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: 9/6/23 – The RIP David Millette Edition

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Monk: In a truly terrible news, the general manager of the Raleigh location of Midwood Smokehouse passed away after being assaulted a few weeks back. Police said David “Davey” Millette, Jr. died Friday, Sept. 1. According to police, Millette was assaulted at 2 a.m. on Aug. 26 in the 500 block of Glenwood Avenue.

Sadly, Millete was just 27 years old and leaves behind his parents, sister, nephews, girlfriend, and an unborn child.

If you’d like to donate, a GoFundMe link has been set up here.

Native News

Our State on The Redneck BBQ Lab in Johnston County

Shepard Barbecue recently raised $7,000 for Hawaii

For the 39th Annual Lexington Barbecue Festival on Oct. 28, NC By Train will make 10 stops, unloading passengers one block from the festival.

Non-Native News

Brisket burger x ramen bun

A San Antonio barbecue list

An update to the pitmaster lineup at the BBQ World’s Fair as part of the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest

The Tennessean’s list of best barbecue in Nashville

The Buc-ee’s pitmaster is a 50 year old Texas named Randy Pauly, and he lives for new store openings

I can only imagine the heat in a barbecue room in the Texas summer

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: