Welcome to the New Smoke Sheet
We're making changes to keep bringing you the best of the BBQ world and build a stronger community.
Last week, we announced The Smoke Sheet would now be a paid subscription newsletter. We are excited to announce that the transition is complete, and we’re up and running on Substack, which will make it easier for people to subscribe and help us keep bringing this passion project to your inbox.
Why we’re moving to paid subscriptions
Bringing you the newsletter every week without interruption for nearly five years has not been easy. It has been our pleasure to bring you dispatches from the best BBQ restaurants and events and curate top-notch media recommendations and recipes. But we’ve never been able to break even on our costs. The only sustainable way forward is to be supported by our amazing loyal readers.
We also want to shift to a paid subscription model to better serve readers. If you want to have a say in what The Smoke Sheet becomes and what we cover, you have to be a paid subscriber. We will also create more ways to interact directly with our paid subscribers, including in-person opportunities.
What if I’m already subscribed?
For all our existing subscribers who followed us when we were using Mailchimp, you’ve automatically been moved over to Substack and will still get our emails and updates. However, while occasional content will be free, almost all of our newsletters and posts will now require a paid subscription.
Here’s a quick breakdown of our different subscriptions:
Free subscription: Free subscribers will receive occasional public posts and updates.
Paid subscription: Paid subscribers will receive every issue of The Smoke Sheet in their inbox weekly in full. They will also have access to future perks such as a monthly online happy hour, in-person meetups, and more.
Founding member subscription: Founding members get everything from the paid subscription tier, but they also want to show they are the most passionate supporters of the BBQ community. They are foundational to making The Smoke Sheet a success, and they will receive their name in the newsletter occasionally.
How can I get all of the best BBQ content?
Click the button below to subscribe for just $5/month or $50/year. As mentioned, paid subscribers will have access to all our newsletters, full archives, and more.
We greatly appreciate the support of our readers, many of whom we’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the years. Please consider joining our community today so we can build an even better experience. If you have a friend or family member that may be interested, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe as well!
Sean Ludwig and Ryan Cooper
Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet
Joe Zavala is bringing many great barbecue items together in one place with his new operation Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution, reports Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn. The operation gives customers access to harder-to-find sauces, rubs, and more, plus the option for subscription boxes and BBQ classes.
Major BBQ competition Memphis in May may not return to its usual home of Tom Lee Park next year. “Memphis River Parks Partnership recently sent Memphis in May a list of damage reportedly done to Tom Lee Park during the 2023 festival,” reports WREG. “The cost of the damage was estimated to be more than $1.4 million.”
The Gate’s Bar-B-Q location in Leawood, KS, sustained significant smoke damage last Friday after a kitchen fire.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas recently had his 39th birthday. To celebrate, the well-regarded Kansas City joint Q39 released a sandwich in his honor. The Mayor “Q” 39 is a smoked brisket and pimento grilled cheese. (This sounds seriously delicious.)
Decider reviewed the new A&E show Kings of BBQ, which stars celebrities Anthony Anderson and Cedric The Entertainer. The show chronicles the two as they start a barbecue business and talk to members of the BBQ community.
The Hoboken, NJ, location of Myron Mixon Barbecue (well-reviewed but never found its audience) has been replaced by a sushi restaurant.
Two Memphians will be inducted into the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame this year — Flora Payne, owner of Payne’s Bar-B-Que, and Bill Arnold, the founder of Blues Hog Barbecue.
The BBQ Buddha's Midnight Brisket
This perfect-every-time recipe will help you get a delicious brisket done while sleeping. If you time it correctly, you can wake up and pick up where you left off the night before. This recipe is perfect if you want to serve your brisket for lunch or dinner the following day.
WATCH
The Most Exciting BBQ Joint in Texas is Egyptian — Bon Appétit
In this well-made video, Bon Appétit brings you along for a day with Egyptian pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh at KG Barbecue in Austin — where Texas barbecue is being transformed by incorporating the bright flavors of the Middle East.
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. Come for a Saturday filled with great food, company, and music. LEARN MORE.
Sept 1-3, 2023: Pinehurst Barbecue Festival — Pinehurst, North Carolina
The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival celebrates taste and tradition, featuring award-winning pitmasters from across North Carolina in one of the most picturesque settings in the entire state. LEARN MORE.
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. LEARN MORE.
September 9, 2023: Pig Island — Staten Island, New York
Back for its 14th year, Pig Island NYC is returning to Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island for its third year in a row. More than 20 chefs and pitmasters will come together for this pork-laden festival and compete to see who has the most delicious dish. LEARN MORE.
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 kids’ activities. LEARN MORE.
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