Happy 4th of July from The Smoke Sheet

The Fourth of July holiday is always one of the most important holidays of the year to gather with family and friends to celebrate America with delicious barbecue and grilled food. This year, we’ve got quite a lot to celebrate as we get our lives somewhat back to normal. And at the same time, we wanted to share some good news from our personal lives with you.

The Smoke Sheet’s Sean Ludwig got married at barbecue joint Pig Beach this past weekend. (Photo by Cindy Prybella)

This past weekend, Sean tied the knot to his beautiful bride Stephanie at a ceremony and reception at the barbecue joint Pig Beach NYC in Brooklyn. The folks at Pig Beach helped transform the backyard space into a romantic and intimate night for Sean, Stephanie, and their close family and friends. Sean will share more fun details about his “BBQ wedding” in a future issue of The Smoke Sheet.

Additionally, after a challenging , last week Ryan underwent a rigorous series of exams and tests at his local hospital in Omaha. Thankfully, he was found to be cancer-free and was given a clean bill of health. And now he’s already got several BBQ road trips planned for the near future!

The Smoke Sheet’s Ryan Cooper was declared cancer-free this past week. (Photo by Wai Chan)

We’d also like to take the time to thank our recent sponsors for supporting the newsletter and helping us continue to bring you the best barbecue news, media, recipes, and more each week. Please take the time to check out DennyMike’s Seasonings, Raikes Beef Co., FOGO Charcoal, ChefsTemp, and Sauce King NYC.

We also would like to thank each and every one of you for your support and hope you all have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend filled with barbecue, family, and friends.

Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist) and Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet

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—Acclaimed Texas BBQ joint Evie Mae’s has just opened a second location.—

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Evie Mae’s Barbecue in Wolfforth, Texas, has long been praised as one of the top joints in the state. This week, the operation will open a second location with counter service inside United Supermarkets in Lubbock. “We are starting off with a simple menu and fewer side/dessert options as our main location,” the owners wrote on Facebook. “We simply don’t have the space and want to ‘ease’ into things with our staff and offer the best quality we can. Our motto has always been to serve quality over quantity. We’ve increased our capacity many times over the years and feel very confident with our amazing crew that we can offer a high quality, craft BBQ experience, 7 days a week, even into dinner hours.” READ HERE.

Friends and family gathered in Murphysboro, Illinois this past Monday to say a final goodbye to Mike Mills, the late owner of 17th Street Barbecue. Mills died in December at the age of 79. The service and visitation were held at United Methodist Church in Murphysboro. BBQ colleagues of Mills from across the nation were in attendance. “As it pertains to Mr. Mike and BBQ, if there was a Rushmore of BBQ, his head would be one that would be on the mountain,” said pitmaster Sam Jones, owner of Sam Jones BBQ. READ HERE.

Pitmaster Dan Woods of Tailgaters BBQ in Weatherford, Texas opened his food truck in early 2020 and has carried on in the face of adversity, writes Daniel Vaughn of Texas Monthly. Woods serves a blend of “Texas barbecue and competition barbecue” and uses what he calls “party rub” on most of his items. Vaughn notes that the ribs and turkey especially are popping with flavor. READ HERE.

AL.com has released a comprehensive list of 50 quintessential barbecue joints it calls the “Alabama Barbecue Bucket List.” The publication notes that this “long slate of 50 barbecue joints” was chosen due to “historical or cultural significance, or simply the fact that they continue to put out great smoked meat.” READ HERE.

Ed Randolph of Handsome Devil BBQ in Newburgh, New York, was recently profiled by the Poughkeepsie Journal. Randolph has quite a story, going from a small catering operation to one of New York’s top BBQ destinations in 7 years. “It’s surreal and humbling that 7 years ago, I was serving barbecue out of the back of my pickup truck, and look where we are now,” said Randolph. READ HERE.
 

ADDITIONAL READS

It isn't your imagination: Beef ribs at Texas barbecue joints have gotten even bigger, writes J.C. Reid of the Houston Chronicle.

Eater has highlighted the amazing women who are leading the barbecue revolution in Los Angeles.

Here are 11 top BBQ destinations in Western North Carolina.

Here’s why barbecue and bourbon make the best pairing, according to Forbes.

Up-and-coming Dayton pitmaster Erica Blaire Roby, who is currently competing on Season 2 of the Food Network show BBQ Brawl, was recently profiled in an article from the Dayton Daily News.

The North Carolina Barbecue Society shared the sad news that the organization’s President and CEO Jim Early passed away last week.

Famous Dave’s parent company BBQ Holdings, Inc. recently announced the acquisition of Village Inn and Bakers Square restaurants.

St. Louis-area pitmaster Jeff Fitter is expanding the Super Smokers brand with a new location in Affton.

Thanks to our sponsor Sauce King NYC, a virtual event from Food Karma Projects that's now in its second year. Using judges, Sauce King NYC determines the best barbecue sauces, hot sauces, marinades, and more from around the country. It is now accepting submissions through August 15th for the 2021 competition. Enter your best sauce in the competition today!

—Learn tried and true tips for making the best burgers at home with this week’s video selection.—

WATCH

5 Tips to Make the Best Burgers — Everyday BBQ & Cooking

Mike from Everyday BBQ & Cooking shows you how to make the best burgers on your grill, smoker, or cooker using important tips compiled from years of trial and error. These burgers can be cooked on any cooker in any style that you prefer, whether it is hot and fast or low and slow. WATCH HERE.

LISTEN

Goldee’s Barbecue — Tales from the Pits

To those that have followed the cooking careers of the Goldee’s BBQ crew, it comes as no surprise that this Fort Worth joint has quickly ascended to “must visit” status on the Texas barbecue bucket list. After learning from some of the best in the business, this group of childhood friends built out their own restaurant and opened in early 2020 firing on all cylinders. Goldee’s persevered through a tumultuous 2020 and came out stronger. With a menu of Central Texas classic meats, sides, and desserts that are all handled with great care and attention, they’ve elevated the classic BBQ menu to a higher level. Add in some creativity on specialty sausages and sides and Goldee’s is one of the most exciting stops in the entire state. LISTEN HERE.

READ

How to Grill Vegetables: The New Bible for Barbecuing Vegetables over Live Fire — Steven Raichlen

Celebrating all the ways to grill green, this mouthwatering, groundbreaking cookbook from “America’s master griller” shows how to bring live fire or wood smoke to every imaginable vegetable. How to fire-blister tomatoes, cedar-plank eggplant, hay-smoke lettuce, spit-roast brussels sprouts on the stalk, grill corn five ways—even cook whole onions caveman-style in the embers. And how to put it all together through 115 inspired recipes. Plus chapters on grilling breads, pizza, eggs, cheese, desserts, and more. PS: While vegetables shine in every dish, this is not a strictly vegetarian cookbook — yes, there will be bacon. ORDER HERE.

Thank you to our sponsor FOGO Charcoal, who is running an amazing BBQ essentials giveaway. Click here to enter to win this huge contest!

rnt Finger BBQ’s Megan Day recently shared her father’s legendary coleslaw recipe that features cola and jalapenos.—

Craig’s 'Colaslaw'

By Burnt Finger BBQ

Standout pitmaster Megan Day from Burnt Finger BBQ recently made a cola-flavored coleslaw, cleverly named “colaslaw,” while competing on season 2 of the Food Network show BBQ Brawl. The recipe was created by her late father Craig, whose friends even mentioned the coleslaw recipe during his funeral eulogy. Thankfully, Megan honored her father’s memory and shared his unique take on creamy coleslaw with the world.

Thank you to our sponsor DennyMike's, which offers outstanding seasonings and rubs for every situation. Learn more about DennyMike's here.

—Lots of must-attend barbecue events are scheduled for 2021.—

July 9-11, 2021: Kansas City BBQ Festival — Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City is about to get a big new barbecue festival with the “KCQ,” a non-competition barbecue event that celebrates barbecue from Kansas City and many other barbecue towns. It will take place in the parking lot of Arrowhead Stadium and feature barbecue from KC-based mainstays Joe’s Kansas City, Jones Bar-B-Q, and Plowboys BBQ. Out-of-towners will also be there, including 2M Smokehouse, Black’s BBQ, Central City BBQ, and Sugarfire Smokehouse. MORE INFO HERE.

July 9-11, 2021: Windy City Smokeout BBQ & Country Music Festival — Chicago, Illinois
Get ready for beer, BBQ, and country tunes, because the Windy City Smokeout BBQ & Country Music Festival is returning to Chicago. The Windy City Smokeout is one of the largest barbecue festivals in the U.S. and typically features the world’s best pitmasters and more than 15 musical acts. Read our to learn about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.

July 16-17, 2021: Golden Days Championship — Fairbanks, Alaska
The northernmost barbecue competition (maybe in the world?) is taking place in Fairbanks, Alaska, which is also the birthplace of the Alaska BBQ Association. This competition follows the KCBS sanctioned rules as the Grand Champion receives an invitation to the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational. It’s also notable in that the sun basically doesn’t go down the entire time the comp is happening. MORE INFO HERE.

July 17, 2021: Harp Barbecue Festival — Kansas City, Missouri
Tyler Harp of Harp Barbecue has done a lot to help lead a new generation of pitmasters in KC since bursting onto the scene in 2019. He’s quickly become one of the top names in Kansas City barbecue. Now, he’s hosting his own festival on Saturday, July 17, at the Uptown Pavilion in Independence, Missouri not far from where he grew up. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, June 23 at harpbarbecue.com and will sell out fast, so don’t delay purchasing if you live in KC. The event will raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and also feature other up-and-coming names in Kansas City and Texas barbecue. MORE INFO HERE.

July 31 & August 1, 2021: Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival  — Brooklyn, New York
NYC’s Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival is back and better than ever! Get ready to enjoy all those pleasures that true Southerners live by – Beer, Bourbon, Barbecue, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass, and Smoked Beasts. It’s a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and barbecue eatin’. One admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-taste sampling of beer and bourbon. MORE INFO HERE.

August 21-22, 2021: Meatstock Music and Barbecue Festival (Sydney edition) — Sydney, Australia
Meatstock returns with a typically stacked line-up of barbecue enthusiasts and bands. The sell-out, two-day event brings big-name American pitmasters Down Under; sees comp teams from across Sydney go head-to-head over the coals to be crowned the city’s best barbequers; and features live music, food trucks and pop-up bars. MORE INFO HERE.

September 3-5, 2021: Pinehurst Barbecue Festival — Pinehurst, North Carolina
Debuting Labor Day Weekend 2021, The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival celebrates “All Things Barbecue” in North Carolina. From Eastern North Carolina vinegar to Western North Carolina tomato, they will have all of your favorites. The Pinehurst Barbeque Festival is a “Celebration of Taste and Tradition” featuring award-winning pitmasters in one of the most picturesque settings in all of North Carolina — the historic Village of Pinehurst. Choose to experience the entire three-day festival, or attend just one signature event. A multi-ticket VIP package, as well as individual tickets for each event are available. MORE INFO HERE.

September 10-11, 2021: Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival (Cary) — Cary, North Carolina
Cary’s Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival is back and better than ever. Get ready to enjoy all those pleasures that true Southerners live by – Beer, Bourbon, Barbecue, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass, and Smoked Beasts. It’s a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and barbecue eatin’. One admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-taste sampling of beer and bourbon. MORE INFO HERE.

September 11, 2021: Pig Island NYC — New York, New York
For those that love all things pork and barbecue, the annual Pig Island NYC event is a can’t-miss affair. Many chefs and pitmasters from around the country show up and serve their best pork creations. Held outdoors, this all-inclusive event will also feature a ton of great food, beer, cider, and liquor. MORE INFO HERE.

September 16-19, 2021: American Royal World Series of Barbecue — Kansas City, Kansas
The American Royal World Series of barbecue is the largest BBQ competition in the country. On top of a massive KCBS competition with roughly 500 teams from around the country, this signature Kansas City event includes public-facing activities, including live music, delicious BBQ and local food, a full line up of kids activities, and a vendor fair authentic to Kansas City and BBQ enthusiasts. Read our to learn more about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.

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