We just partnered with Kevin’s BBQ Joints, plus this week’s top BBQ news and events
One of our favorite barbecue podcasts is Kevin’s BBQ Joints, an interview series hosted by Kevin Kelly where he talks with many of the industry’s top pitmasters and barbecue experts. He’s chatted with almost every big name in barbecue and he’s still going strong after more than 100 episodes. Kevin also has many of his episodes available on YouTube as well.
With this in mind, we’re happy to announce that we’ve partnered with Kevin’s BBQ Joints to raise the profile of The Smoke Sheet and bring it to more barbecue fans around the country and around the world. You can start hearing an intro about what The Smoke Sheet is up to in one of Kevin’s latest episodes, an interview with legendary pitmaster Pat Martin of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, and we’ll be featured in more episodes to come.
If you’re unfamiliar with Kevin’s podcast series, here are a few must-listen episodes we’d recommend checking out:
We look forward to ramping up The Smoke Sheet’s operation as the year progress, so this is just the start. Have a great week everyone!
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist) and Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet
Here are the top recent barbecue news stories from around the country:
Bryan Furman, owner of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ in Atlanta, is interviewed by Dana Jacobson from CBS This Morning before the Super Bowl.
Just in time for Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta, Bryan Furman, owner of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ in Atlanta, sat down with CBS This Morning to talk about his craft.
The Late Show anchor (and South Carolina native) Stephen Colbert dissed North Carolina barbecue on his show recently. While celebrating a 3-year-old boy being miraculously found, he added: “Little boy found in North Carolina, that is such happy news. But in a tragic twist, he will have to spend his life eating North Carolina barbecue.”
In a hilarious error, pop star Ariana Grande accidentally got a tattoo that reads “Japanese BBQ Grill,” when it was supposed to say “7 Rings,” the name of her most recent single. She then attempted to fix it and made it worse.
Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn has been documenting his “#roadsausage” journey around Texas and documented where to find the best sausage wraps in the whole state.
After 29 prototypes, the Pit Barrel Cooker Company in Prospect, Kentucky thinks it has created the ultimate drum barrel smokers.
The Houston Chronicle’s J.C. Reid writes about the growing popularity of vertical smokers.
Where did Brunswick Stew originate — Virginia or Georgia? WTVR CBS 6 in Richmond, Virginia investigates this, including by interviewing Fox Brothers BBQ in Atlanta.
Hours-long waits are typical with Matt Horn, who brings his Texas-style barbecue pop-up Horn BBQ to venues in Oakland and San Francisco. And soon Horn BBQ will be available at Off the Grid Fort Mason every other Friday starting March 8.
Here are BBQ shows, podcasts, or books you should check out this week:
Watch: How to Smoke Beef Ribs - by Mad Scientist BBQ
Mad Scientist BBQ (a barbecue enthusiast who is also a biology and chemistry teacher) outlines how to best prepare and smoke beef ribs, one of the most challenging barbecue items to make in this 20-minute video. They look downright incredible, as you can see in the photo above. Watch it here.
Listen: Episode 2 with Megan Day of Burnt Finger BBQ - by Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
After spending years as sports writers and radio hosts in Springfield, Missouri, co-hosts Steve Koehler and Lyndal Scranton have taken the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show to the world of podcasts. In the second episode of the podcast, their guest is Megan Day from Burnt Finger BBQ in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Day speaks about the evolution of her involvement in barbecue, shares details about being named one of the nine most influential women in barbecue by Southern Living, and gives a preview about what’s next in the upcoming season of competition barbecue. Listen to it here.
Read: 27 Lessons Learned From Competition BBQ - by Ben Arnot
Australian pitmaster Ben Arnot, founder of the Smoking Hot Confessions strives to help create barbecue-related resources and provide educational opportunities through his podcast, website, and Facebook community. With 27 Lessons Learned From Competition BBQ, Arnot has developed an eBook that offers an approachable and often humorous way for people to explore the world of competition barbecue. He shares the practical tips and tricks he has learned (the hard way) from his years in the competitive scene. It’s a perfect guide for anyone who is interested in getting into competitive cooking. Order it here.
February 16: Whole Hog Barbecue Summit - Kinston, North Carolina
Barbecue cooks, judges, and festival organizers are invited to join in the fun for a day of learning, fellowship, and whole hog barbecue. Current and prospective judges get the chance for a refresher or to get on the path to being a sanctioned judge. Cooks have the opportunity to get clarifications on the rules and learn exactly what the judges are looking for. Festival organizers are able to meet one another and learn more about current rules and information. 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. Activities include live music, rides, games, and more and visitors will receive a complimentary sliced brisket plate with chips and beans. More info here.
February 23: Rock The Block - Charleston, South Carolina
The second annual Rock The Block BBQ party is hosted by Home Team BBQ and will raise money for Hogs for the Cause, a non-profit that helps alleviate the emotional and financial strain experienced by children and their families during the fight against pediatric cancer. Guests will enjoy a full day of barbecue, brews, live entertainment, and more, all for a good cause. Fox Bros. Bar & Bar-B-Q, Taqueria del Sol, and Sam Jones BBQ will be joining in the festivities. More info here.
March 6-10: Charleston Food and Wine Festival - Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston Wine + Food infuses homegrown flavor with top chefs, winemakers, authors, storytellers, artisans, and food enthusiasts from around the globe for a five-day event that spans the first full weekend each March. More info here.
March 29-30: Hogs for the Cause - New Orleans, Louisiana
Hogs for the Cause returns as the largest, tastiest BBQ festival in New Orleans. The city welcomes 85 local and regional BBQ masters and the best backyard chefs to compete in seven categories: Whole Hog, Ribs, Pork Butt/Shoulder, Porkpourri, Sauce, Fan Favorite, and Fundraising Champion. The barbecue festival is a two-day event full of music, local beer, and fundraising. More info here.
April 3-6: National Barbecue & Grilling Association Annual Conference - Kansas City, Missouri
The National Barbecue & Grilling Association (NBBQA) Annual Conference will be held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Whether you are a product owner, run a restaurant, sell, buy or simply enjoy BBQ, there are boundless opportunities to network, learn, and grow at the conference. Events include bus tours, education sessions, and the BBQ bash, with presentations, demonstrations, and cookoffs. More info here.
April 14: Houston BBQ Festival - Humble, Texas
The 7th Annual Houston BBQ Festival will take place on Sunday, April 14th from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Humble Civic Center Arena Complex. The festival will feature Houston’s best barbecue joints all in one place. Tickets include entry into the event and unlimited sample portions from each participating Houston barbecue joint. More info here.
April 26-28: Austin Food and Wine Festival - Austin, Texas
The Austin Food + Wine Festival returns April 26-28 to spoil your palate with a handful of global and nationally renowned talent. This 3-day weekend in the culinary capital is the epitome of high spirits, with a packed schedule of hands-on grilling demos, up-close tastings with top chefs and sommeliers, and more interactive demos and panels. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on January 24. More info here.
May 4: Red Dirt BBQ Festival - Tyler, Texas
For five years, the Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival has been one of the most unique food and music experiences in Texas. The sixth annual event returns to the brick streets of downtown Tyler, Texas. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Central on February 1. More info here.
Kansas City Style Spare Ribs
In this week’s recipe, pitmaster Malcolm Reed of Killer Hogs BBQ shares a simple recipe for making traditional style Kansas City spare ribs. He uses two different rubs to give the ribs distinct sweet and spicy layers of flavor, adding hickory as the smoking agent. For this recipe, Reed forgoes wrapping the ribs but keeps them moist by spritzing with apple juice. Finally, he applies a thin glaze of a tomato-based sauce to finish them off for perfectly tender Kansas City-style ribs that are ready to eat. View the recipe here.
If you’re not already subscribed to The Smoke Sheet, sign up here. Want to be featured in or sponsor this newsletter? Email us now!