Executive Chef & Founder of OWN THE FIRE® | Our Story
Our Story

Mike Riddle, Executive Chef and Founder of Own The Fire®

Twenty plus years in professional kitchens. Twenty five years building Fortune 500 brands. One obsession with live fire that turned into a movement.

Executive Chef VP of Marketing Reddit Top 1% Creator

The Beginning

I didn't grow up with a silver spoon. I grew up in restaurants. They were in my family, in my bloodline. I was in them before I knew what to call them.

I washed dishes early. Worked every position, front and back. Watched the line cooks and felt the heat, the rhythm, the fire. That kitchen was my first classroom, teaching me that excellence isn't given. It's forged.

I went to culinary school. Then at 20, I packed up and moved to New York, working my way up to Executive Chef at a high-end Italian restaurant that did everything from scratch.

"That kitchen was my first forge. Every burn, every rush, every lesson hammered into steel."
Mike Riddle, Executive Chef and Founder of Own The Fire®

The Climb

I rose through the ranks in NYC kitchens, learning the hard lessons, and sharpening not just my knives but my skills, my taste, and my fire. 20+ years in professional kitchens taught me what it means to forge every skill you earn.

I was on the verge of buying a restaurant of my own. The property fell through. I pivoted into promotional marketing, a career that has now spanned over 25 years. Today, I'm a Regional Sales Manager and Vice President of Promotional Marketing, managing national accounts and building brands with the same obsession I brought to the kitchen.

This combination of Executive Chef experience and professional marketing expertise is what lets me build empires, not just content. The lessons from those kitchens never left me. The attention to detail. The commitment to quality. The understanding that tools matter when the stakes are high.

Then the climb reached its peak. My first five posts on Reddit all hit #1 on r/BBQ, reaching 1.7 million people combined. No paid promotion. No celebrity backing. Just decades of earned expertise meeting a community hungry for real knowledge.

The climb never stops, but the view from here is extraordinary.

Mike Riddle, Reddit Top 1% creator, 1.7M+ views on r/BBQ

The Obsession

What started as a love for live-fire cooking has become a full-blown obsession. Own The Fire®, A Culinary Experience by Mike Riddle, isn't just a brand. It's the forge where ordinary cooks become extraordinary masters.

From Brazilian-sourced knives to custom-built grills, every product we create is something I personally select, test, and stake my reputation on. This line is made for those who understand that mastery isn't given. It's forged in fire and shaped by steel.

But products are just tools. What I realized is that people don't need more gadgets. They need transformation. They need someone who's been through the fire to show them the way.

"1.7 million+ Reddit views proved I wasn't alone in this obsession. There's an army of fire lovers ready to forge their legacy."
Mike Riddle, Founder of Own The Fire® A Culinary Experience

Built for Real People. Loved by Real Cooks.

Real Reviews • Real Results • Real Fire
Verified Facebook Review
" I recently purchased a leather apron from Own The Fire and I absolutely love it. It's easy to tell by the look and feel that all the products at Own The Fire are super high quality and hand crafted. Mike knows his way around the kitchen, BBQ pit, and open fire. His knowledge and passion shine through his content and the products he develops.
ZT
Zack of All Trades
Artisan Leather Apron Customer
Verified Facebook Review
" Mike is an excellent teacher when it comes to learning the techniques and tricks of cooking. There's lots of information out there — this is the next level.
JS
Jonathan Steffany
Verified Facebook Review
Verified Facebook Review
" Own The Fire has changed my BBQ experience. I am confident and willing to take risks when I cook. The step-by-step instructions is exactly what I need in order to build my skills in front of the grill. So straight forward. I'm ready to host in my own backyard. Get involved and see what you can do with the guidance of Own The Fire.
PW
Poppy Winters
Verified Member
Verified Facebook Review
" I don't usually leave reviews, but I had to drop a note after getting my gear from Own The Fire. Picked up a gold knife, silver knife, the tongs, forks, and bear claws — and every single piece feels like it was made to last a lifetime. The knives are razor-sharp and balanced beautifully. This is the kind of gear that makes you look forward to firing up the pit.
DD
David D.
Premium Tool Collection Customer
Verified Customer Review
" Just got my custom knife from Own The Fire and I'm seriously impressed. This thing is a beast — razor sharp, perfectly balanced, and built like a tank. I've used a lot of knives over the years, but nothing comes close to this. Used it last night on a brisket and it sliced through like butter. Worth every penny.
AC
Anthony C.
Custom Brazilian Knife Customer
Verified Customer Review
" I love my Santa Maria style cooker from Own The Fire! Mike and the team are wonderful people and extremely down to earth. They treated me like we were old friends. If you like supporting small businesses and appreciate craftsmanship, these are the people you want building your new grill or completely custom dream smoker.
JN
Jen N.
Custom Santa Maria Grill Customer
Verified Facebook Review
" Been using these knives for a bit now and honestly, they're solid. Super sharp, feel good in the hand, and make prep way easier. Didn't think I'd care that much, but now I use 'em every cook. Definitely a step up from the cheap ones I had before.
SC
Scott C.
Brazilian Knife Customer
The Working Kit

What I Actually Cook On

Six pieces of gear that live in my backyard. Some I built because nothing on the market met the standard. Some I bought because the commercial version got it right. This is the real kit, not a catalog.

Custom Build

Custom 250 Reverse Flow Smoker

Insulated firebox. Built for long cooks and real production.

Quarter inch steel, double walled firebox, even heat across the chamber. This is the smoker I reach for when the cook runs all day. Clean burns, long holds, and enough capacity for catering, competition, or feeding a crowd without thinking twice.

Built the same way I build every reverse flow that leaves the shop. If you want one to your spec, this is the starting point.

See the Build Process
Custom Build

66 x 30 Argentine Parrilla and Santa Maria Grill

The hand-crank live fire grill that started the fabrication side of the business.

Heavy gauge steel, wagon wheel height control, optional brasero firebox. Raises and lowers over open flame for full control of the cook, from searing primal cuts to running a row of ribs low and slow.

This is where Argentine parrilla tradition meets Long Island fabrication. Every one gets built by hand and delivered in person when the zip code allows.

Brasero Grills
Daily Driver

Weber Summit Kamado

The insulated steel kamado I reach for when ceramic is too fragile.

Double walled steel, rock steady temperatures, faster heat up than any ceramic I've used. Runs low and slow for a brisket or hits steakhouse sear heat when I want it. The commercial grill I trust when I'm not cooking on something I built myself.

Daily Driver

Weber Summit 6 Burner Gas Grill

The workhorse when I'm feeding the family fast.

Six burners, dedicated sear zone, rear infrared rotisserie, built in smoker box. Real estate and precision in one rig. When I'm running two steaks or twenty, this is the one I don't have to think about.

Custom Build

Custom 55 x 30 BBQ Prep Table

Butcher block on steel. The command center of the cook.

Two burner gas grill integrated into a 55 by 30 butcher block surface. Instant sear heat, a solid prep surface, and the freedom to move from breakdown to fire without leaving the station.

Steel frame, clean lines, and built to work as hard as I do when a long cook is running.

Custom Builds
My Knife Kit

Brazilian and Hand Forged Tool Collection

The blades and fire tools I actually use.

Full tang Brazilian chef knives, forged tongs, skewers, carving blades. Every piece in this kit is something I put my hands on before it went on the site. Hand made, fire tested, built for live fire cooking the way it's supposed to be done.

Artisan Knives