The Most Delicious BBQ Bites of 2021
The Most Delicious Barbecue Bites of 2021
In 2021, we were thankfully able to get back out in the world to try many more barbecue restaurants and attend more competition and consumer events. We stopped in at joints from coast to coast, from California to the Carolinas and everything in between. Now, as the year begins to close, we’ve started looking back on all our travels and some of the best meals we had this year.
Here are some of our favorite individual BBQ bites that we ate in 2021 from all around the country.
The brisket at Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth is flawless. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Central Texas Brisket — Goldee’s Barbecue
During my recent trip to Dallas-Fort Worth, I was astounded by the quality at Goldee’s Barbecue. Despite it being crowned as the new No. 1 BBQ joint in TX by Texas Monthly, I couldn’t believe just how good the smoked meats and sides were. The two meats that stood out the most were the brisket and turkey, both perfectly cooked and tender. But as this is Texas, brisket is king and this brisket rules. -Sean
The appetizer sampler from Clark Crew BBQ in Oklahoma City includes amazing smoked and fried chicken wings. (Photo by Wai Chan)
Chicken Wings — Clark Crew BBQ
We stopped off at Clark Crew BBQ in Oklahoma City after the KCBS World Invitational 2021 in November and were blown away. One of our favorite things on the menu was the Appetizer Sampler, which includes smoked then fried chicken wings, along with deviled eggs, fried pickles, and house fried crispy pork rinds. We especially enjoyed trying all of pitmaster Travis Clark’s different sauces with the delicious wings. - Ryan
Pastrami sandwiches can be found easily in New York but none compares to the smoked pastrami from Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Smoked Pastrami Sandwich — Hometown Bar-B-Que
In New York City, pastrami has long been a part of the city’s culinary culture. But the new king of pastrami in NYC very well may be Brooklyn-based Hometown Bar-B-Que. This version of the meat is covered with a heavy salt-and-pepper bark, smoked to perfection, and served on rye bread. The pastrami sandwich is only served on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and will fill you up so much you don’t really need much else. -Sean
One of our favorite bites from the Harp Barbecue Festival in Kansas City was the Smoked Brisket Boudin from Louisiana’s Bad Wolf BBQ. (Photo by Wai Chan)
Smoked Brisket Boudin — Bad Wolf BBQ
The inaugural Harp BBQ Festival in Kansas City took place in July, bringing together some of KC’s best new craft BBQ joints along with pitmasters from across the country. There were a number of amazing dishes served at the festival but one that stands out is the Brisket Boudin from Bad Wolf BBQ Food Truck in Ruston, Louisiana. It was one of the simplest dishes we had that evening, with the boudin slices served on a cracker with pickled red onions. - Ryan
Grady’s BBQ in North Carolina has been open since 1986 and still serves up perfect chopped whole hog. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Chopped Whole Hog — Grady’s BBQ
One of the oldest joints I visited in 2021 was Grady’s BBQ in Dudley, North Carolina, which has been open since 1986. The no-frills joint is the only Black-owned whole hog joint in NC and the crew still makes whole hog four days a week in the old way — cooking slowly over hickory and oak coals. I’m happy to confirm the chopped whole hog had a good smoky flavor and tender texture. -Sean
Everything was excellent at Night Goat Barbecue in Kansas City but the tacos stood out. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
BBQ Tacos — Night Goat Barbecue
Ryan raved about Night Goat Barbecue in Kansas City earlier this year, and then a month ago, Sean was able to stop by and see what the fuss was about. Both of us were huge fans of this only-on-Sunday operation. One of the items that both of us had that blew us away were the barbecue tacos. The smoked meats themselves are awesome, but then when you pair them with Caramelo pork fat tortillas, it takes them to another level. -Ryan and Sean
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We had an incredible array of bites in 2021 and these above are just some of our favorites. But there are so many, we also want to shout out a few honorable mentions. These include:
Brisket Elote from Panther City BBQ in Fort Worth.
Sweet Potato Burnt Ends from Harp Barbecue in Kansas City.
Whole Hog Sliders from Blues Hog at the Kansas City BBQ Festival.
Smoked Lamb Shoulder from Pig Beach in Queens, New York.
Thai BBQ Breakfast Burrito from Buck Tui BBQ in Kansas City.
Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage from Horn Barbecue in Oakland.
Let us know your personal top BBQ bites of the year on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist) & Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet
Raikes Beef Co. specializes in 100% Nebraska born and raised American Wagyu and Angus beef. Grass fed, grain finished, and always hormone free. Learn more about Raikes Beef Co.
—Jon G’s Barbecue was named this week as the best new barbecue restaurant in North and South Carolina by Eater. (Photo via Barbecue Bros)—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Eater Carolinas just announced its 2021 Eater Awards Winners for the Carolinas, which honor the best new restaurants across North and South Carolina. The awards named Jon G’s Barbecue in Peachland, North Carolina as the Barbecue Restaurant of the Year. Jon G’s was first put on our radar from our friends at Barbecue Bros in mid-2020 and its acclaim keeps growing. Eater joins in the praise and notes that the "brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and housemade sausage links" are worth waiting in line for at 9 a.m. “Lined up on a typical Saturday, right when we open, you’re looking at 100+ people in that first rush,” Jon G told Eater Carolinas. READ MORE.
When it comes to barbecue history, few people know it better than author and historian Robert Moss. To coincide with AmazingRibs.com's upcoming Meat-Up in Memphis event (details below in our events section), the site asked Moss to write up a short history of Memphis barbecue. "Memphis is one of two cities (Kansas City is the other) that enjoys a barbecue culture distinct enough to be considered a major style of its own," Moss writes. "Memphis is known for a few barbecue oddities, too, like barbecued bologna—rolls of commercially-made bologna smoked on the pit, scored with a knife, and served either as an inch-thick slice on a sandwich or as chunks topped with barbecue sauce. The city is also the birthplace of barbecue spaghetti." READ MORE.
Writer Gabe Hiatt has written an incredible feature story about the success of 2Fifty Texas Barbecue in the Washington D.C. area for Eater D.C. Hiatt writes that 2Fifty Texas Barbecue "wouldn’t have been possible without the ingenuity of a Peruvian lawyer, the resourcefulness of the local Latin American business community, or the relentless drive of the couple behind the business, a pair of Salvadoran nationals who managed to establish U.S. residency using an unconventional strategy." The joint has a menu focused on Texas barbecue, with splashes of Salvadoran food thrown in. But the story is so much deeper than just the food. “Barbecue saved our lives,” pitmaster Fernando González said. “We owe everything to barbecue.” READ MORE.
BBQ photographer (and now writer!) Robert Jacob Lerma wrote a great piece for the brand Huckberry about holiday dishes that 17 top pitmasters make for their own holiday gatherings. Lerma showcases his excellent photos of the pitmasters and pairs them with quotes from pitmasters including Tootsie Tomanetz of Snow’s BBQ, Leonard Botello of Truth BBQ, Bryan Furman of Bryan Furman BBQ, Billy Durney of Hometown Bar-B-Que, and more. READ MORE.
ADDITIONAL READS
President Biden recently visited Kansas City, so like all presidents do, he got an order of BBQ to go. His team grabbed a "President's Tray" from Gates Bar-B-Q.
J.C. Reid writes in the Houston Chronicle how economic and media factors have impacted trends in Texas barbecue.
Pflugerville, Texas pitmaster John Brotherton was honored for making a priority of helping his local community.
A BBQ university operation that teaches popular BBQ classes has opened a Dallas outpost.
New and buzzy Houston joint J-Bar-M Barbecue now has extended weekend hours and live music.
Historic Schwartz’s Bakery in Los Angeles is opening a kosher barbecue joint.
The Tallulah Falls School Pit Vipers, a high school team, finished the 2021 BBQ season in a smoking hot fashion.
Dr. BBQ may have some competition, as two Ph.D.s have opened a Texas-style barbecue joint in Logan, Utah.
NYC’s Pig Beach was featured on the first episode of brand-new Food Network show Throwdown with Michael Symon this week, and they competed in a BBQ burger bash.
Use the code BBQTOURIST10 to save 10% off your order of DennyMike's seasonings. Learn more about DennyMike's here.
—Popular YouTuber Mike Chen visited Goldee’s Barbecue in Texas and he liked everything about it.—
WATCH
Visiting the New #1 BBQ Joint in Texas — Strictly Dumpling
Mike Chen of the YouTube channel Strictly Dumpling has attracted nearly 4 million subscribers to his channel by trying food all over the world. One of his latest trips features him at Goldee’s Barbecue, Texas Monthly’s new No. 1 BBQ joint in all of Texas. He tries a full platter of the goods and loves every bite. Mike also gets in a fun cameo from major BBQ personality Harry Soo, who was also visiting at the same time. However, don’t make the same mistake Mike does by showing up to the Goldee’s line after they open. Always be early when going to a big barbecue line! WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
Cen-Tex Smokers — I Crush BBQ Show
In this episode of the I Crush BBQ Show, host Abe Delgado chats with Michael Johnson Jr. of Cen-Tex Smokers out of Luling Texas. Michael has welding in his blood and although as a kid he didn't want to follow in his father's footsteps he is now thankful that he did. With the attention to detail he puts into his craft and the “customer first” mentality, Michael has brought Cen-Tex Smokers into the forefront of pit building in a short period of time. He’s made pits for many big names in barbecue, including several of the Texas Monthly Top 50 List and he's just getting started. LISTEN HERE.
READ
Field Notes for Food Adventure: Recipes and Stories from the Woods to the Ocean — Brad Leone
Come along with Brad Leone as he explores forests, fields, rivers, and the ocean in the hunt for great food and good times. These pages are Brad’s field notes from a year of adventures in the Northeast, getting out into nature to discover its bounty, and capturing memorable ideas for making delicious magic at home anytime. He taps maple trees to make syrup and shows how to use it in surprising ways. He forages for mushrooms and preserves their flavors for seasons to come. Inspiration comes from hikes into the woods, trips to the dock, and cooking poolside in the dead of summer. This is a book about experimentation, adventure, fermentation, fire, and having fun while you’re cooking. And hey, you might just learn a thing or two. ORDER HERE.
—Bavette steaks with chimichurri make a delicious alternative to turkey for the holidays. (Photo by Wai Chan)—
Bavette Steak with Chimichurri
By BBQ Tourist
While the bavette is not a cut of steak that is as well known as the ribeye or New York strip, it is a soft and juicy steak that lends itself to cooking on the grill. Bavette steaks may be difficult to find in your local grocery store, so you might have to check with your local butcher. For this recipe, I used a USDA Prime American Wagyu bavette steak from Raikes Beef Co. Serve it with a flavorful chimichurri sauce and your family and friends will be in for a holiday treat!
lot of big barbecue events are being planned for 2022. Stay tuned!—
February 19-20, 2022: Meatstock Music and Barbecue Festival (Auckland edition) — Auckland, Australia
Meatstock will feature a stacked line-up of barbecue enthusiasts and bands. The two-day event brings American pitmasters Down Under; sees BBQ teams 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. Additionally, American BBQ joints such as Sugarfire Smokehouse will be putting on demonstrations. MORE INFO HERE.
March 12, 2022: Tex Mex BBQ Festival — San Antonio, Texas
This event will be full of the best food, education, and entertainment ever assembled in one spot. The menu will be masterminded by Miguel Vidal of Valentina’s Tex-Mex from Austin, Tx. The food will be executed by some of the most talented pitmasters, chefs, and cooks coming in from all over the nation. Mark your calendar for an amazing experience! MORE INFO HERE.
March 18-21, 2022: AmazingRibs.com Meat-Up in Memphis — Memphis, Tennessee
Join Meathead Goldwyn and the AmazingRibs.com crew at the Meat-Up in Memphis. There you can hang out and toss a few back with experts. The Meat-Up will be based in the famous historic grand Peabody Hotel. Things will kick off with a whole hog cooking demonstration Friday afternoon followed by a welcome dinner Friday evening at the famous Rendezvous. Saturday be will be a day of pork-centric seminars in the hotel, with special porky meals because Memphis is most famous for pork. The hotel's kitchen is highly regarded and we have ordered their best meal packages. Sunday, attendees will board buses and visit four BBQ joints for a deep dive into the historic tastes of Memphis barbecue before concluding the weekend with a bash on Beale Street! MORE INFO HERE.
May 11-14, 2022: Memphis in May — Memphis, Tennessee
The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is a four-day competition held in Memphis, TN. Teams representing the best of barbecue that have been honing their craft for years compete for the title of World Champion and a share of the more than $140,000 in prize money. The Contest features championship pork categories of Ribs, Shoulder, and Whole Hog, as well as the ancillary competitions of Hot Wings, Sauce, and “Anything But Pork.” The 2022 competition will be held in the Memphis Fairgrounds due to construction at its normal home at Tom Lee Park. MORE INFO HERE.
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