About Salt Pepper Skillet and Justin McChesney-Wachs

Hi there and welcome to Salt Pepper Skillet! I am Justin, the creator, recipe developer, food photographer, writer and publisher behind this food blog world of culinary passion, where cooking, photography and the joy of sharing meals converge.

Here, you’ll find inspiration for cooking and eating better food through simple techniques, smoking, sous vide cooking and grilling.

Whether it’s a simple smoked chicken or multi-day sous vide and smoked brisket, I strive to break down each recipe into approachable steps for optimal success and fun in the kitchen (inside and out).

A Little Background About Me

I embarked on the journey of Salt Pepper Skillet, fueled by my passion for the culinary arts and questions for the recipes for food I would make for friends. My usual answer was simple: “Just throw this with that and add some salt and pepper,” encapsulating my belief in the beauty of uncomplicated cooking.

During my high school and college years, I found myself working in the front of the house in AAA 5-Diamond restaurants. There, I immersed myself in the expertise of trained chefs who continue to influence my cooking style to this day. I would go home and recreate the menu items as best I could for practice and fun.

Upon graduating from college at San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Marketing, I embarked on a professional journey that allowed me to express my culinary prowess. I joined a small startup company while simultaneously indulging my passion as a part-time Private Chef in Rancho Santa Fe, California. This unique opportunity enabled me to experiment freely with intriguing ingredients, crafting culinary experiences not only for the family I served but also for myself and my friends. Additionally, I occasionally ventured into the world of private event catering, which was so much fun and so much work.

My path led me to an advertising and branding agency, where I was an Interactive Project Manager. Managing large-scale projects for prominent consumer brands. This gave me invaluable knowledge and experience that sent me out to create my own web design agency, specializing in strategizing, designing, and developing online experiences for small businesses.

Amidst my culinary and entrepreneurial pursuits, I re-discovered another passion that I had acquired in high school, which was photography. The ability to capture moments with your own interpretation captivated me.

As I delved into the realm of food blogging, I realized that food photography could be a profession in itself. Salt Pepper Skillet because a photography portfolio in itself, allowing me to transition the hobby to a profession and I become a commercial food photographer for food brands, magazines and restaurants.

What You’ll Find on Salt Pepper Skillet

Simple recipes that taste better than the sum of their parts.
Tips, tricks and techniques to elevate your cooking game.
Approachable recipes to bring great flavors to the feast.
A focus on outdoor BBQ, smoker and sous vide recipes.

As Seen In

Check out my Chef Feature with California Lamb!

Frequently Asked Questions

How did you come up with the name Salt Pepper Skillet?

The blog’s name came from the idea of only using the basic essentials to develop great flavors. You really don’t need a huge list of ingredients to make seriously delicious food. People often ask “What did you season this with?” The answer is almost always “just a little salt & pepper.” Your ingredient + salt + pepper + a hot skillet can do wonders. That’s where the name came from.

I’m new to outdoor cooking. Where should I start?

Smoking a pork tenderloin is one of the quickest, easiest and most delicious ways to utilize your smoker without the long time commitment. When you have mastered that, give a smoked brisket a try.

What camera do you use?

I shoot photos with a Sony A7 III DSLR camera body. My primary lens is a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8, but I also use a Canon 100mm f/2.8 L macro lens for close-ups and a Canon 50mm f/1.2 L. My primary video camera is a Sony ZV-1. Feel free to reach out with any camera questions.

What type of lighting do you use?

Ninety percent of the lighting in my food photos is taken with artificial lighting. I utilize the Godox wireless system with two Godox AD-200 Strobes and various light modifiers including a 24×48″ softbox.

What smoker or grill should I get?

People ask me all the time what smoker or grill should they get. The answer totally depends on their individual situation, so I will ask multiple follow-ups to try to dig deeper before giving a recommendation. Learn more about the different types of smokers and which might be best for you.

Some Fun Facts About Me

I love the outdoors (especially the mountains) where I like to mountain bike, camp, rock climb, hike and cook around a campfire.
I have a wonderful wife (Stacy) and two young kiddos who keep us very busy.
The first thing I learned to cook was fried eggplant, and then fried calamari (a very popular dish in Monterey where I am from.) I still love making fried eggplant to this day.
I am also a commercial food photographer. Check out my portfolio at JustinMW.com!
I live in San Diego and grew up on the Monterey Peninsula.