6 Awesome New BBQ Products to Watch in 2023
6 Awesome New BBQ Products to Look For in 2023
This week’s guest article is written by Ed Reilly, a self-described “BBQ-ologist” who has worked in the industry for 35 years, including in sales for Weber, Char-Broil, Sunbeam, Old World Spices, and B&B Charcoal. He’s also a certified judge in five different sanctioning bodies. In today’s article, Ed writes about new and notable BBQ products at the 2023 National Hardware Show. You can reach Ed on Instagram and Facebook. If you would like to write a guest article for The Smoke Sheet, please get in touch.
The National Hardware Show (NHS) is an exciting annual event in Las Vegas that brings together different industries into one space for a few action-packed days. Warehouses, home centers, independent retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and inventors unite under one roof to discover the newest products, innovations, and trends shaping the future of home improvement and outdoor living.
More than 2,000 exhibitors were gathered from around the world this year for the combined National Hardware Show, International Builders Show, National Kitchen and Bath, and Design and Construction Show that was held earlier this month. NHS featured a Celebrity Chef Cookoff, sponsored by bestselling author Mitche Graf of BBQ Nation, and the NHS Backyard was dedicated to all things outdoor cooking.
The Backyard area at the National Hardware Show was a great place to see the future of BBQ products. (Photo by Ed Reilly)
The Backyard was smoking with new products and networking opportunities. There were plenty of free samples of delicious grilled and smoked foods on the latest models on the market. From breakfast quesadillas to barbecued pizza to s’mores, everybody got to sample and explore new devices that will be available on the market soon. There was even a beer garden and evening music to hang out and “chill and grill.”
The participating chefs at Celebrity Chef Cookoff featured Renea Carolina (NexGrill), Stevan O’Neill (Citrusafe), Tim Sheer (Blues Hog), Matt Lott (Blackstone), Kevin Spenla (Gozney), Mark Anderson & Ryan Fey aka The Grill Dads (Ninja Woodfire Grill), and Hakim Callender (GrillGrate). Tim Sheer won the cookoff and brought home another award for the Blues Hog Nation’s trophy room.
Unfortunately, many of the top manufacturers that presented their newest grills and technologies asked that we not picture or feature their products until they had a chance to meet with all their customers directly. Still, I was able to catch up with quite a few new inventors and manufacturers who were more than happy to showcase their products. Here are six notable items or lines that caught my attention.
Everdure Cube 360 and Pizza Grill
Everdure has partnered with Kingsford to bring you the Cube 360. A convenient tailgate or picnic grill that is easy to carry and cook on. They also have perfected the outdoor pizzeria with a pizza prep station that can cook your pie in two minutes and then store them in the slide-out sleeves stored under the stainless steel prep table.
Westinghouse Grills
One of the exciting new players to enter the market is the 131-year-old Westinghouse. It has introduced several new grills that could be in your backyard soon. These include a 40-pound capacity vertical smoker and griddle combo. They also have a pellet kettle that is sure to make every backyard cooker happy.
Fire Guyz Fire Starter
The Fire Guyz have come up with a new way to get any fire going without using lighter fluid or kindling. They created a new version of a Fire Starter with small pieces of kindling, which create the perfect way to start a charcoal or log fire with just one light.
Grillicious Wipes
One cool invention from the show comes from Aaron Shapiro of Grillicious. He has developed flavored grill wipes that prevent your food from sticking while also adding incredible flavor boosts to your food. They come in six different flavors, including garlic, rosemary, and mesquite.
Razor Portable Griddles
One brand that stood out at the show was Razor, which offers a complete line of portable griddles, including a thermal induction surface. They claim to have more accessories than any other griddle company on the market today, and the lineup is impressive.
Monument Grills Electric Grill and Control Panel
One of the coolest innovations was by Monument Grills. The company offers a totally electronic and programable grill control panel and grill. Simply select your food, desired doneness, and the grill does the rest. The temperature probes communicate with the pre-programmed cooking instruction, taking all the guesswork out of outdoor cooking.
All of these were just a taste of what is to come in the year ahead. I’m looking forward to trying out many of these innovative devices.
Ed Reilly
BBQ-ologist
—Desiree Robinson of Cozy Corner Restaurant in Memphis was spotlighted by Fox 13 Memphis.—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
For Black History Month, Fox 13 Memphis interviewed 85-year-old barbecue matriarch Desiree Robinson about her long journey to become the first Black woman to be inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame. She credits her restaurant Cozy Corner’s success first to her late husband. “My husband was an awesome cook, and I’m good, but not nearly as good as he was,” said Robinson. “I’m telling you, it blew my mind. It started with him. He built it for us.” Robinson has overseen the acclaimed restaurant, which now has four generations of family that have worked there. READ MORE.
Daniel Vaughn of Texas Monthly reports that along with stellar smoked chicken and sausage, Heritage Butchery & Barbecue in Denison, Texas offers high-quality raw meat from within 250 miles of its Texoma region. Vaughn also has high praise for the smoked mac and cheese and the collard greens with smoked pork. READ MORE.
Eater Houston has updated its list of the best barbecue restaurants in the greater Houston area, which features 18 essential joints. The list includes many of the spots we visited when we did our Houston roundup, and it has a few surprises and omissions as well. READ MORE.
ADDITIONAL READS
Our friends at the Barbecue Bros. visited Perry’s Pig Pickin BBQ in Charlotte, where you can get bait and tackle along with your ‘cue.
Celebrity chef and pitmaster Michael Symon shared his go-to barbecue seasonings with Tasting Table.
Men’s Journal has rounded up the best pellet grills to use in cold weather.
Here are pitmaster Rodney Scott's top recommendations for grilling newbies.
An exciting new BBQ joint called Boots & Bones is scheduled to open in Jersey City in March.
—Pitmaster Evan Leroy shows off how to cook brisket using the foil boat method in a new video.—
WATCH
Cooking Brisket with the Foil Boat Method — Leroy and Lewis BBQ
Evan Leroy of Leroy and Lewis BBQ shares all his brisket cooking tips and demonstrates the foil boat method. With Leroy and Lewis being one of the top BBQ joints in Texas, you can trust Evan’s methods to help you make a killer brisket. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
Jackie Robbins of Rib Shack Smokehouse — Faturday Omaha
"Hi, welcome to Rib Shack!" That is what you might hear when you walk in the doors at 10841 Q St Suite 105 in Omaha and the voice saying that might just be owner and operator Jackie Robbins. Jackie has been through so much in her life, but keeps pushing forward with her signature smile and positive outlook. She and husband Malcolm relocated to Omaha after departing two restaurants in St. Louis, MO. Hear all about their ribs and delicious mac and cheese in this interview with Faturday Omaha host David Zorko. LISTEN HERE.
READ
Project Fire: Cutting-Edge Techniques and Sizzling Recipes from the Caveman Porterhouse to Salt Slab Brownie S'Mores — Steven Raichlen
An electrifying new approach by the man who literally wrote the bible on barbecue. Cutting edge techniques meet time-honed traditions in 100 boldly flavored recipes that will help you turbocharge your game at the grill. Here’s how to reinvent steak with reverse-seared beef tomahawks, dry-brined filets mignons, ember-charred porterhouses, and T-bones tattooed with grill marks and enriched, the way the pros do it, with melted beef fat. Here’s how to spit-roast beer-brined cauliflower on the rotisserie. Blowtorch a rosemary veal chop. Grill mussels in blazing hay, peppery chicken under a salt brick, and herb-crusted salmon steaks on a shovel. From Seven Steps to Grilling Nirvana to recipes for grilled cocktails and desserts, Project Fire proves that live-fire, and understanding how to master it, makes everything taste better. ORDER HERE.
—You’ll want to try this decadent lobster recipe from Beach Girl Grills. (Photo by Nicole Stover)—
Grilled Lobster with Miso Ginger Butter
By Beach Girl Grills
There’s just something about sweet, succulent lobster kissed by fire and bathed in a warm, lightly sweet yet savory butter that sets a mood. With just a few simple ingredients Grilled Lobster with Miso Butter will turn any night into an event.
—The upcoming NBBQA's 2023 annual conference is sure to be a fun time.—
February 15-18, 2023: National Barbecue & Grilling Association National Conference — Kissimmee, Florida
The National Barbecue & Grilling Association (NBBQA) will be hosting its annual national conference in early 2023. (Read the full preview here.) Expect great classes, speakers, food, competitions, and much more at this event. MORE INFO HERE.
February 23-25, 2023: Houston Rodeo World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest — Houston, Texas
More than 250 teams will compete in the next World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. While most team tents are invitation-only, visitors can enjoy several public venues, including The Garden, Rockin' Bar-B-Que Saloon and the Chuckwagon. Plus, the carnival is open for wild rides and fun games. The event is one of the largest annual BBQ competitions in the country. MORE INFO HERE.
March 31-April 1, 2023: Hogs For the Cause — New Orleans, Louisiana
The Hogs For the Cause barbecue competition and festival is back in 2023 for its 15th anniversary. The event will be held at the UNO Lakefront Arena festival grounds. Proceeds go to fight pediatric brain cancer. MORE INFO HERE.
April 2, 2023: Houston Barbecue Festival — Humble, Texas
The Houston Barbecue Festival will return for its 10th anniversary this April. Tickets are now on sale for the event that includes some of the state’s best pitmasters and barbecue joints such as CorkScrew BBQ in Spring, Brett’s BBQ Shop in Katy, Harlem Road Texas BBQ in Richmond, Tejas Chocolate & BBQ in Tomball, and more than a dozen of Houston’s most popular ’cue restaurants. MORE INFO HERE.
April 26, 2023: Brisket King NYC — Queens, New York
The 12th Edition of Brisket King NYC will be held outdoors at the huge Pig Beach BBQ location in Queens, NYC this April. The event will feature brisket dishes from upcoming barbecue pitmasters and chefs. Historically, Brisket King has featured many pitmasters before they were household names, so you’re also getting a look at the future of the barbecue scene. MORE INFO HERE.
May 17-20, 2023: Memphis in May — Memphis, Tennessee
Recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious barbecue contests, the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is a four-day competition held in Memphis. 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 $145,000 in prize money. The event will be held again at Tom’s River Park after a hiatus. However, based on the reduction in space in the new Tom Lee Park the event organizers expect the contest will be limited to 150 teams. MORE INFO HERE.
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