Connecting the BBQ Community One Issue at a Time
We hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday filled with family and friends — and, of course, plenty of delicious barbecue and great grilled food. This year has been an exciting one so far in the world of barbecue, and we had a lot of opportunities to attend some great events, dine at some great barbecue joints, and even cook some tasty dishes in the backyard. Read about some of our latest adventures here.
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Thank you to our contributors who have helped make The Smoke Sheet a truly inclusive and wide-ranging BBQ newsletter. Friends including John Tanner, Ed Reilly, GrillGirl Robyn Lindars, Bryan Suddith, Kell and Janet Phelps, and Monk from the Barbecue Bros have written about fun events, unique products, judging experiences, and barbecue in unlikely places. We are so appreciative of their dispatches from around the country.
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 Big Poppa Smokers, Porter Road, AmazingRibs.com, and Sauce King NYC.
We also would like to thank each and every one of you for your support, as we do what we can to connect and grow the BBQ community. Please be sure to spread the word on The Smoke Sheet to friends and family who also love barbecue!
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist) and Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet
Enter your sauce now for Sauce King NYC, an international competition to determine the best barbecue sauces, hot sauces, marinades, and more. A panel of expert judges from the NYC food and media community will taste each sauce, and select exclusive winners in each category who stand out for their bold flavors, excellent ingredients, and delicious tastes. Registrations must be received by August 20th! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.
—LeRoy and Lewis was highlighted in the NY Times 20 Best Texas Barbecue Restaurants From the New Generation list.—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Everyone in barbecue has strong feelings about lists. They’re fun to argue over and are often useful as guides to identify some of the best places to visit on a trip. Brett Anderson and Priya Krishna of the New York Times have written their take on “The 20 Best Texas Barbecue Restaurants From the New Generation.” The authors note that “a renaissance in Texas barbecue has transformed what was once a hidebound tradition into one of the country’s most dynamic vernacular cuisines, changing the landscape of American barbecue in the process — and turning Texas into the country’s ultimate barbecue destination.” Joints on the list include newcomers like Barbs-B-Q and celebrated joints like Burnt Bean Company and LeRoy and Lewis. READ MORE.
The New York Times also has a complimentary article to its list of 20 best newer joints that gives more context and insights on the innovators in Texas barbecue. “The new Texas barbecue gives voice to a population that has been diversified by new arrivals from other states and countries, and to a cultural dialogue between rural and urban artisans; much of it nods to American barbecue’s origins in the live fire cooking of Indigenous people and enslaved Africans,” the article notes. READ MORE.
The Texas barbecue community recently gathered to honor la Barbecue owner LeAnn Mueller, who passed away at the age of 51. Eater Austin sums up some of Mueller’s career as such: “Mueller was truly a groundbreaker, throughout her personal life and within the Texas barbecue landscape. Mueller was a descendant of barbecue royalty. A member of the famous Mueller barbecue family — the ones behind Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor — she grew up steeped in the family business alongside her late brother, John Mueller. However, LeAnn very much set her own career path creatively and in the world of smoked meats.” READ MORE.
ADDITIONAL READS
Robert Jacob Lerma has helped to organize a fundraiser for legendary Texas pitmaster Robert Sierra, who was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma.
Kevin Kelly of Kevin’s BBQ Joints continued his series on the books that inspired people from the BBQ community, including Texas Monthly Food Editor Patricia Sharpe and The Smoke Sheet’s Ryan Cooper.
Chris Prieto of Prime Barbecue in Knightdale, NC, is launching Primo, a nighttime food truck/backyard party.
Here are the four distinct types of barbecue sauce found in South Carolina, according to Tasting Table.
The Washington Post recently shared the 12 biggest barbecue pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Friends of The Smoke Sheet Lauren Nagel of Bon Appeteach and Paula Stachyra of Queen of the Grill shared grilling tips for college students with Spoon University.
—Mark Wiens visits Rodney Scott in Charleston to discover his secrets to making delicious BBQ.—
WATCH
Pitmaster Rodney Scott Shares His Secrets to Perfect BBQ — Mark Wiens
Mark Wiens visits two of the most legendary barbecue smokehouses in the United States, where they do everything traditionally — using only hardwoods. He starts his journey where it all began, at Scott’s Bar-B-Que in the small town of Hemingway, South Carolina. Next, he travels to Rodney Scott’s BBQ in Charleston, where he spends a few hours with renowned pitmaster Rodney Scott himself. When asked what makes good BBQ, Rodney immediately answers patience, hardwoods, good proteins, great music, and a whole lot of storytelling. Rodney also sprinkles on seasoning, spoons out the meat, and uses a mop to add sauce. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
Misty Banchero AKA Seattle Butcher's Wife — Babes of Que
This episode of the Babes of Que podcast takes us to the Pacific Northwest to chat with Misty Banchero, also known as Seattle Butcher's Wife. The interview covers quite a bit of ground, from how Misty got started, mentoring, competition, collaborations, festivals, and everything in between. LISTEN HERE.
READ
Franklin Smoke: Wood. Fire. Food. — Aaron Franklin and Jordan Mackay
Aaron Franklin, bestselling author and proprietor of Austin hotspot Franklin Barbecue, turns to backyard live-fire grilling and smoking in Franklin Smoke. Along with award-winning food writer Jordan Mackay, Franklin addresses the mysterious area where smoker and grill intersect, describing when and how to best combine the two. This complete resource, which features inspiring and helpful photographs, proves that lighting a backyard fire is no big deal on a weeknight—and that you can (and should!) cook this way for fuller flavors and a deeper engagement with the elements. ORDER HERE.
—Chef Tom from All Things BBQ shows you how to cook delicious flank steak topped with a fresh red Chimichurri sauce.—
Grilled Flank Steak with Red Chimichurri
By All Things BBQ
This recipe for Grilled Flank Steak with Red Chimichurri is a marvelous option for a summer barbecue or a weeknight meal. The steak is tenderized and put in marinade before being topped with a fresh, rustic Chimichurri sauce made with sweet red bell pepper. It's a bright and flavorful sauce that perfectly complements the grilled steak. You've gotta give it a try!
—There are a ton of exciting BBQ events happening this summer.—
July 8, 2023: 13th Annual Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival — Brooklyn, NY
It’s time to get smokin’! The 13th annual Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival is returning on July 8, 2023, to Brooklyn to celebrate the summer! The event takes place at Industry City and will feature a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and barbeque eatin’. Admission buys you a sampling glass to enjoy an all-you-care-to-taste sampling of beer and bourbon. MORE INFO HERE.
July 13-16, 2023: Windy City Smokeout — 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. MORE INFO HERE.
July 23, 2023: Tex-Mex BBQ Block Party 2023 — Houston, Texas
The Houston Barbecue Festival and Saint Arnold Brewing Company announce the 2nd Annual Tex-Mex BBQ Block Party to celebrate the growing influence of Tejano and Tex-Mex cooking traditions in contemporary Central Texas-style craft barbecue. Several major Texas BBQ joints will be there slinging up the meats they are known well for. MORE INFO HERE.
August 19, 2023: Blues BBQ Festival 2023 — Manhattan, New York
Get ready for a fun music and food festival in Manhattan. The Blues BBQ Festival returns to Hudson River Park’s Pier 76 on Saturday, August 19. This free, day-long music festival invites exceptional blues artists to perform on our stage. Come for a Saturday filled with great food, great company, and great music. BBQ is typically available from multiple vendors throughout the fest. MORE INFO HERE.
Sept 1-3, 2023: Pinehurst Barbecue Festival — Pinehurst, North Carolina
The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 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. Presented by Pinehurst Resort, US Foods, and Our State Magazine, the three-day festival, staged in the Village of Pinehurst, offers a unique culinary experience of various barbecue meats, seafood, and traditional sides, plus bourbon tasting and BBQ classes. MORE INFO HERE.
September 4-7, 2023: Barbecue University 2023 — Solvang, California
BBQ master Steven Raichlen will once again be hosting Barbecue University this year. This time, it will be held at Alisal Ranch in Solvang, California. You'll get a chance to experience Steven’s inimitable teaching style designed to help you take your grilling to the next level and much more. Get ready for Steven’s spontaneous improvisations, the Instagram-worthy presentation table, the final exam, and of course, the coveted Barbecue University diploma. MORE INFO HERE.
September 9, 2023: Pig Island — Staten Island, New York
Back for its 14th year, Pig Island NYC is returning to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens on Staten Island for its third year in a row. More than 20 chefs will come together for this pork-laden festival and compete to see who has the most delicious dish. There will also be craft beer, hard cider, spirits, and other food offerings. BUY TICKETS HERE.
Sept 27 - Oct 1, 2023: 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, this signature Kansas City event includes public-facing activities, including live music, delicious BBQ and local food, a lineup of kids activities, and a vendor fair authentic to Kansas City and BBQ enthusiasts. MORE INFO HERE.
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