Celebrating 200 Issues of The Smoke Sheet
Four years ago, we launched The Smoke Sheet, a weekly publication dedicated to highlighting barbecue from a national perspective. We decided early on that we would create an email newsletter that would include some original content and would also be the place where each week we would curate the biggest barbecue news stories, essential media recommendations, delicious recipes, and the best events. We were just two barbecue superfans determined to create the type of newsletter that we wanted to read ourselves.
Today, we’re celebrating 200 issues of The Smoke Sheet. (Photo by Wai Chan)
As we celebrate the 200th issue of The Smoke Sheet, first and foremost, we would like to thank our family, friends, followers, supporters, and sponsors for all you have done for us. It takes a lot of work to create the newsletter each week, and it would not be possible without all of you. While we both have full-time jobs and are raising families, The Smoke Sheet has afforded us the opportunity to travel across the country, meet some truly wonderful people, and try a lot of delicious barbecue.
To highlight this milestone, we also wanted to share a few of our favorite stories published in the past 200 issues, including coverage of BBQ cities and regions, interviews with top names in the industry, and some of our favorite events.
Our travels to cities, including Houston, have blessed us with amazing BBQ. (Photo by Wai Chan)
We’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to eat barbecue all across the country but the scenes in a few cities have been particularly outstanding. In one of our first adventures for The Smoke Sheet in 2018, we traveled to Memphis for the first time and visited 11 top spots, including The Rendezvous, Payne’s, The Bar-B-Q Shop, and more. Both Ryan and Sean have written about their hometown of Kansas City, with Ryan highlighting in 2019, while last year, Sean explored the emergence of several new craft barbecue spots in the city. Early in 2019, Ryan made several trips to Houston to report on and attend the amazing , while earlier this year, both Sean and Ryan were able to spend a significant amount of time exploring the Houston scene and feasting on some of the best bites the city has to offer. In mid-2019, Ryan made the bold claim that , and late last year, after Texas Monthly named Fort Worth’s Goldee’s Barbecue the new No. 1 BBQ joint, Sean confirmed that the barbecue scene in DFW truly has it all.
One of our favorite interviews was with Texas Monthly BBQ Editor Daniel Vaughn. (Photo by Wai Chan)
In the past four years, Sean and Ryan greatly enjoyed talking with people from around the BBQ industry and BBQ media. We spoke with Texas Monthly BBQ Editor Daniel Vaughn shortly before the launch of the publication’s vaunted Top 50 BBQ Joints list. We enjoyed talking with BBQ media luminaries Meathead Goldwyn and Steven Raichlen about their books and ventures. And one of our favorite fun interviews was with irreverent pitmaster Rebecca King, who playfully refers to herself as “The Bad Jew.”
We love events like the American Royal, where we’ve spent time with BBQ legend Ardie Davis. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Our travels have also taken us far and wide to great BBQ festivals, competitions, and conferences. The American Royal World Series of Barbecue in Kansas City has been because of its enormous scope and people from all around the country. Another event we enjoyed was the in Chicago, with its simultaneous lineup of great pitmasters and music. We also wrote about our experience , which has since begun to implement changes we wanted to see. Oh, and we can’t forget to mention Sean’s “BBQ Wedding,” showing off his commitment to love and barbecue.
Thanks again for the support, and we hope to see you all soon.
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist) and Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet
—Killen’s BBQ will soon be opening a new location in Cypress. (Photo via Killen’s BBQ / Facebook)—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Chef/pitmaster Ronnie Killen will soon be opening a new location of his highly rated Killen’s BBQ in Cypress, Texas, which will join his other joints in Pearland and The Woodlands. The new location will be taking over the former home of Burro & Bull, which was opened last year by John and Veronica Avila of Henderson & Kane General Store. “We found ourselves in a place where Henderson & Kane really needed our focus,” John Avila told the Houston Chronicle. READ MORE.
The Q BBQ Fest, which has hosted huge events in Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver, and Jacksonville, has announced its latest edition will be held at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium on November 4-6. Tickets for the fest go on sale on Friday. Interestingly, the event is the same weekend as the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival in Lockhart, so expect this to be one of the biggest barbecue weekends in Texas in a very long time. READ MORE.
Los Angeles Times food section manager Laurie Ochoa wrote about Kevin Bludso, owner of LA-based Bludso’s Bar & Cue, and how Bludso continues to advocate for LA’s BBQ scene. “We had barbecue people who go back 30, 60 years from everywhere, Memphis, Arkansas, Kansas City,” Bludso told the Times. “Woody Phillips just passed away, but his restaurants are still here, and I’m trying to get him into the Barbecue Hall of Fame. Every show I do, I fight for L.A. barbecue.” READ MORE.
ADDITIONAL READS
Daniel Vaughn writes in Texas Monthly about three joints in Tulsa and Oklahoma City that embraced Texas-style BBQ, including brisket, beef sausage, and spare ribs.
A new ranking of Kansas City barbecue joints (this time using TripAdvisor data) has Q39 on top of the list.
Patricia Sharpe reflects on what went into Texas Monthly’s first-ever Top 50 barbecue list in May 1997.
Fayetteville, North Carolina’s first Black barbecue cook-off celebrated pitmasters and provided lots of family fun.
Here are the some of the best Labor Day grill sales for 2022.
—Kelsey Pribilski and Jess Pryles return to explore BBQ in Texas for Season 3 of BBQuest. (Photo by Beef Loving Texans)—
WATCH
Texas BBQ Trailblazers — BBQuest
The third season of BBQuest debuted earlier this month on Hulu, YouTube, and BeefLovingTexans.com, with hosts Kelsey Pribilski and Jess Pryles talking to more incredible names in BBQ and beyond. One of our favorite episodes this season features new-school trailblazers in Texas, including Briscuits in Austin, Interstellar BBQ in Austin, Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth, and Caney Creek Ranch in Fairfield. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
BBQ, Tacos, and How to Support Your Local BBQ Joint — Tales from the Pits
In this episode of Tales from the Pits, hosts Andrew and Bryan recount their recent amazing BBQ trip to the Rio Grande Valley. Plus, they give you tips on how to keep supporting your favorite barbecue places while being mindful that we all have budgets for our disposable income. LISTEN HERE.
READ
The Best Grilling Cookbook Ever Written By Two Idiots — The Grill Dads
The Grill Dads like to joke that people at home can look at them and say, “If these two idiots can do it, I can too.” They are proud to offer this cookbook as a roadmap to express yourself and experiment with different types of grills, cooking methods, and cuisines ― with recipes designed to help you grow into an outstanding home chef. It is filled with simple, fun, delicious recipes that you can make as written or use as a guide to experiment on your own. ORDER HERE.
—These Grilled Jalapeño Cheddar Meatballs from Jess Pryles can be served as an appetizer or an entree. (Photo by Beef Loving Texans)—
Grilled Jalapeño Cheddar Meatballs
By Jess Pryles
This week’s Recipe of the Week comes from none other than the Hardcore Carnivore herself, Jess Pryles. These Grilled Jalapeño Cheddar Meatballs are meaty, cheesy, spicy, and incredibly delicious. Serve with Mexican rice, beans, or a side salad.
Learn more about Southside Market Barbeque.
—A lot of big barbecue events are happening this fall, including the American Royal. (Photo by Wai Chan)—
September 2-4, 2022: Pinehurst Barbecue Festival — Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina
The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, presented by Pinehurst Resort, US Foods and The Pilot, is a “Celebration of Taste and Tradition” featuring award-winning pitmasters from across North Carolina in one of the most picturesque settings in the entire state. The three-day event, staged in and around the historic Village of Pinehurst, offers a unique culinary sampling experience of various barbecue meats and traditional sides. MORE INFO HERE.
September 10, 2022: Pig Island NYC — Staten Island, New York
Pig Island NYC will celebrate its 13th year on September 10, 2022, at Snug Harbor on Staten Island. Join in for all-inclusive food and drink, from all-star pitmasters and chefs who will be serving up delicious porky goodness, as well as local breweries, distilleries, and cideries. Top chefs will compete for the best dishes and event-goers reap the benefits. Expect a ton of amazing eats and a great place to picnic with friends and family for the day. BUY TICKETS HERE.
September 10, 2022: Troubadour Festival — Tyler, Texas
Troubadour Festival is a multi-location Texas BBQ & Music experiential festival that pays homage to the traveling songwriter and the worldwide popularity of the Texas barbecue scene. The September 10 edition of the fest takes place in Downtown Tyler, Texas, for the first Troubadour Festival happening in East Texas. Tyler's inaugural Troubadour Festival will bring together more than 40 of the most celebrated barbecue joints from across Texas, and you’ll be able to scarf all that down while listening to some of the premier names in country music. MORE INFO HERE.
Sept 28 - Oct 2, 2022: 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 lineup of kids activities, and a vendor fair authentic to Kansas City and BBQ enthusiasts. Read our 2021 recap of the event to learn more about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.
October 14-15, 2022: The Jack — Lynchburg, Tennessee
It's rare that whiskey-making takes a backseat to much of anything in Lynchburg, Tennessee. But “The Jack,” one of the top KCBS competitions annually, is an exception. For one weekend in October, barbecue competitors from around the world converge to wield their grilling and smoking expertise. On top of the competition, other events are held to provide a lively and fun atmosphere for families and friends. MORE INFO HERE.
November 11-13, 2022: KCBS World Invitational — Gadsden, Alabama
The Kansas City Barbeque Society’s biggest event for the rest of the year is the fourth annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition. The event will bring together top champion pitmasters to compete for the title of “KCBS World Champion.” This event will feature three full days of contests and events. There will be both an open contest and a Master Series contest. Plus, backyard teams will be eligible to compete in the open against Master Series teams without impacting their Backyard status. MORE INFO HERE.
November 18-20, 2022: Jacksonville BBQ Fest — Jacksonville, Florida
During the past few years, Florida has become an even bigger attraction for barbecue restaurants and events. The Jacksonville BBQ Fest, held at TIAA Bank Field (where the Jaguars play), is one event that brings barbecue fans together to get a taste of great local and national barbecue bites. On top of the top-notch food, there’s also live music and great drinks to enjoy. To get a taste of this event, be sure to read Ed Reilly’s recap of the Denver BBQ Festival, which is hosted by the same organizers. MORE INFO HERE.
November 19, 2022: Holy Smokes BBQ Festival — Charleston, South Carolina
Aaron Siegel and Taylor Garrigan of Home Team BBQ, Anthony DiBernardo of Swig & Swine, and Robert Moss, the Contributing BBQ Editor for Southern Living, have invited the leaders of the barbecue community from around the country to come together in Charleston on November 19th, 2022 at Riverfront Park. With live music playing on stage against the backdrop of the Cooper River, guests will have a unique opportunity to sample a range of barbecue styles from the group of renowned pitmasters. Expect to taste slow-smoked whole hog, pork and beef ribs, Texas-style brisket, smoked sausage, BBQ tacos, and much, much more. MORE INFO HERE.
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