We just revealed the best BBQ bites in the country on this podcast
One of my favorite ways to occupy my time during my commute to work or on a long barbecue road trip is to listen to barbecue podcasts. Each week in The Smoke Sheet, we try to highlight our favorite recent episode of one of the many barbecue-related podcasts being recorded in our “Watch/Listen/Read” section.
This past week, Sean and I were fortunate to have been able to part of a recording of one of those podcasts in an episode of Man Meat BBQ with host and fellow barbecue fanatic Mikey Kay. We had a lot of fun geeking out about barbecue, and we were grateful for the opportunity to spread the word about the newsletter and reach a new audience.
During the recording of the podcast, we covered how we got into barbecue, how we started The Smoke Sheet, what trends we are seeing in restaurants and in the barbecue community in general.
One of the most fun questions we were asked was “What is your perfect plate of barbecue?” As much as I think, talk, and write about barbecue, I truly had never thought of this question before and I am certain I had a deer in the headlights look on my face. Sean jumped right in and decided we should build the perfect barbecue plate based on our travels throughout the country.
Without giving too much of the episode away, some of the highlights include burnt ends from Slap’s BBQ, the new Rocket Pig sandwich from Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, dry-rub ribs from Peg Leg Porker (see above), Billy Durney’s beef ribs from Hometown Bar-B-Que, and Melissa Cookston’s smoked chicken wings from Memphis Barbecue Co. There is so much great barbecue out there, so this was much more challenging than I anticipated. If you could build YOUR perfect plate of barbecue, what would it be? Let us know.
Thanks again to Mikey Kay for inviting us to be on the show. Listen to our episode of the podcast and subscribe to Man Meat BBQ to hear more about what’s going on in the world of barbecue.
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet
Here are the top recent barbecue news stories from around the country:
A tray of barbecue from Louie’s BBQ, which is opening a new restaurant in Buda, Texas, just outside of Austin.
Well-liked Austin barbecue spot Louie’s BBQ is soon heading to Main Street in Buda, Texas. The joint will serve the same menu of Tex-Mex-influenced barbecue, including brisket, pulled pork, and sausage, and sides like mac and cheese and potato salad, according to Eater Austin.
Smorgasburg Los Angeles, a popular food bazaar in downtown L.A., returns this weekend after a holiday hiatus, and one of the new permanent vendors will be Moo’s Craft Barbecue, one of the top rated barbecue operations in the city.
Blue Smoke, one of the top barbecue joints in New York City, has closed its flagship location until the end of January to perform small renovations and to introduce a strict new “no tipping” policy that matches other Union Square Hospitality Group restaurants and bars.
A fire on Saturday night damaged Chicago’s Smoque BBQ, causing the well-liked joint to temporarily close. Owner Barry Sorkin said he hopes to reopen soon, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Friends and seasoned chefs Andrew Elliott and Jimmy Ellis will soon open The Inked Pig in Gainesville, Georgia. “We had no doubts in our cooking abilities and we wanted to give it a shot,” Elliott told the Gainesville Times. “We were tired of working for somebody else. We wanted to do it our style and put our twist on it, using our flavors.”
New York-based barbecue chain Mighty Quinn’s has big expansion plans for 2019. While the focus for growth is in the Northeast, the company isn’t turning away deals and is openly talking with possible franchisees everywhere from Los Angeles to Miami.
Texas-style barbecue, including brisket and beef ribs, has been credited for growth around the U.S. for beef, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. The U.S. cattle inventory was at 31.7 million for 2018, a 1.6 percent increase from 2017.
Southern Yanks Smokehouse has attracted a lot of local attention after being open about six months in downtown Washington, Pennsylvania, according to the Observer-Reporter.
Michigan’s Mountain Town Brewing Company is expanding to a new location and creating a new barbecue restaurant to go with it. The “Summit Smokehouse” will offer a full barbecue menu, according to The Morning Sun.
The 73-year-old Market Bar-B-Que is once again open in Minneapolis after being resurrected and relocated to the other side of downtown, as reported by Eater Twin Cities.
New owners are bringing back Mobile, Alabama’s The Brick Pit, which shut its door in late 2017 despite receiving national attention. It will be located a stone's throw from the University of South Alabama campus, with a plan to reopen the operation later this year.
Here are BBQ shows, podcasts, or books you should check out this week:
Watch: Kevin’s BBQ Joints - Interview with The Rendezvous’ John Vergos
In this episode Kevin chats with John Vergos from Charlie Vergos Rendezvous in Memphis, Tennessee. John talks in detail about the restaurant's history, starting with his father, Charlie Vergos, opening in the restaurant in 1948. He also describes the evolution of the menu, what to expect upon visiting, and even what to order. John also highlights the incredible people on staff who have been with the Rendezvous for decades, the diverse group of notable guests who have enjoyed meals there, and delves into Rendezvous’ role as a pioneer in the business of shipping barbecue across the US. Watch it here.
Listen: BBQ Central - Interview with Meathead Goldwyn
In this episode of BBQ Central, host Greg Rempe talks with Meathead Goldwyn from AmazingRibs.com about some tailgating or couch-gating recipes you can make to feed your football appetite as the NFL season ends. They also field listener questions and tackle the latest issues in the world of barbecue. Listen to it here.
Read: Korean BBQ: Master Your Grill in Seven Sauces - by Bill Kim and Chandra Ram
Born in Korea but raised in the American Midwest, chef Bill Kim brings these two sensibilities together in Korean BBQ, translating Korean flavors for the American consumer in a way that is friendly and accessible. Kim teaches the fundamentals of the Korean grill through flavor profiles that can be tweaked according to the griller's preference, then gives an array of knockout recipes, including Hoisin and Yuzu Edamame, Kimchi Potato Salad, Kori-Can Pork Chops, Seoul to Buffalo Shrimp, BBQ Spiced Chicken Thighs, and Honey Soy Flank Steak. Order it here.
January 11-20: Kansas City Restaurant Week - Kansas City, Missouri / Kansas
An exhibition of Kansas City's finest culinary talents, Kansas City Restaurant Week will offer a variety of mouth-watering foods from top chefs across the metro area, demonstrating why the KC dining scene is among the nation's best — and up until now, one of the best-kept foodie secrets. Barbecue restaurants participating in the event include Blind Box, Char Bar, Fiorella’s Jack Stack, Q39, and more. Kansas City Restaurant Week 2019 begins with lunch service on Friday, January 11, 2019 and concludes with dinner service on Sunday, January 20, 2019. More info here.
January 20-22: Whole Hog Extravaganza / Brisket Bonanza / BBQ MBA - Murphysboro, Illinois
Restaurateurs, barbecue competitors, caterers, and enthusiasts are invited to level up and continue your education at the Whole Hog Extravaganza, a one-of-a-kind seminar at 17th BBQ in Murphysboro. Pitmasters and speakers on hand will include Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs, John Lewis of Lewis Barbecue, and Mike and Amy Mills or 17th Street Barbecue. Class size is limited. More info here.
January 25-26: Lakeland Pigfest - Lakeland, Florida
Join more than 150 competition barbecue teams for a weekend of good eatin’, good friends, and good tunes to benefit Lakeland-area charities during the 23rd Annual Lakeland Pigfest. Admission is $5 and kids 12 years and younger can enter for free. By purchasing food from competition teams, you’ll be supporting their efforts and local charities. More info here.
February 21-23: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Bar-B-Que Contest - Houston, Texas
More than 250 teams, led by barbecue aficionados, compete in the 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 Chuck Wagon. Plus, the carnival is open for wild rides and fun games. The Garden Stage features some of the best up-and-coming and established artists in Texas country. The Rockin' Bar-B-Que Saloon also features live and DJ music. At the Chuck Wagon, visitors can pick up their complimentary sliced brisket plate with chips and beans. More info here.
Easy Homemade Pastrami Recipe
For this edition’s Recipe of the Week, we chose to honor Monday’s National Pastrami Day with an easy recipe for homemade pastrami from White Thunder BBQ. A corned beef brisket is first generously rubbed with coriander and other spices before being smoked and then steamed. The result is delicious pastrami that begs to be piled high on rye bread and covered with mustard. Watch the video here.
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