Tales from the pits, a Texas BBQ podcast featuring trendsetters, leaders, and icons from the barbecue industry

Wyatt McSpadden's love of Texas barbecue stretches back even further in time than his celebrated photography career which spans five decades. Growing up in a meat market family in Amarillo some of Wyatt's earliest memories involve barbecue. As a young man his hobby of photography began growing into a passion that evolved into a profession. In our interview with Wyatt we cover his early days photographing the construction of the famous Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, the beginnings of his BBQ photography, up to present day with the release of his latest book, Texas BBQ, Small Town to Downtown, and all points in between. Wyatt has witnessed historic moments in Texas barbecue firsthand including the splitting of the Kreuz/Smitty's businesses in Lockhart, and his career has seen the advancements in both the meat quality of the barbecue produced and the many advancements in technology that have changed the photography world. Like the transition of film to digital, the Texas Barbecue scene has evolved. Both of Wyatt's books are must-own items for barbecue lovers and are available at all major retailers. Wyatt's portraits of both the food and the people that cook it are beautifully laid out in these books designed by Nancy McMillan Get Wyatt’s newest book at one of his upcoming book signings or buy online https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Downtown-Smothers-History-Culture/dp/1477316701?crid=2JQYH0WJEAGC9&keywords=wyatt+mcspadden&qid=1539040443&sprefix=wyatt+mcsp%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-1&ref=sr_1_1 If you don’t already own one, pick up a copy of his first Texas BBQ book as well: https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Doris-Smothers-history-culture/dp/0292718586?crid=2JQYH0WJEAGC9&keywords=wyatt+mcspadden&qid=1539040443&sprefix=wyatt+mcsp%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-2&ref=sr_1_2

Bryan Furman left a career as a welder with a goal in mind: to cook and serve whole hog barbecue. Whole hog cooking was a tradition Bryan grew up with, but when his father challenged him with the question of "What's going to make your barbecue better than others?", Bryan decided that serving the highest quality heritage pigs would set him apart from the competition. Bryan and his wife Nikki opened the original B's Cracklin' Barbeque in Savannah, Georgian 2014. The critical acclaim would come in time, but the Furmans would soon be faced with adversity as their restaurant was badly damaged by a fire. They rebuilt and came back stronger than ever. An Atlanta location would follow, and the Furmans have big plans for further expansion in the future. B's Cracklin' boasts a menu of chopped whole hog, ribs, brisket, and chicken along with family recipes of cracklin' cornbread "hoe cakes" and a great family banana pudding recipe. Don't skip the mustard sauce with Georgia peaches! With a commitment to the highest quality product combined with a dedication to tradition, B's Cracklin' Barbeque is one of the premier BBQ destinations in Georgia. Catch B's Cracklin at: https://www.bscracklinbbq.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BsCracklinBBQ/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bscracklinbbq/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/377629193/bs-cracklin-bbq/ Atlanta 2061 Main Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 678-949-9912 Closed Monday Tuesday- Thursday 11 am to 9 pm Friday and Saturday 11 am to 9 pm Sunday 12 pm until 7 pm Savannah 12409 White Bluff Road, Savannah, GA 31419 912-330-6921 Thursday thru Saturday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Wayne Baker grew up in Luling, Texas eating classic central style barbecue. His youth was also spent competing in BBQ cookoffs with his dad Phil. Both of these experiences helped shape what would eventually become Baker Boys BBQ, opened in Gonzales, Texas in 2015. Serving traditional Texas BBQ staples like brisket, ribs, and housemade sausage combined with unique offerings like their acclaimed stuffed chicken leg, Baker Boys has been a welcome addition to the barbecue scene. Wayne and Phil Baker cook their meats on gravity fed Stumps charcoal smokers ( https://stumpssmokers.com/ ) which provide a consistent heat and different flavor to the meats than is normally found in Texas 'cue. Catch them online at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BakerBoysBBQ/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bakerboysbbq Baker Boys BBQ 1404 N Sarah Dewitt Dr Gonzales, Texas Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

We drove almost 3,000 miles to visit nearly twenty restaurants for our #hogtripping adventure. We recap the trip with our traveling band of BBQ friends Chris Wood, Eric Ulery, Andrew Stowell, Terry Osborn, and Jimmy Ho. Having traveled from east Texas through Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, we stopped at as many BBQ places as we could with the focus of the trip being whole hog cooking. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a t-shirt giveaway! We were fortunate to record interviews with Sam Jones BBQ (episodes 70 and 71) and have episodes airing in the near future with Zach Parker of B.E. Scott's Bar B Que in Lexington, Tennessee and also an interview with Bryan Furman with B's Cracklin Barbeque in Atlanta. Give those a listen to hear about some great family owned businesses. The Carolinas have been hit hard by Hurricane Florence which caused massive widespread flooding and destruction. If you have the means and would like to donate to help this wonderful region of America, one option is Operation BBQ Relief. Operation BBQ Relief is an organization that mobilizes to disaster hit areas and provides meals for those communities. If you'd like to donate, please go to https://operationbbqrelief.org

Sam Jones is one heck of a storyteller and that skill is no more apparent than in part two of our interview with him and Michael Letchworth. This episode details some of the challenges Sam and Michael faced during the construction phase of their restaurant and what they did to navigate the problems that come along with opening a restaurant. In this wide ranging interview we discuss everything from Sam and Michael's strong friendship to their very different musical tastes, the origins of the famous Skylight Inn capitol dome and how Skylight Inn got its name. Sam and Michael are two of the busiest men one is likely to meet and we cannot thank them enough for being so generous with their time and for inviting us to hang out and learn some invaluable lessons about barbecue, business, and life. They're great people with a great restaurant. The barbecue world lost a legend recently, and Sam Jones lost a dear friend when Garry Roark of Ubon's BBQ in Yazoo City, Mississippi passed away. In this episode Sam mentioned a podcast he did with Garry and other barbecue friends. Here is the link to that podcast. We hope you'll give it a listen and keep the Roark family in your thoughts. https://www.spreaker.com/user/10580793/ep-14-the-big-apple-bbq-part-one

Having grown up in a family whose history in barbecue could be traced back to the 1800's, whole hog cooking was something that had always been a part of Sam Jones' world. Despite being reluctant to make barbecue a career as young man, Sam returned to the business full time when his grandfather Pete Jones, founder of Skylight Inn, became ill. Sam navigated Skylight Inn through tough times after Pete's death and helped make the business thrive and prosper. Sam has a strong business mind and wanted to create a restaurant of his own, still focused on whole hog cooked the traditional way over wood burned down to coals, but something that would stand on its own and not be seen as a carbon copy of the now famous Skylight Inn. Together with his longtime friend and business partner Michael Letchworth, they opened Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, North Carolina in the fall of 2015. Check out part one of our interview with Sam and Michael where we discuss the history of Skylight Inn and its unique way of cooking and serving whole hog, and how the mindset of not being afraid to ask questions and to learn lead to the eventual creation of better processes for running a successful business and brand. Sam Jones BBQ online at: http://www.samjonesbbq.com/ 715 WEST FIRE TOWER ROAD WINTERVILLE, NC, 28590 MONDAY — SATURDAY 11AM — 9PM SUNDAY 11AM — 8:30PM Skylight Inn BBQ online at: https://www.skylightinnbbq.com/ 4618 S Lee St, Ayden, NC 28513 Monday - Saturday 10 am–7pm Closed Sunday

Dylan Taylor has built up quite the resume at a very young age. After working at highly acclaimed BBQ spots such as Terry Black's, La Barbecue, Truth Barbeque, and 2M Smokehouse (among others), Dylan decided the time was right to start working toward opening his own place. While he scouts out possible locations, Dylan has launched Taylor Barbecue Catering, available for medium to large barbecue catering requests. In addition to the catering options, Dylan also offers restaurant consulting services as well as fully immersive, hands-on cooking classes. Students who attend Dylan's classes learn the cooking process of any and all barbecue meats from start to finish. Dylan has class options that include everything from instruction on seasoning, trimming, cooking, and slicing meats to fire management, sausage making, and more. The services he provides are all encompassing and provide a rare opportunity for aspiring barbecue cooks to learn from someone with his level of expertise. In this episode we discuss Dylan's classes, catering options, and future restaurant plans as he gears up to make the next big leap in an already acclaimed barbecue career. To contact Dylan about catering or classes go to: www.taylorbbqcatering.com

As we continue to highlight the history of Texas BBQ, we spend time in this episode discussing some of what we consider the classic Texas BBQ joints. While craft barbecue is all the rage and is a great experience, its popularity has often made some of the long tenured places become less discussed. In order to be considered for what we're calling a classic joint, the business has to be at least 50 years old. We of course highlight the famous historic places such as Louie Mueller, Smitty's, and City Market in Luling, we also spend time discussing some of the lesser known spots that provide a great experience and look into the past such as Giddings City Market and Novosad's BBQ and Sausage Market. In all we discuss over twenty spots in this episode that barbecue fans should stop in if they get the chance. We'd love to hear from our listeners on any spots we might have missed that have a long history. Contact us on social media or via e-mail and let us know your favorite historic barbecue stops and we'll do our best to highlight them all in a future episode. Twiter: @bbqpodcast Instagram: @talesfromthepits E-mail: [email protected]

Hays County Barbeque The BBQ flame was ignited in Michael Hernandez after a memorable trip to Lockhart. Shortly thereafter, armed with a steadfast belief in their dream, Michael and Asenette Hernandez pushed all of their chips to the middle of the table and went headfirst into the barbecue business. In eleven years they've gone from owning a small place purchased from a former owner, then to their own small space, and have now opened a huge BBQ complex in San Marcos dedicated to providing a great and unique customer experience. Hays County Bar-B-Que is located right off the freeway in San Marcos and is open seven days a week to serve its community's barbecue needs. With a newly opened full bar in a building behind the restaurant that can accommodate large parties and will showcase live music on weekends, Hays County is one of Texas' premier barbecue destinations for an affordable good meal in a laid back atmosphere. Michael's dedication to preserving Central Texas traditions can be felt in the food itself and the pits the meat is cooked on. With a unique octagonal shape and flat top lids, the steel smokers are reminiscent of the famous Lockhart brick pits and all of the pitmasters at Hays are taught to cook by feel without the aid of temperature gauges on any of the flat top pits. Every square foot of the place has personal meaning to the Hernandez family who built the space almost entirely themselves and have worked tirelessly to achieve their dream. From the classic car memorabilia that line the walls to the sturdy wood bar Michael built himself, the space is filled with personal touches. Hays County is open seven days a week, and open for dinner service as well. The bar is open into the later evening on weekends and expect to see the return of live music soon. Say hello to Michael, Asenette, and Aaron Hernandez as well as Jessie, Omar, Zach, and the crew when you visit! 1612 South IH-35 San Marcos, Texas 78666 www.hayscobbq.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hayscobbq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaysCoBBQ/ Hours of Operation: Monday 11am - 9pm Tuesday 11am - 9pm Wednesday 11am - 9pm Thursday 11am - 9pm Friday 11am - 10pm Saturday 11am - 10pm Sunday 11am - 4pm or till sold out

The Tejas crew keep pushing the envelope on what great BBQ is and can be, and their latest projects are a showcase of their creativity. In the last couple months Scott, Greg, and the team have begun making their own sausage. While classic varieties such as an all beef Czech style and kielbasa are part of the rotation, Tejas has been also been hard at work with creative sausages such as linked versions of their Brisket and Blues and House prime sandwiches. In keeping with the spirit of the Tejas name, barbacoa boudin, elote sausage and chili relleno sausage have also been offered as specials and have been met with much acclaim. Another project that has been in the works at Tejas for some time is a market and bakery expansion of the business which will provide an outlet for co-owner Michelle Holland's great baked items, cold deli sandwiches, and of course chocolate. That project continues to move along and Tejas is hopeful to have the expansion completed in the fall of 2018. Catch them online: http://tejaschocolate.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TejasChocolate/ Twitter: @tejaschocolate Instagram: tejaschocolate 200 N. Elm Street Tomball,TX 77375 Tuesday – Friday 11:00 – 6:00 or sell out Saturday – 11:00 – 5:00 or sell out Closed Sunday & Monday

Tejas Chocolate and Barbecue began as a curiosity on how to make bean to bar chocolate and has evolved into one of the best and most creative restaurant experiences in Texas. After a successful launch of their housemade chocolate business, the first of its kind in the state, owners Michelle Holland, Scott Moore Jr., and Greg Moore began setting their sites on the next phase of their operations, barbecue. With Michelle and Scott's creativity along with Greg's chef background, Tejas launched their barbecue program with an innovative menu that included smoked meats along with innovative sandwiches such as the brisket and blues (brisket, blue cheese, cherry tomato and red onion) and bird and bacon (turkey, bacon and avocado with fried egg) and signature sides such as their now famous carrot souffle. The BBQ world would soon take notice and Tejas quickly gained the reputation as one of the top destinations in Texas. Equipped with just one pit bought off Craigslist at the start of the business, Tejas' popularity exploded and a 1,000 gallon Moberg pit was soon added to the roster. As the accolades poured in, Tejas continued to refine and innovate their menu, and to date keeps improving upon an already stellar operation. Catch them online: http://tejaschocolate.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TejasChocolate/ Twitter: @tejaschocolate Instagram: tejaschocolate 200 N. Elm Street Tomball,TX 77375 Tuesday – Friday 11:00 – 6:00 or sell out Saturday – 11:00 – 5:00 or sell out Closed Sunday & Monday

While it has become commonplace in today's Texas BBQ explosion to see carefully sourced proteins, inventive sides, scratch made desserts, craft bread, and housemade pickles, this was not always the case in barbecue. Smoked meats have been available for quite some time in the Lone Star State, but all of the accompaniments were often an afterthought or not even served at all. Tom Micklethwait is one of the true pioneers of the modern barbecue movement that has helped the industry evolve into a true dining experience. From the very beginning of Micklethwait Craft Meat's days at their tiny trailer in east Austin Tom and his crew have believed in making as much as possible from scratch, even building out the trailer with his own hands, and serving more than just the classic fare. Micklethwait was among the first to make their own bread and pickles along with serving innovative non-meat menu items such as their now famous jalapeno cheese grits, moon pies, and more. Tom has also been at the forefront of the creative sausage boom that has hit barbecue the last several years. What he and the team have been able to do out of a tiny trailer that he renovated himself is nothing short of astounding. Over the years the accolades poured in and Micklethwait is now considered one of the top BBQ establishments in all of Texas. In this episode you'll hear about Tom's early days playing in bands, his baking, butchery, and sausage making background, and big plans for the next phase of his career with Micklethwait Market and Grocery opening in Smithville, Texas in the fall of 2018. With plans to keep the trailer open in Austin in addition to serving the regular Micklethwait menu along with specials and a retail market and grocery section of the Smithville space, Tom is once again bringing his creativity to the BBQ world in this unique setup. Catch Micklethwait Craft Meats at their trailer 1309 Rosewood Ave. Austin, TX Open Tues – Sun | 11am until sold out https://craftmeatsaustin.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MIcklethwaitCraftMeats Twitter: https://twitter.com/CraftMeats Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftmeats/

Texas BBQ History - Bobby Mueller As part of our continuing series on the history of Texas barbecue, we bring you a very special episode about the history of Louie Mueller Barbecue and the legacy of the late Bobby Mueller. Bobby's sons Wayne and John Mueller sat down separately with us to discuss growing up in the BBQ business with their grandfather, Louie Mueller, and dad Bobby. You'll hear in this episode about the legendary work ethic of Bobby Mueller, the growth of the business, and the famous Mueller tradition of the first bite of brisket at the ordering counter. Few names in the barbecue world are as respected as the Mueller name, and for good reason. With roots tracing back over 70 years and a lineage of great barbecue that spans throughout the state and even nationwide, the shadow cast by Bobby Mueller is as large as any.

In a news roundup for the month of July, we discuss some pitmaster changes, new BBQ restaurant announcements, BBQ closings, and more. Jason Tedford, longtime assistant pitmaster at Louie Mueller Barbecue, has left the restaurant and is now working in the kitchen at Saint Arnold Brewery in Houston. John Brotherton has announced he is opening Liberty Barbecue in Round Rock alongside Tre Dotson of Tortuga flats. Brendan Lamb, who recently left La Barbecue, is starting Smiley's Barbecue in Fort Worth armed with pits from a relatively unknown pitmaker out of Cummings, Georgia, Primitive Pits. The gas station that housed Texas Monthly Top 50 joint BBQ on the Brazos is under new ownership, and BBQ on the Brazos is no longer serving out of there. A new location will hopefully be announced soon. Joel Garcia, formerly of Terry Black's, has moved to the Rio Grande Valley and is working on opening a new business in Weslaco. Brett Boren is taking Brett's BBQ to a brick and mortar. Brett's Backyard BBQ is launching east of Austin, keep an eye out for more news. There is some exciting BBQ news both in the pit building world and news on Las Vegas barbecue that we'll be discussing in the near future as well. Congratulations to jsd_tx (John) on winning our BBQ swag giveaway! We are embarking on a 3,000 mile road trip through nine states. Follow along on Instagram for updates! We have another Doubleback BBQ pop-up dinner on Saturday, July 21st at The Hop Stop in Humble, TX

The aura, history, and feeling one gets walking into the hallowed dining room at Louie Mueller Barbecue is unparalleled. The smoke lined walls, the brick pits, and many of the roots of modern day Central Texas style smoked meats can be traced back to the historic former gymnasium in Taylor that has been home to the Mueller family's restaurant operations since 1959. While the Mueller family is acutely aware and protective of their family legacy, they've always understood the importance of growing with the times to provide their restaurant patrons the best possible experience. The late Bobby Mueller and son John expanded the restaurant circa the year 2000 to add more seating in the form of a screened in room adjacent to the original main dining room. Bobby's son Wayne came back to the family business in 2007 to learn from his father. After Bobby Mueller's sudden passing in 2008, Wayne carried on the family restaurant legacy in Taylor, keeping the Louie Mueller Barbecue name in the upper echelon of Texas barbecue. As Wayne continued to operate the restaurant as the owner and pitmaster from 2007 to present day, he realized that it was time for Louie Mueller Barbecue to update itself to the times to better serve its guests. In early 2018 Wayne applied for a full liquor license and began plans for a patio expansion for the restaurant. Noticing that the influx of tourists and BBQ enthusiasts flocking to the restaurant made it harder for Taylor residents to go to the restaurant on a regular basis for an easy meal, Wayne wanted to add outdoor seating as well as a bar menu option for folks to have a quicker, simpler way to get food from the restaurant. The patio expansion is nearing completion with some minor build outs and cosmetic upgrades still to come, and soon a night time dining option will be possible at Louie Mueller Barbecue while still preserving the classic experience of walking into the original dining room and having the barbecue equivalent of a religious experience as the customer gets their brisket end communion piece at the front counter. The times are changing and so is Louie Mueller Barbecue, but the Cathedral of Smoke remains intact as one of the quintessential food experiences in Texas.

Evan LeRoy's BBQ journey began in the backyard with his dad, took him all the way to New York to cook Texas barbecue, then back to Austin where he made Freedmen's bar one of the premier BBQ destinations in Texas. After a few years at Freedmen's, Evan was ready to strike out on his own. Along with business partners Nathan and Sawyer Lewis, plans were made to open a brewery and restaurant serving Evan's creative menu alongside Lewis' craft beers. While the brewery remains in development, Evan and Sawyer are operating the LeRoy and Lewis BBQ truck parked at 121 Pickle Road next to Cosmic Coffee and Beer in the South Congress area of Austin. Open five days a week for lunch and dinner, Evan and his team of talented cooks (including Brad Robinson who was kind enough along with Evan to join us for this interview) are serving some of the best, most innovative barbecue in Texas; New school BBQ with old school service. With a strong team and a commitment to hyper-local fresh product and the highest quality proteins, the flavor and cooking execution of the LeRoy and Lewis menu is second to none. With rotating items such as sliced beef cheek, Sichuan peppercorn beef ribs, firebox roasted sweet potatoes, and their acclaimed smoked and seared burger (available for dinner only), there is always an interesting and delicious menu available from Evan and crew. Check them out online at https://leroyandlewis.com/ Twitter: @LeRoyandLewis Instagram: @LeRoyandLewis 121 Pickle Road, Austin Texas (Near S. Congress and just North of Ben White/Hwy 71) Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 11 am - 9 pm

Reveille Barbecue Co. is a newcomer to the barbecue scene in Texas. Currently operating out of a trailer in Magnolia (a suburb north of Houston), Reveille was started by co-owners/pitmasters James McFarland and Michael Michna. James began chasing his BBQ dreams a few years ago and quickly built a resumé working at The Pit Room and Tejas Chocolate and Barbecue. Michael had a passion for cooking barbecue dating back to his days in the armed services and continuing into his career as a firefighter. The two met and became friends years ago and began making barbecue for cookoffs and special events. After several years of dreaming about opening a business, the dream began to become a reality in 2017. With a lot of hard work, planning, encouragement from friends and family, and the purchase of a custom built reverse flow smoker built by Arnis Robbins of the acclaimed Evie Mae's Pit Barbeque, Reveille became a reality. Reveille opened in May of 2018 serving strong representations of many of the smoked meat staples along with non-standard sides such as blistered shishito peppers and a version of Mexican street corn with a Texas spin. Currently open Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 am with plans for expanded hours in the coming months, the future is bright for Reveille Barbecue Co. Be sure to pay attention in the episode to hear about our newest giveaway courtesy of Reveille Barbecue Co. Check them out online at https://www.reveillebbq.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/116218828968987/reveille-barbecue-co/

This week we recap the biggest news and happenings around the world of barbecue, including a big pitmaster departures at Franklin Barbecue and La Barbecue. We also talk about the latest word on upcoming BBQ joints opening in the near future such as The Switch, Blood Bros., Micklethwait, and more. A quick word on our recent Doubleback BBQ pop up as well as a final thank you to everyone who helped make the Santa Fe High School benefit the success it was. Tune in every week to hear more stories and interviews!

Growing up close to Lockhart (the barbecue capitol of Texas) ignited the passion for smoking meat at an early age for Michael Wyont. Soon after attending culinary school, Michael decided to enter the barbecue world, working at Black's BBQ before deciding to strike out on his own. The Wyonts originally opened the Flores Barbecue trailer - named after Michael's maternal side of the family - in Michael's hometown of San Marcos. There were some logistical issues in San Marcos, and the Wyonts began evaluating options for to grow their business. They eventually settled on Whitney, Texas, where Hali had family roots, and reopened. It wasn't long after opening in Whitney that Daniel Vaughn made his way to the Flores trailer and wrote a positive article on their barbecue. A short time later, Flores made the coveted Texas Monthly Top 50 list and the crowds grew larger. Armed with a new pit - the first commercial Moberg Smoker - and a new brick and mortar, Flores Barbecue continued to flourish and serve top notch barbecue. Flores serves the staple barbecue items of brisket, ribs, housemade sausage and sides, but also pays homage to Michael's heritage with specials like carnitas on homemade tortillas as well as Mexican rice. Flores keeps improving on their already strong product and is a name to watch in the coming years as their commitment to quality is unwavering. Catch Flores Barbecue in Whitney Texas 2222 SH 22 Whitney, Texas Call (254) 580-3576 Open Thursday through Sunday https://www.facebook.com/FloresBarbecue/ Twitter @floresbarbecue https://www.instagram.com/flores_barbecue/

After deciding to move to Texas, Phillip and Yvette Helberg began looking for a large spread of land where they could live and farm the land. They found a perfect spot outside of Waco to put down roots, and began to make plans for the next phase of Helberg Barbecue. They source responsibly raised meats and plan to use as much product grown on their land as possible for their menu. With unique items like Filipino seasoned pork and homemade Zwieback rolls stuffed with smoked meats, Helberg offers something different from the average menu. After purchasing an old trailer and renovating it, they found a spot to set up shop and serve their barbecue. Open Thursday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch at Pinewood Coffee Bar, Helberg Barbecue is a new addition to the growing Waco barbecue scene. Catch Helberg Barbecue at: https://www.helbergbarbecue.com/ https://twitter.com/HelbergRanch Intagram: HelbergBarbecue 2223 Austin Ave, Waco, TX Open Thurs-Sat 7-10:30 for breakfast 11-sold out for lunch

Phillip and Yvette Helberg met on a cruise ship where he was an employee and she was a guest. The love affair started soon after and Phillip, a native Texan who moved to California to be with Yvette, became interested in cooking. His attention turned quickly to smoked meat following a trip to Texas where he and Yvette had some of John Mueller's barbecue. They purchased a small retail pit and began experimenting. After a lot of backyard cooks for friends and family, Phillip and Yvette began to think this could become a profession. They started an event planning company which included catering, but soon found the catering portion of their business becoming increasingly popular. All this time as the business was growing, Phillip missed his home state of Texas. Together they decided to take the plunge and make the move from California to Texas and launched Helberg Barbecue in Waco in the spring of 2018. Catch Helberg Barbecue at: https://www.helbergbarbecue.com/ https://twitter.com/HelbergRanch Intagram: HelbergBarbecue 2223 Austin Ave, Waco, TX Open Thurs-Sat 7-10:30 for breakfast 11-sold out for lunch.

We've reached the one year mark of the show, and could not be more excited for how the first year has gone and for all of the things lined up for year two. We reflect back on some of the highlights of the last year in this episode and talk about all of the great people in and around the BBQ world that we've been fortunate to meet through the show. The most important part of the episode, however, is a bit of news surrounding a tragic event in the state of Texas. Following the horrific school shooting at Santa Fe High School, we were asked by Doug Shultz, a friend of ours and fellow barbecue fan, to help organize what we at first thought would be a small barbecue fundraiser to help the victims' families. The event, much to our shock, has turned into a massive benefit complete with some of our great friends in the barbecue world and in the Houston area helping us cook and serve the food as well as donating some wonderful prizes that will be raffled and auctioned off to raise money for the Santa Fe Strong Memorial Fund. Advantage BMW/Mini has generously offered to host and facilitate much of the event. We have been fortunate to have been offered assistance from Roegels Barbecue Co, Pappa Charlies Barbeque, Buck's Barbeque Co., Brett's BBQ, and Bourbon Legends BBQ. Incredible meat donations have been provided by Ruffino Meats and Doreck's Meat Market. Every dollar from the food, raffle, and auctions will be donated to the Santa Fe Strong Memorial Fund. Event Details: Santa Fe Strong BBQ Fundraiser Where: Advantage BMW, 400 Gulf Fwy S., League City, TX When: Saturday, June 2nd, noon-4 PM Food: Two meat with two sides plates available with $10 donation Raffle prizes include autographed Houston Texans memorabilia, chartered fishing trips, BBQ gift cards from Opie's BBQ, Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue, John Mueller Black Box BBQ, Buck's Barbeque Co., Grizzly coolers, Hopper Moonwalks, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Astros tickets, and much more. We hope all can attend and help us raise a lot of money for this fund. If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, please go to texasfirstbank.com and donate directly.

Listen in to part two as Will and Nichole Buckman buy their first Oyler and discuss their move to their new location in Old Town Spring, Tx. We also talk about their consistency, selection of meat sources, and their obsession with order accuracy. Be sure to check out Corkscrew BBQ, one of the Texas Monthly Top 10 BBQ Joints, and order the cobbler! www.Corkscrewbbq.com 26608 Keith Street, 77373 Spring, Texas Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am- Sold Out Twitter @corkscrewbbq Instagram corkscrewbbq

Corkscrew BBQ Interview Part 1 Will and Nichole Buckman had just started a family when they decided to transition from running a small barbecue catering business out of their home to a full fledged business. It was a big leap of faith with two young babies at home, but the risk paid off. Corkscrew BBQ began operating their food trailer in 2011 in Spring, Texas (just outside of Houston) and soon began receiving acclaim. Though both had worked in barbecue restaurants as teenagers, Will and Nichole did not do much market research before they began cooking and selling their barbecue, which helped give Corkscrew its unique flavors and style that set it apart from other restaurants. Alison Cook from the Houston Chronicle took notice of Corkscrew BBQ early on and wrote a positive review which brought them an immediate rush of new customers. Over the next several years the Buckmans continued to perfect their craft and in 2013 made the Texas Monthly's coveted Top 50 BBQ List. The accolades continued to roll in and Corkscrew developed a loyal and large fan base, leading to stout lines and daily sell-outs of their product. In the summer of 2015 a building became available in the Old Town Spring area and the Buckmans were ready. Within a few short months they renovated the building and opened Corkscrew BBQ as a brick and mortar in October 2015. Having transitioned to an Oyler pit during the trailer days, Corkscrew added another Oyler to increase capacity for the restaurant. Cooking on two Oyler pits gives Will Buckman the opportunity to put out a stellar, consistent product while still getting a little more sleep than an offset would allow. In the spring of 2017 Corkscrew BBQ once again made the Texas Monthly Top 50 list, this time being placed in the top tier of barbecue in the state as the no. 7 rated joint. Business continues to boom these days for these two hard working, family oriented business owners. Both Will and Nichole remain dedicated to running Corkscrew full time - the restaurant has never been open without one of them there - while also making time for their family. With the Buckman's commitment to serving only high quality, premium meats and ingredients, Corkscrew BBQ stands out with top notch prime all natural brisket, Duroc ribs, homemade cobbler and sides, and non-traditional barbecue items like tacos with homemade green chile ranch. Corkscrew BBQ is a shining example of how great barbecue can be when quality and customer service are held to the highest standard. www.Corkscrewbbq.com 26608 Keith Street, 77373 Spring, Texas Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am- Sold Out Twitter @corkscrewbbq Instagram corkscrewbbq

We love meeting up with fellow barbecue fans to eat and talk 'cue, and there's no better place for that than the tailgate atmosphere that is the Franklin Barbecue line. When we decided to make our yearly pilgrimage to Franklin, we asked if any friends and listeners to the show would like to join us. A crew of nine of us arrived early on a Friday morning to wait our turn for some of the famed smoked meats from Franklin Barbecue. From Houston to San Antonio to Austin, we convened from different parts of the state to talk barbecue and decided to turn on the microphones! Some of the topics we discuss include our first eye opening barbecue experiences, which one barbecue joint each of us would want to bring on a deserted island, and what joints we're looking forward to going to next. This episode includes tons of shoutouts including Feges BBQ, Zavala's Barbecue, LeRoy and Lewis, Louie Mueller BBQ, and many more. Joined by our friends Justin Catrett, Taylor and Terry Osborn, Cory Gregg, Spencer Hoffman and others, we had a blast talking barbecue and then of course eating copious amounts of meat once we got to the ordering counter. Many of our group of course couldn't stop there and ended up at various places such as Terry Black's, LeRoy and Lewis, and Truth Barbeque. From a semi serious discussion of great barbecue to building a life raft out of Truth cakes, listen in and join us out on the trail sometime! Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review us on your preferred listening app. Tell a friend and help us grow! Twitter: @bbqpodcast Instagram: TalesFromthePits

The history of barbecue in the state of Texas cannot be confined to one story, one influence, or even one method of cooking. In a state this size with so much history, barbecue styles vary based on different influences throughout the regions of the state. Low and slow or hot and fast? Pork or beef? sauced or dry? Oak or mesquite? We wanted to explore where the primary origins of Texas Barbecue came from and how Texas has not one, but multiple signature styles of barbecue We are documenting Texas' barbecue history in a series of episodes where we will discuss our research and interview people from different regions to help provide a unique insight into what made Texas barbecue what it was and what it is today. We will concentrate our efforts into four primary styles with unique traditions. Here's a quick overview: East Texas draws much of its barbecue roots from slavery in the 19th century which resulted in a heavy southern barbecue influence. Pork is prevalent in this region and saucing of meat is a common occurrence. South Texas to this day maintains a rich barbecue tradition of barbacoa due to its proximity to Mexico and large Mexican American population. Central Texas barbecue draws from its Czech and German immigration with sausages made from meat trimmings and simply seasoned meats. Meat Markets sold barbecue from the counter and patrons grabbed items like pickles and bread off the store shelves, leaving unused condiments to be shared. West Texas barbecue origins go back to cattle trails and live fire cooking. Mesquite is the prominent wood type and logs are burned to coals with meats cooked over direct heat to give a distinct grilled flavor. Listen in to this episode as we get prepared to dive headfirst into this project! Note that we will continue our more standard episodes in between as the interviews and locations will take some time to cover. These will be marked with BBQ History in the title. Please remember to subscribe to us in your favorite podcast app! Catch us on twitter @BBQPodcast and on instagram at TalesFromthePits

The conclusion of our interview with Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ Leaving Killen's BBQ and joining the staff at Southern Goods afforded Patrick Feges the chance to continue composing smoked meat dishes in non-traditional ways, and also made it possible for Patrick to cook whole hogs more often. Whole hog cooking had become a passion for Patrick, and his reputation as a talented hog cooker was growing in Houston. While Patrick was furthering his career in preparation for owning his own business, so was his wife and eventual business partner, Erin Feges. Erin's resume included stints at fine dining restaurants in New York as well as running the kitchens at Plonk Wine Bistro and Main Kitchen at the Marriott in Houston. Erin's experience developing menus for Blacksmith Coffee and Anvil Bar along with a position at Camerata Wine Bar made her one of Houston's most well-rounded and versatile chefs. After years of searching for the right spot and right opportunity to utilize their diverse skill sets, Erin and Patrick were given an opportunity to open a Feges BBQ outpost in the food court at Greenway Plaza. With an expansive and creative menu of smoked meats and sides, Feges BBQ has been an immediate hit amongst its early diners. While plans are still in place for a more traditional restaurant brick-and-mortar, the Greenway Plaza set-up provides these two talented chefs with the opportunity to build an audience and make their mark on the barbecue scene. Be sure to follow Tales From the Pits on Twitter @BBQPodcast and Instagram @ Talesfromthepits Feges BBQ WWW.fegesbbq.com Twitter: fegesbbq Location: 3 Greenway Plaza Ste C210 Concourse Level – The Hub Houston, TX 77046 Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm If you've never been to 3 Greenway plaza, here is a video on how to park: https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/984784762861744128

Join us for part two of our interview with Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ. After receiving his medical discharge from the Army and completing culinary school, Patrick Feges embarked on his cooking career. Following a brief stint manning a Mongolian grill, Patrick got an opportunity at one of Houston's longest established great restaurants, Brennan's. Working in a high volume fine dining restaurant was a vital step in Patrick's career, and when Underbelly opened Patrick saw another chance to become an even more versatile chef. While at Underbelly, Patrick continued to hone his barbecue craft and began doing pop-ups at bars under the Feges BBQ name. The creative freedom given to the staff at Underbelly allowed Patrick to begin using non-traditional ingredients to start developing his own brand of barbecue. After a successful stint at Underbelly, Patrick was offered a position at acclaimed chef Ronnie Killen's new barbecue venture, Killen's BBQ. Killen's BBQ was a high volume, high quality barbecue restaurant from the beginning and helped Patrick learn how to pace a line and process orders rapidly while cooking in large quantities daily. With one year running the block and managing the kitchen at Killen's BBQ under his belt, it was time for Patrick to take the next step in his career. An opportunity as a sous chef came about when fellow Underbelly alum Lyle Bento opened Southern Goods in The Heights. Patrick was given the chance to continue working towards opening his own barbecue restaurant while adding smoked elements to the Southern Goods menu.

We have told a lot of stories about people in the barbecue world and the different paths that have taken them to a career in smoked meats. While we have respected all of these stories, we are honored and very humbled to have Patrick Feges tell his story on our show. After joining the Army after high school, Patrick was deployed to South Korea and later to Iraq right in the thick of the war in 2004. It was in Iraq that Patrick was struck by a mortar and gravely injured. Through a series of incredible circumstances Patrick survived his injuries. With his combat days over, Patrick continued to serve while awaiting medical discharge. During this time he was given a Brinkman pit from a fellow serviceman, which started him on his path to barbecue which included some incredible detours at some of the best restaurants in Houston such as Brennan's, Underbelly, Killen's Barbecue, and Southern Goods. Tune in to this episode to hear Patrick's incredible story of survival and be sure to subscribe to the show as we will post additional episodes with Patrick that delve into his extensive career in the culinary world and the opening of Erin and Patrick Feges' first barbecue restaurant, Feges BBQ. Erin's incredible resume as a chef working for some of the top chefs in the country as well as running the kitchens for Plonk Bistro, Marriott's Main Kitchen and developing menus for the Clumsy Butcher Group paired with Patrick's smoked meat prowess and culinary background make Feges BBQ one of the most unique and creative barbecue menus around. Feges BBQ WWW.fegesbbq.com Twitter: fegesbbq Location: 3 Greenway Plaza Ste C210 Concourse Level – The Hub Houston, TX 77046 Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm If you've never been to 3 Greenway plaza, here is a video on how to park: https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/984784762861744128

Tales From the Pits has been traveling and eating barbecue. We've been out on the BBQ trail quite a bit over the last couple of months, and the foreseeable future looks just as busy. In this episode we reflect on new restaurant openings including our extended thoughts on Loro, the new Asian smokehouse restaurant from acclaimed chef Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin of the world famous Franklin Barbecue. We've also been to the newly opened Feges BBQ in Houston and provide some early feedback on their newly launched venture. Also included in the episode are some words on recent trips to Bodacious Bar-B-Q, LeRoy and Lewis BBQ, Banger's in Austin on their recent whole hog cooking, and much more. The near future looks bright on the BBQ front as we'll be going to both the Houston BBQ Festival and the Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival. We're getting deeper into research and recording for our History of Texas BBQ Series and will be continuing on the road with that in the coming months. We also get into the early entries we've received in our Yeti cooler full of goodies giveway and some fan shoutouts from some of the many great listeners that have contacted us. Catch us out on the road and say hi and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review us on your preferred listening app. Tell a friend and help us grow! Twitter: @bbpodcast Instagram: TalesFromthePits

For years Chase Colston dreamt about bringing a festival to downtown Tyler, Texas. His persistence paid off when after years of trying, Chase was able to convince his employers at Townsquare Media to help him launch the Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival. Held every spring since 2014, the festival has grown every year into one of the best in Texas. The 2018 barbecue line up is incredible with joints like Black’s Barbecue, Bodacious Bar-B-Q, Evie Mae’s Pits Barbeque, LeRoy and Lewis BBQ, Louie Mueller Barbecue, Roegels Barbecue Co., Truth Barbeque and many more leading the way. The music line up is equally strong with Read Southall Band, Josh Weathers, Koe Wetzel, Pat Green, and headliner Aaron Watson taking the main stage. Affordable beer prices, a relaxed atmosphere, great music, and some of the best barbecue from all over the state converging in one place make this a unique festival and highly sought after ticket. VIP tickets sold out in minutes and within 48 hours the entire festival sold out this year! But wait...we’ve got tickets to giveaway! Not only was Chase kind enough to give us a pair of tickets to give away, but one lucky person is going to win a pair of VIP tickets to this year’s festival! This our “spread the word” contest. We want as many people as possible hearing the stories of these great BBQ people that come on our show. If you want to try to win the Red Dirt VIP tickets, here’s how: 1. Post your favorite bbq picture on your Instagram page, tagging us (@talesfromthepits) and red dirt (@reddirtbbqfest). 2. In the photo caption tell your followers to subscribe to our show on their favorite listening app and follow both us and Red Dirt on Instagram. 3. Tell your followers to comment on your post letting you know they’ve followed us. 4. The comment portion of the contest will end at 11:59 pm central time on Saturday, April 7th. The five posts with the most comments will be entered into the drawing for the VIP tickets. A huge thanks to Chase Colston for this great gift for our listeners. Lead by a stout roster of great BBQ joints serving up samples by day followed by a concert featuring top Red Dirt Music acts by night, Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival is a must attend event for BBQ and music lovers alike.

Shawn and Amy Collins, from St. Louis and Houston respectively, met while working at a busy restaurant in Manhattan. While planning to marry Shawn was looking for barbecue wood on Craigslist when he saw a restaurant for sale. Before they knew it they were picking up and leaving the big city for the tiny town of Nixon, Texas where they would be the new owners of Pioneer BBQ. Shawn and Amy would slowly tweak the menu, refining it to fit the food they wanted to make the way they wanted to make it. With unique items like spicy firecracker corn, spicy scorpion sauce, and some of the finest banana pudding in Texas, the Collins' have made a mark on their small town. Our interview with Shawn and Amy touches on their beginnings, the challenges of adapting to the palates of the oil workers and small town folk that are their regular clientele as well as their burgeoning "Honey and Swine" Etsy store that sells both Pioneer BBQ's rubs as well as handmade and vintage home decor. The store also features Amy's handmade clothing projects as she is a skilled tailor who went to design school. In this episode we also unveil the rules of our Yeti giveaway contest. Here are the contest rules and details: 1. Our Tales from the Pits sticker is placed at all of the following BBQ joints. 2M Smokehouse Bodacious BBQ on Mobberly Ave. Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue Evie Mae's Barbeque John Mueller Blackbox Barbecue Opie's BBQ Pioneer BBQ Roegels Barbecue Co. Snow's BBQ Truth Barbeque 2. Take a selfie in front of our sticker at any/all of these 10 BBQ Joints to be entered into our Yeti contest. Each selfie is worth ONE entry into the contest. Each picture must be posted on Instagram and @talesfromthepits must be tagged in each photo. 3. Take a selfie in front of our sticker at any/all of these 10 BBQ Joints while holding some BBQ from any/all of the joints. Every entry with you holding food is worth TWO entries into the contest. Each picture must be posted on Instagram and @talesfromthepits must be tagged in each photo. 4. A maximum of ONE entry per person per BBQ joint is permitted; a maximum of 20 entries per person is permitted. 5. The giveaway winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries. 6. Family of Tales from the Pits hosts are prohibited from winning this prize. 7. Contest ends at 11:59 PM July 4th, 2018 The items won in the giveaway include a Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler filled with various merchandise including but not limited to shirts, hats, koozies, and stickers. Items in the cooler are subject to change. The entire giveaway prizes must be redeemed in person by the winner at a time and place mutually convenient for both the podcast hosts and the prize winner.

Over the last year the name Moberg has burst onto the barbecue scene, but what many don't know is that the man behind the incredibly popular smokers is no newcomer to the world of pit building. Sunny Moberg has been welding since he was a teenager, and his roots in Texas barbecue stretch back to his grandfather, the founder of Smokey Denmark sausage company. Sunny's pits, made mostly from decommissioned propane tanks, have received much acclaim from barbecue enthusiasts to acclaimed BBQ joints for their expert craftsmanship, superior airflow, and cooking efficiency. Sunny also makes the trailers for his pits, a skill he learned early on when owning a previous trailer manufacturing business. As you'll hear from barbecue up-and-comers Brett Boren (@brettsbbq) and Cody Avery (averybarbecue) as well as top pitmasters Scott Moore (@tejaschocolate) and Will Buckman (corkscrewbbq) in this episode, Moberg Smokers are built extremely well and priced fairly. Some of Sunny's clients include the aforementioned Corkscrew BBQ and Tejas Chocolate and Barbecue as well as Killen's Barbecue, Flores Barbecue, Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew, Terry Black's Barbecue, and many others including international buyers! The demand for a Moberg Smoker has gotten so high, in fact, that the wait list for a pit built by Sunny has become almost as famous as the pits themselves, but you'll hear in our interview with Sunny that he has some help on the way to speed up his process. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear our latest giveaway of some great Moberg Smoker merchandise! We are also only one episode away from the announcement of our epic Yeti Cooler giveaway, so be sure to subscribe to the podcast as well as follow us on social media (@talesfromthepits on Instagram, @bbqpodcast on twitter) to get all of the latest details on what we're up to. Find Moberg Smokers onthe internet: @mobergsmokers twitter: https://twitter.com/mobergsmokers?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mobergsmokers/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Moberg-Smokers-157469770932197/ and at their website: https://mobergsmokers.com/

We love eating barbecue, and eating with new friends is even more fun. After online banter with Chris Wood of Primacy Meat Co. we were able to meet up with him at Truth Barbecue and the next day at Valentina's Tex Mex Barbecue to share stories of the road. Chris was in the middle of an epic Texas barbecue road trip when we sat down next to the freeway and chatted. Listen in as he tells us about his travels. Keep an eye on him as he launches his business in Virginia, follow him on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/primacymeatco/ and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/primacymeatco/ Chris's entire trip included Tejas Chocolate, Corkscrew, Southern Q, Victorian's, Pinkerton's, Snow's, Truth, Louie Mueller, Taylor Cafe, Stiles Switch, Valentina's, La Barbecue, Kerlin's, Micklethwait, Texas Ranch, Black's, Smitty's, and Kreuz Market -- what a trip! We announce not one, but TWO winners of great prizes, Mandoesc09 who won an autographed photo of Tootsie Tomanetz, and Stephen Narron who is picking up a John Mueller Black Box Barbecue shirt. Hang on as we tell you about THREE more giveaways including some more details on the insane Yeti cooler stuffed to the brim with BBQ swag. The response from our friends in the BBQ industry has been overwhelming and we keep getting more but it's full and we're going to seal it up for the giveaway. But that's not enough, we will also have two prize packs! We've got some great interviews coming so be sure to subscribe to us on your favorite podcast app - it really helps promote our show. Here are a few of our favorites: iTunes Podcast Addict Castbox Podbean Follow us on Instagram at @TalesFromthePits and Twitter @bbqpodcast or reach out to us directly at [email protected]

John Mueller is one of the most controversial men in the barbecue world and he's carved his niche in the industry doing things in own way. With a hot and fast method of cooking, house made sausage, tasty pork ribs, brisket stew, plus brisket and beef ribs rubbed with a heavy dose of pepper a good visit is rewarded with a unique and flavorful experience. Don't forget the cheesy squash loaded with ladles of cheese, a rich end to a memorable meal. John sat down with us for a fun and informative chat. In the episode we cover the time after he left Louie Mueller Barbecue to present day, including some big news from John! We announce a new giveaway and also give an update on our Yeti cooler filled with BBQ swag that includes some very cool merchandise. The Texas Monthly article we discussed on the episode is here: https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/of-meat-and-men/ Catch John and his crew Thursday - Sunday from 10:30am-sold out 201 E. 9th Street Georgetown Texas 78626 Twitter @JSM_meat

Roegels Barbecue Co. (pronounced ray-gulls) received a positive review from the Houston Chronicle's Alison Cook in April 2015 which increased their customer base overnight but the Roegels crew didn't take their foot off the gas pedal. A continual evolution of their menu and launching weekly specialty meats such as smoked pastrami helped them earn a spot on the 2017 Texas Monthly Top 50 list and cemented Russell's place in the Texas barbecue scene. Subscribe and listen every week to our journey in and through Texas Barbecue, from road trips to pit builders to interviews with the greatest pitmasters in Texas. Follow us on twitter @bbqpodcast and Instagram @talesfromthepits to catch our latest giveaways including our biggest one yet, a Yeti Tundra cooler filled with great BBQ goodies!!! For more information on Roegels, check out their website http://www.roegelsbarbecue.com/ twitter: @RoegelsBarbecue or even better, visit them in person at 2223 S. Voss Houston, TX 77057 Open 7 days a week

Russell Roegels has been cooking barbecue longer than some of our listeners have been alive. Russell worked with Bodacious in East Texas and decided to move down to Houston with little to his name after a decision made while fishing to head up a Bakers Ribs location. Russel and family put in long hours 7 days a week, eventually tweaking their product after experiencing other barbecue at the Houston Barbecue Festival and doing a Texas barbecue road trip. Without media fanfare he launched Roegels Barbecue Co in the middle of a lunch rush, changing the sign while patrons ate inside. In this episode you hear about the early days, that decision to open under his own name, and a pivotal visit by Houston Chronicle food critic Alison Cook

Family backyard barbecue memories floated through Esaul's mind while working as a bus driver, calling him into the world of barbecue. He made the jump from bus driver head first into his first gig working at La Barbecue. After learning the art from John Lewis the dreams of his own business pulled him back to San Antonio where he launched 2M Smokehouse with Joe Melig. Chicharoni macaroni, serrano and Oaxaca cheese sausage, pickled nopales, barbacoa, and speciality cakes are just some of the unique items Esaul, wife Grecia, Joe, pithand Dusty, and team crank out with their unique flavor of barbecue for a growing fan base Listen as Esaul takes us through his background, his time at La Barbecue, the menu at 2M, and his plans for a second pit at his busy restaurant Find them online at https://www.2msmokehouse.com/ Twitter: @2m_smokehouse Instagram: 2msmokehouse

The one where we talk about ribs: Upon request, we've dedicated this episode to cooking pork ribs. Andrew has placed in IBCA sanctioned BBQ cookoffs with his ribs and over the years he's developed the Doubleback BBQ rib rub that has served well in retail too. From purchase to trimming to cooking, we describe what has worked well for us, listen in and let us know any tips or tricks you use! Check out videos on our instagram page @talesfromthepits and follow us on twitter @bbqpodcast

From family barbecues to nearly opening a brick and mortar before the building was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey, Jim Buchanan has persistently pursued his barbecue dream. Jim developed his taste for Texas barbecue living in Katy Texas beginning with backyard cookouts. The competition circuit was his next endeavor where he did well and met up with Wes Jurena, leading to his work at Pappa Charlies. Jim stepped out on his own and was set to open his own place before the hurricane sidelined him, but he recovered and is currently popping up at several locations. Listen to Jim's story and the time he almost gave his girlfriend a heart attack when he was experimenting with his espresso ribs! Twitter: @bucksbbqco www.bucksbbqco.com Catch Buck's Barbeque Co. at: Wed, Thu, Fri 11am-3pm with specials often on Friday evenings Lucky's Lodge 2024 Rusk St Houston, TX 77003 Saturdays from 11am to sell out or 6pm 8th Wonder Brewery 2202 Dallas Street Houston Texas 77003 Sundays from 4pm-9pm Frio Hill Country Grill 16410 Mueschke Rd Cypress, TX 77433

Foodways Texas and the meat science department at Tezas A&M host multiple barbecue education events each year. Two of these are held in partnership with Foodways Texas; Barbecue Summer Camp and Camp Brisket. Creative Sausage Making and Beef 101 are options available directly through A&M. Recorded at The Hop Stop which is celebrating its 2 year anniversary on January 27th, Andrew and Bryan discuss our experience at Barbecue Summer Camp and Camp Brisket as well as provide some information on the other two courses. Learn more at https://bbq.tamu.edu and http://www.foodwaystexas.com/

Starting with family barbecue outings in east texas the passion of barbecue kept calling at Steve and Sharice Garner until they were able to put their unique touch on the barbecue world. Listen in as Steve Garner talks about his path to launching a brick and mortar after driving trucks and running a food trailer. Steve talks about his path to launching his restaurant, boudin, firecracker crackers, and visiting the bookity bookity boudain man. Steve also tells us some big news about the future of Southern Q! Trivia - A visit to Southern Q in February of 2015 was Andrew and Bryan's first BBQ visit together

Thank you for listening in 2017! First up on this episode, we announce the winner of the $50 gift card from Truth Barbecue Listen in as customer-turned-pitmaster Nathan Pier takes us on a pit tour at Evie Mae's. Arnis Robbins custom builds his own unique reverse flow pits that are like no others in the business. The first two pits, named Shadrach and Meshach started from 750 gallon propane tanks but the tops are boxed out to provide up to three racks of cooking surface. Their third pit is a large J&R Oyler 1300. Pits four and five were the most recent pits built for full time restaurant use. They retain Arnis' reverse flow design but leave the rounded tops from the original tanks intact and also benefit from an insulated firebox.

Reid guess has worked hard to get to where he's at today including cleaning vent hoods, graduating from Le Cordon Bleu, working in the fine dining world, and launching his own trailer. It's been a family endeavor; he's built his own pits with the help of his father, including the 19 foot long behemoth he wrangles into cooking some great smoked meats, and his nephew Aaron grinds out some great and unique sausage. Sides are produced only with wood fueled heat - and don't skip the grits! Listen to this episode as he describes his ascent and tells us some major news for the business. Also in this episode we announce the winner of the Brotherton Black Iron Barbecue gift certificate and let you know about our latest giveaway, a gift certificate to Truth Barbecue!

Hear as we annnounce our latest prize giveaway, a $50 gift card to Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue We do a recap of the HOUBBQ Austin vs Houston BBQ Throwdown Andrew manned the pits for a Doubleback BBQ catering gig Both Andrew and Bryan make separate trips to Truth Barbecue Bryan made a run to Austin that included brisket stew from John Mueller Black Box Barbecue and a visit to a backyard popup held by Brett's BBQ We wound up the week with a stop at Southern Q BBQ in Houston

Listen in as we recap a 5 stop barbecue run where we hit up Pinkerton's Barbecue, Victorian's Barbecue, Feges BBQ, Buck's Barbeque Co., and wound up at Tin Roof Barbecue for their grand re-opening after a recent fire. We met up with John Brotherton and Marvin Briley of Brotherton Black Iron Barbecue and Russell and Misty Reogels of Roegel's Barbecue Co at three of the stops and ran across a number of BBQ trail friends. We tell you where you can find some tasty cheesey squash in Houston What are the most misprounounced names in barbecue? We pronounce Feges, Roegels, Kreuz, Micklethwait, Evie (Mae's), tell you our peet peeve around mispronouncing Franklin Barbecue, and the many ways to say Mueller We draw the winning name for the $50 Opie's Barbecue gift certificate and tshirt We discuss the topic of traditional and non traditional barbecue

Chance encounters at Franklin Barbecue and la Barbecue set the stage for Dylan Taylor's shift from pursuing a music degree to jumping headfirst into the barbecue world at Terry Black's Barbecue as a meat cutter. Dylan later worked for la Barbecue and helped train staff at Lewis Barbecue in Charleston before landing his current gig at Truth Barbecue. In between all that Dylan and friends have gone on epic barbecue-centric road trips and he describes his experiences sampling the different styles of barbecue across the country and how they compare to central Texas style. Kansas City, Memphis, The Carolinas, and Dylan's favorite Texas BBQ stops are discussed. He also tells us why he takes pictures of his meat. Check out a special prize giveaway on this episode! Listen in and follow us on Instagram (TalesFromThe Pits) for more info on a great gift package from Opie's Barbecue!

We continue our talk with Leonard Botello talking about the new Houston location of Truth Barbecue, Buckethead, A tip on how to skip the line and get cake, trying to sneak into Houston, our city vs city rivalry with Jimmy Ho, and BBQ desserts

Listen in as we discuss the early days of Truth Barbecue, what is "Central Texas BBQ", status of the Brenham location, and some news on the new Houston location in part one of our two part interview with Leonard Botello IV

Andrew and I discuss where are we looking forward to eating at next, who should have been on the Top 50 list, what's happening in Houston barbecue, and what are we cooking up for our next popup event at The Hop Stop on this episode of Tales From the Pits