Ryan is originally from Salt Lake City, where he grew up with a passion for snowboarding. He now lives in Temecula with his wife and 2 children. 

His cooking journey began in college, after the rude awakening of just how expensive groceries can be. His nickname was "Chef Boy RT" because he was the one to turn to whenever you needed a cheap but delicious meal. 

Ryan loves working on the grill and amongst his friends and family, he is known as the BBQ Dad. His toddlers are his biggest fans, mostly loving their dad's quesadillas and cheesy eggs. 

For several years, Ryan has been saving his leftover bacon fat to be repurosed as a smokey and flavorful cooking oil. He renders his own brisket, never throwing away the trimmings that people often look over. His family also enjoys gardening, growing their own rosemary, basil, and thyme in the backyard. 

In 2020, Ryan submitted a Vietnamese Chicken dish into a Traeger Grilling Competition, and out of the thousands of submissions, he won!