Friday Find: Anthony DiBernardo of Swig & Swine joins the Beards, Booze, and Bacon podcast

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Not the best quality audio connection from DiBernardo in Charleston, but an interesting conversation about how he got started in cooking and why he maybe, just maybe, is partially responsible for the barbecue boom in Charleston.

For this week’s episode of Beards, Booze, and Bacon: The Manual Podcast, the round-table (Editor-in-Chief Cator Sparks, Associate Editor Chase McPeak, and host Greg Nibler) welcomes chef/pitmaster and Anthony DiBernardo of Charleston, South Carolina’s acclaimed restaurant, Swig and Swine — which boasts 60 different bourbons, 14 beers on draft, 11 different side dishes, and, of course, barbecue.

Linkdown: 5/9/18

– So this happened Monday night:

Rodney Scott is the first African-American to win Best Chef: Southeast and second pitmaster to win a JBFA

– Chris Prieto of PRIME Barbecue broke ground in Knightdale Monday for his new barbecue restaurant

– Sure thing, guys:

– This Charlotte Five guide to Best Charlotte diner’s, drive-in’s, and dives includes the  Bar-B-Q King drive-in

– Bar-B-Q King (opened in 1959), Art’s BBQ (1976), and Bill Spoon’s Barbecue (1963) are all on this list of iconic Charlotte restaurants open for over 20 years

– The Smoking Ho has some cool photos from last week’s Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival in Tyler

– Midwood Smokehouse has several lunch options under $10

– For potential Mother’s Day gift needs:

LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue – Austin, TX (mini-review)


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: LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
Date: 4/8/18
Address: 121 Pickle Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Order: “Pulled pit ham from peaceful pork” sandwich with smoked sweet potato (link to menu)
Price: $16

Monk: On the Sunday of mine and Mrs. Monk’s weekend in Austin, my third (and last) barbecue stop was LeRoy and Lewis’s food truck at the Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden. While they certainly have their central Texas staples, in the relatively short time they’ve been open, LeRoy and Lewis have stood out from other barbecue restaurants for creativity in their menu. On this Sunday, the menu was limited to a pulled pork sandwich and pit smoked sweet potatoes. 

The creativity that I was expecting was evident in the beet bbq sauce that topped the pork sandwich along with some collards. For the last bit of meat before selling out on a Sunday afternoon, the generously portioned sandwich was still fairly tasty.

The pit smoked sweet potato was a nice change of pace for a side than what I usually had. Would get again.

It’s a shame that I couldn’t judge LeRoy and Lewis on their full menu, but on this trip Sunday was the day to check them out for me. The Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden is a really fun setting and a nice way to enjoy the barbecue, and perhaps one day I’ll make it back to try more of what LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue are all about.

Ratings:
Atmosphere – 3.5 hogs
Pork – 3.5 hogs
Sides – 3.5 hogs
Overall – 3.5 hogs

Friday Find: Bob Garner Visits The Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson, NC

Looks like they do a little bit of everything at Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson – pork, brisket, turkey, ribs, chicken, and even burnt ends three times per week. Definitely looks to be worth a look.

Bob Garner learns the story of this national award-winning pitmaster at his new restaurant, the Redneck BBQ Lab.