Cooks come in many different sizes and shapes, but few among us would guess that John Snedden — who looks more like a prosperous surgeon than a barbecue whiz — is just that, a barbecue whiz. Founder, owner and chief smoke-and-grill guy at D.C. favorite Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company, Snedden concedes to a lifelong passion for all things cooked over wood.

“There was no ‘Aha’ moment,” he says, reflecting on his childhood grilling antics.