The Most Exciting BBQ Joint in Texas is Egyptian

Monk: Bon Appétit’s On the Line video series stops by Austin, TX and KG BBQ. Pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh left a corporate career in finance to pursue Texas barbecue, but outside of the traditional central Texas brisket he incorporates his Egyptian heritage in the other proteins on the menu such as pomegranate glazed pork ribs, lamb bacon ribs, smoked lambchops, smoked kofta, and sumac and cinnamon rubbed lamb shoulder. His middle-eastern influence is also found in the sides like Mediterranean rice, baladi salad (a tomato, cucumber, and onion salad), and a pink buttermilk potato salad. His smoker is even named after King Tut.

Looks delicious, and Kareem seems like an affable guy.

Description: 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.

Linkdown: 8/29/23 – The Taylor Swift x Barbecue Festival Edition

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Monk: Did you know that Taylor Swift played at the Lexington Barbecue Festival in 2006?

Here’s a brief Tik Tok about it:

There’s some very grainy pre-iPhone concert footage available on YouTube.

Here’s some audio of Swift’s song “Tim McGraw”:

Anywho – this year’s edition of the Lexington Barbecue festival will be in downtown Lexington on Saturday, October 28th. Chances that the next Taylor Swift will be playing there this year…?

Native News

Slash from Guns N’ Roses visited Midwood Smokehouse while the band was in Charlotte for a concert

As a PSA, Jon G’s is closed this Saturday

Non-Native News

Maybe Texas barbecue isn’t all that expensive, comparatively-speaking

City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia, SC has a great to-go option for football tailgates this Fall

Thoughts or preferences?

John Markus of “BBQ Pitmasters” fame gets a positive Zagat review for Markus Hilltop BBQ in Hudson Valley

The TM BBQ Fest will be November 4-5 in Lockhart; ticket information at the link below:

Houston-specific coverage on the festival

Good advice this:

Linkdown: 7/26/23 – The Barbycu Edition

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Monk: Congrats to Joseph Haynes on the release of his latest barbecue history book
“From Barbycu to Barbecue,” now available from the University of South Carolina Press.

The central premise of Haynes’ book is that the barbecue methods were not imported from the Caribbean but instead were a collaboration “between Native Americans, Europeans, and free and enslaved people of African descent during the seventeenth century.”

While I’m somewhat familiar with Haynes’ work online, I have not ready any of his books to date. The release of his latest book is reason enough to check him out.

Native News

Digging this new Sam Jones BBQ tee

This week Jon G’s will be at Super Abari Game Bar on Wednesday, 7/26

Noble Smoke has a “Two Napkin BLT” on the menu for the summer

A belated happy birthday to “Papaw Keith” Smith of Bar-B-Q King

Non-Native News

Agreed – this is too pretty not to share

John Tanner welcomes the sight of direct heat true ‘cue in Virginia at Two Drummers Smokehouse in Toano (whole hog coming?!)

A photo of City Limits Barbeque’s sides

Any suggestions?

ICYMI, Franklin Barbecue is taking a well-earned vacation

Tales from the Pit Reflect Back on 6 Years

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Monk: Tales from the Pits reflects back on 6 years and nearly 200 episodes of podcasts. Taking a break from their usual interview format, this pod is more of a behind-the-scenes look at the sausage making of the show, from its inception in 2017 where the guys felt like they had to crank out episodes on a weekly basis and its evolution towards its current season format where episodes are more thoughtful. Along the way, they discuss the barbecue road trips, joints, and experiences that shaped them and the show.

Congrats to Andrew and Bryan!

Description: As we approach our 200th episode we take a look back at the memorable guests, episodes and experiences from the first six years of the podcast. Take a stroll down memory lane as we reflect on our time documenting the barbecue world. Thank you for all of the support for so many years and let’s all keep supporting barbecue!