Linkdown: The Belated April Edition

April 30, 2025April 29, 2025 / Barbecue Bros / Leave a comment

*Photo taken by Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com*

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Earlier this month, the James Beard Award finalists were announced. However, unlike in year’s past, the barbecue nominees were limited to just a couple of chefs in two separate categories – Best Chef: California and Best Chef: Southeast. Curiously, no Texas pitmasters received finalist nominations after Fasicka and Patrick Hicks at Smoke’N Ash BBQ in Arlington and Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin were named semifinalists in January.

See the full list of this year’s nominees https://t.co/74lyfESBeS
— Eater (@Eater) April 2, 2025

For the second year in a row, Robbie Robinson of City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia was nominated for Best Chef: Southeast. This is a major achievement and when he was named semifinalist in January it is believed that he is only the second barbecue pitmaster to be nominated for the same Chef category more than once. Surely, he is in even more limited company when it comes to finalist nominations. Additionally in Best Chef: California, Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano was the other barbecue pitmaster nominated.

Robinson has received some well deserved local press in recent weeks:

The final winners in the restaurant and chef Awards categories will be celebrated on Monday, June 16, during a gala ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Good luck to all the finalists.

Native News

This Saturday, the BBQ Fest on the Neuse in Kinston is attempting to set a Guinness World Record for most barbecue sandwiches sold in 8 hours

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Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue in Waynesville is having their grand opening celebration on May 31st featuring a whole hog pig pickin’ and live music

A second Lawrence Barbecue in Cary and a steak restaurant from Christopher Prieto in Durham are two of the most anticipated restaurants opening this year in the Carolinas this spring

Expect buttery biscuits in Asheville, a barbecue party in Cary, a cheese bar in Carrboro, and lots of Italian in Charleston https://t.co/siEReCWp7z
— Eater Carolinas (@EaterCarolinas) March 21, 2025

Non-Native News

ICYMI, Elliott’s Barbecue opened in Florence earlier this month

Elliott’s BBQ Lounge carries on the tradition of whole hog barbecue in the Pee Dee https://t.co/gcACFnFPkG
— Eater Carolinas (@EaterCarolinas) April 2, 2025

Carolina Bar-B-Que in New Ellenton, SC is under new ownership and not only surviving, but thriving

Heirloom Market BBQ is still an essential restaurant in Atlanta

The essential restaurants that define Atlanta, according to Eater editors https://t.co/K2tF8byOUf
— Eater Atlanta (@EaterAtlanta) April 8, 2025

Some fire merch from Peg Leg Porker

RUN PLP 📀 GREATEST HITS

*available at https://t.co/TRv14VfnMi pic.twitter.com/LvmfWuCkdC
— Peg Leg Porker (@PegLegPorker) April 29, 2025

Also ICYMI:

So you’ve made it to the Masters; should you get the barbecue sandwich?

The 11 Best Barbecue Bites I ate in 2024

January 6, 2025December 29, 2024 / Barbecue Bros / 2 Comments

Monk: The back half of the year saw a little less barbecue than normal for me, but nonetheless I still had some great bites in 2024. In no particular order, here are the 11 best things I ate this year:

Beef Cheek from Palmira Barbecue in Charleston (review)

I’m not the only fan of Palmira Barbecue, as Daniel Vaughn named them the best Texas barbecue outside of Texas. But I got to check them out a few weeks after opening their West Ashley restaurant in January of this year, and left impressed.

Sweet and savory kolaches at Jon G’s Barbecue in Peachland

My love for Jon G’s is well documented, but I really love the kolaches they now serve for breakfast at their restaurant in Peachland while you wait.

Barbecue Hash over Carolina Gold Rice from City Limits BBQ at the Carolina BBQ Festival (recap)

I have been meaning to get to City Limits Q for years, and in 2025 I will remedy that at the earliest. I did at least get a taste at this past spring’s Carolina BBQ Festival.

Smoked Burger from Southern Smoke at the Carolina BBQ Festival (recap)

A smoked burger served by Matthew Register and the rest of the Register family? Well you can hardly beat that.

Beef tenderloin over campfire in Deep Gap, NC

More of the “live fire cooking” variety versus traditional barbecue, but the beef tenderloin cooked over a campfire while camping with the youngest Monkette and a bunch of neighborhood dads was definitely one of the highlights of my year.

Beef Fat Caramel Wings from Lawrence Barbecue at the Jon G’s Jubilee (recap)

These wings were the best things I ate this year, hands down.

Whole Hog from Elliott Moss at the Jon G’s Jubilee (recap)

The brewery and smokehouse is still under construction in Florence, SC, but I got to have Elliott Moss’ whole hog not once but twice this year. This was a pleasant surprise.

Carnitas from Union Barbecue (review)

Union Barbecue is my new favorite Charlotte barbecue joint, and I will be their biggest cheerleader in 2025. HEY EVERYBODY, COME WITH ME TO UNION BARBECUE’S NEXT POP-UP, WHEREVER THAT MAY BE.

Texas Trinity at Matt’s BBQ in Portland, OR (review)

Really enjoyed the Texas Trinity from Matt’s BBQ in Portland after a morning hike at Wahkeena Falls. Matt’s BBQ was also named to Daniel Vaughn’s top 50 Texas barbecue joints outside of Texas list.

Frito Pie from Fumar (review)

I look forward to checking out more from Fumar in the new year. This Frito pie will be a must order just about every time from now on, though.

Whole hog from Live Fire Feasts

For our neighborhood pool here in Charlotte, I hosted a whole hog party in October catered by Craig Morrow and the fantastic crew at Live Fire Feasts out of Rock Hill, SC. Highly recommend checking them out if you like delicious food cooked over live fire in the Charlotte metro area.

Honorable mention: Whole hog from Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ at Chief’s, Beef Rib Croissant from Jon G’s Barbecue at the Jon G’s Jubilee

What was your favorite barbecue bites this year?

Mike D’s BBQ in Durham is North Carolina’s Best New Barbecue Restaurant

July 5, 2024June 3, 2024 / Barbecue Bros / Leave a comment

Monk: In East Durham, NC, Mike De Los Santos started doing barbecue sauces and rubs that mixed Hispanic and black flavors as a hobby but then a family tragedy refocused him to eventually open a brick and mortar restaurant called Mike D’s BBQ Smokehouse. Last December, his wood-smoked barbecue joint earned Best New North Carolina Barbecue from Eater Carolinas.

Description: Mike De Los Santos brings his award-winning barbecue and rubs to a brick-and-mortar destination in East Durham.

A Thousand Words: The Second Annual Jon G’s Jubilee

July 1, 2024June 30, 2024 / Barbecue Bros / Leave a comment

Monk: A family vacation prevented me from attending last year’s Jon G’s Jubilation, which is part barbecue festival and part birthday celebration (the original was created to celebrate Garren’s 40th birthday). This year, my family obligations didn’t conflict with my barbecue obligations, so I made my way to Peachland around 4pm on a Saturday – which, by the way, is an odd feeling – for this year’s edition of the Jubilee featuring Lawrence Barbecue, Elliott Moss, N. Sea Oyster Co., and NoDa Brewing.