3 Amazing Women BBQ and Grilling Fans Should Know
3 Amazing Women All BBQ and Grilling Fans Should Know
Since we launched The Smoke Sheet in 2018, we’ve had the good fortune to meet several talented women from the barbecue and grilling world. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that we likely would have never launched this newsletter at all if not for one very important woman in barbecue — Tootsie Tomanetz, pitmaster of Snow’s BBQ. After all, Sean and I met in line at Snow’s while we waited to meet Tootsie and try her world-famous barbecue.
While unfortunately still underrepresented, more and more women are embracing the world of live-fire cooking. We are thrilled to see more women involved in all aspects of barbecue and grilling, and we believe it is important to support those women, whether they are novice live fire cooks or expert pitmasters and grillmasters in the backyard as well as at restaurants and in competitions. We also feel a large portion of the most interesting and creative barbecue and grilling content online and on social media is being developed by women.
Here are three extremely talented women all barbecue and grilling fans should be following online.
“Grill Girl” Robyn Lindars has been empowering women to learn how to grill since 2008 and will soon be launching a weekly grilling and BBQ show with The Smoke Sheet.
Robyn Lindars — Grill Girl
Florida-based “Grill Girl” Robyn Lindars started writing about grilling and barbecue on GrillGirl.com in 2008. Over the years she has focused on building a huge catalog of unique recipes, including healthy and flavorful dishes, as well as desserts and even cocktails. In 2019, she published her first cookbook entitled Healthy Electric Smoker: 100 Recipes with All Natural Ingredients and Fewer Carbs. She recently announced the launch of her new Grill Girl magazine, which will be out this summer. The Smoke Sheet is also thrilled to announce we will be collaborating with Robyn on a weekly live show called This Week In Grilling & BBQ, which will debut in the coming weeks. Be sure to follow Robyn on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube and stay tuned!
Melissa Reome (affectionately known as Grill Momma ) was one of the few women involved in backyard grilling and BBQ when she created her Instagram account several years ago.
Melissa Reome — Grill Momma
Melissa Reome, or Grill Momma as she is known in the BBQ and grilling world, is a New York-based cook, author, and photographer. She grew up with a love for cooking and in recent years, she has primarily concentrated on grilling and outdoor cooking. When Melissa started documenting her cooks on Instagram years ago, she never imagined her account would grow the way it has. One of her goals is to help show women that there is no need to be intimidated behind the grill. She is comfortable using a wide range of different types of equipment, from live fire cooking over wood or charcoal to gas grills, Kamado-style cooking, pellet grills, and everything in between. Check out her recipes on GrillMomma.com and follow her accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
You can find Christie Vanover of Girls Can Grill behind one or more of the grills in her large collection.
Christie Vanover — Girls Can Grill
Christie Vanover is a Las Vegas-based competitive BBQer, certified barbecue judge, and publisher of GirlsCanGrill.com, a website dedicated to encouraging more women to get outside and grill. As the pitmaster for the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) team Girls Can Grill, Christie can frequently be found at competitions around the country. She didn’t grow up grilling but started while she was in her 20s after being inspired by Steven Raichlen and Bobby Flay and coached by her father-in-law. Since then, Christie has traveled the world learning grilling techniques and in 2015 she launched Girls Can Grill to motivate other women to start grilling. You can follow Christie on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest.
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While these three women are some of our favorite content creators, we know there are several more talented women in the industry who deserve recognition. Let us know who inspires you!
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet
—This past weekend Marissa Ouverson became the first woman to win first place at the Steak Cookoff Association World Championship. (Photo by David Marks)—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
This past weekend, 21-year-old grill savant Marissa Ouverson became the first woman to win first place at the Steak Cookoff Association World Championship in Fort Worth, Texas. Ouverson is a student at Iowa State and has only been doing competitions for seven months, so she’s a true prodigy in the SCA. Congratulations are also in order for overall points winner Sandy Bohl Brown. The SCA continues to grow and provide exciting competitions all over the country, so be sure to check it out if you want to try your hand at competing. It will likely host 500 events this year. READ HERE.
Moo’s Craft Barbecue, one of the best barbecue operations in Southern California, will soon be moving into its first full restaurant in Los Angeles. Michelle and Andrew Muñoz originally grew to fame for serving up top notch barbecue at Smorgasburg LA. The new Moo’s restaurant will be located just over the river in Lincoln Heights, taking over the Lincoln Kitchen & Tap restaurant space at 2118 N. Broadway. The Muñoz’s have said “the plan is to get up and running as soon as possible, so they’re targeting a late spring or early summer arrival.” READ HERE.
Bogart’s Smokehouse, often regarded as one of the best BBQ joints in St. Louis, will reopen its doors on March 30. The restaurant said in September it would close for winter and hope to open back up in spring. And so that time has come. Bogart’s also turned 10 years old in February, and the joint will celebrate turning 10 with contests and giveaways on social media and special packages. READ HERE.
Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue, located in the small East Texas town of Crockett, is getting rave reviews from Daniel Vaughn of Texas Monthly. The menu at Mimsy’s includes classics and adventurous items, such as turkey breast, St. Louis–cut pork ribs, Prime-grade brisket from Double R Ranch, smoked burgers, beef-and-cheddar sausage, porchetta, and cheesecake. READ HERE.
One of the most diverse menus in barbecue very well might be at Terlingua, a restaurant in Portland, Maine that is “bringing together Portland’s bountiful fresh lobster, mussels, and mackerel, and Tex-Mex barbecue-style brisket, quail, and chorizo. Items on the menu includes tastes of Mexican, Caribbean, and Latin American flavors, all with tried-and-true Texas barbecue techniques. READ HERE.
ADDITIONAL READS
Mitch Davis, a Waco pitmaster who was featured recently in Texas Monthly for his deep-fried rib tips, passed away suddenly last Saturday.
J.C. Reid of the Houston Chronicle writes that, “your choice of wood will determine the success of your backyard barbecuing efforts” and explains some of the basics behind how to choose.
Feast Magazine interviewed Carisa Stark of Mary Jane Bourbon + Smokehouse in Perryville and Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Barvecue — NC-based makers of wood-smoked, plant-based barbecue — have broken ground on the world's largest plant-based smokehouse and it will open in July 2021.
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) has partnered with KCBS to kick off the second year of the Turkey Smoke competition series.
AL.com profiled Birmingham BBQ staple Carlile’s Barbecue, which has been in business since 1945 and has a colorful, rich backstory.
Parade Magazine ran three recipes from pitmaster Rodney Scott, who has an exciting new book out this week. The recipes include: Grilled Pork T-Bones, Famous 'Rodney's Sauce', and Barbecued Pork and Grits for Breakfast.
—In this recent video from KCBS, important voices in barbecue talk about the history of Kansas City barbecue.—
WATCH
The Melting Pot of BBQ: Kansas City — Kansas City Barbeque Society
The most famous dish to come from Kansas City BBQ was once given away for free – burnt ends. Kansas City Barbeque Society CEO Emily Detwiler and Co-Founder Carolyn Wells join the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s Liz Wunderlich plus special guests champion pitmaster Kelly Wertz of 4 Legs Up BBQ and Jeff Stehney, owner/pitmaster of the famous Joe’s Kansas City BBQ restaurant. Learn the history of Kansas City BBQ and how burnt ends evolved from scraps to a prized item on nearly every local BBQ menu. Plus, Jeff and Kelly each share how they make their own award-winning burnt ends. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
Meet Australia’s Queen of Brisket — Smoking Hot Confessions
In honor of International Women’s Day, the Smoking Hot Confessions welcomed back Julie-ann Tindall-Davies from JAGRD WoodFired in Western Australia. Julie-ann’s competition BBQ team ‘The Smokin’ Hot JAGRD Edge’ recently won KCBS International Brisket Team of the Year for 2020. Julie-ann makes commercial barbecue smokers, is among Australia’s top barbecue competitors, and she has competed worldwide with her top-notch brisket. LISTEN HERE.
READ
How to Cook Steak: Techniques to Master Selecting, Preparing, and Cooking Steak — Amanda Mason
Steak feels like a luxury, but you can cook up a restaurant-quality steak in your own kitchen anytime. Find out how easy it can be with this simple, practical steak cookbook. Clear instructions and 65 flavorful recipes help you learn and apply fundamental techniques like searing, smoking, sous vide, and even deep-frying to achieve the perfect steak. Brush up on seasoning and marinating, and find out how to cook to your preferred level of doneness. The simple, satisfying starter recipes in this steak cookbook teach you skills like outdoor grilling, stovetop cooking, and broiling. Then, impress your friends and family with a wide range of additional recipes, including sides and sauces to complement your steak creations. ORDER HERE.
—Taste all the great flavors of pastrami stuffed inside of these juicy sausage links. (Photo by Christie Vanover)—
Corned Beef Brisket Sausage
By Girls Can Grill
If you are looking for a different way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or want to figure out what to do with your leftover Corned Beef, try this recipe for Corned Beef Brisket Sausage from Christie Vanover of Girls Can Grill. Best of all, these delicious sausages can be enjoyed either grilled or smoked!
—Early 2021 may be light on larger barbecue events, but we expect many to happen later in the year.—
April 21, 2021: Brisket King NYC — Brooklyn, New York
If you love brisket, you won’t want to miss Brisket King NYC 2021 in Brooklyn. The event will be held this year at the outdoor space at Pig Beach NYC in Brooklyn. More than 15 chefs and pitmasters will be there serving up their takes on brisket and pastrami, including Blue Smoke, Central City BBQ, Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue, and others. MORE INFO HERE.
May 12-15, 2021: Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest — Memphis, Tennessee
This four-day competition will be held in Tom Lee Park on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis. Teams travel from around the world to compete for the title of World Champion and a share of the more than $115,000 in prize money. Teams will compete in the championship pork categories of Ribs, Shoulder, and Whole Hog, as well as the ancillary competitions of Hot Wings, Sauce, and “Anything But Pork.” MORE INFO HERE.
June 4-5, 2021: Hogs For the Cause — New Orleans, Louisiana
The bug Hogs For the Cause barbecue competition and festival is back in 2021 with a few changes. Proceeds still go to fight pediatric brain cancer, but this year's event will be held at a 15-acre site in Belle Chasse on the east side of the city. Organizers are limiting ticket sales to only 25% of the venue's capacity, and they will make the event cashless. MORE INFO HERE.
July 9-11, 2021: Windy City Smokeout BBQ & Country Music Festival — 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. Read our to learn about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.
August 26-30, 2021: Meat-Up in Memphis — Memphis, Tennessee
Join Meathead Goldwyn and the AmazingRibs.com crew at the Meat-Up in Memphis. The Meat-Up will be based in the historic Peabody Hotel. Things will kick off with a whole hog cooking demonstration Friday afternoon followed by a welcome dinner at the famous Rendezvous. Saturday will be a day of pork-centric seminars in the hotel, with special porky meals. Sunday, attendees will board buses and visit four BBQ joints for a deep dive into the historic tastes of Memphis barbecue. MORE INFO HERE.
NOTE: Due the pandemic, it’s possible these dates and details might change. For the latest details, please check out our full events calendar.
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