Average Betty, Test Kitchen director Noelle Carter and indoor smoking

“Do you smell smoke?” That was the question wafting through the newsroom recently when Average Betty, a.k.a. Los Angeles food vlogger Sara O’Donnell, stopped by the L.A. Times Test Kitchen.
Average Betty was gearing up for the Taste, the Los Angeles Times food and wine festival being held this weekend at Paramount Pictures Studios. Times Food Editor Russ Parsons, restaurant critic Jonathan Gold, Test Kitchen director Noelle Carter and top L.A. chefs such as Michael Cimarusti and Sang Yoon are bringing you the best of food, wine and more. Full schedule here.

Noelle is co-hosting Sunday’s Labor Day Block Party with chef Nancy Silverton, wrapping up the holiday on a gourmet note. She gave Average Betty a “taste” of what’s to come via a highly unusual technique: Indoor smoking.

Indoor stove-top smoking.

Give that a moment to sink in.

Indoor stove-top smoking means no need for a fancy smoker -- although I wholly support your decision to buy one if that is your thing. Noelle’s stove-top smoking technique involves nothing more than springing for wood chips in a converted roasting pan. The result? Hickory smoked baby back ribs that are so tender they fall off the bone.

Noelle also introduces the basics of a homemade rib rub that you can use for inspiration to create your own signature rub. (Great holiday gift idea, people!) She’ll also teach you a new food vocabulary word, pellicle. Don’t know what that is? Neither did I.

Watch, learn and laugh as these two yuk it up in the test kitchen: Video: Smoking in the L.A. Times Test Kitchen.

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