Jim Auchmutey

The History Channel asked me to tell the story of backyard grilling for its series “The Food That Built America.” As an author still trying to promote “Smokelore,” I of course said yes. The episode, “Where There’s Smoke,” debuts this Sunday, June 11.

The producers flew me up to their studio in Newark late last summer. It seems like ages ago, at least in terms of the pandemic, because I had to pass