Monk: I’m posting this a little late for the Thanksgiving holiday but I think its still worth sharing. The Tales from the Pits guys, Andrew and Bryan, share the trends in barbecue that they are thankful for including brick and mortar locations (particularly in the hot Texas summers), barbecue joints expanding into sports arenas, dinner barbecue, and more.
I’m always inspired by the passion for barbecue these guys have, so take a listen and see if you agree with their choices.
Description: There is a lot we’re thankful for right now in barbecue. From the craft pioneers who began expanding the boundaries of what barbecue could be to the new class who keeps pushing the cuisine forward while being mindful of its roots, it’s an amazing time in barbecue filled with immense talent.
Monk: Team applications for Memphis in May are officially open for next year’s festival which will take place in Liberty Park
This of course is after a new, upstart festival has been announced to be held at (plot twist) Tom Lee Park, where Memphis in May had traditionally been held. Forward Momentum are the organizers behind the rival festival which will be held at the same time as Memphis in May, and Carey Bringle of Peg Leg Porkers is on board to compete, even going so far as to say “BBQ in Memphis belongs on the river, and with Forward Momentum, we now have the means and resources to make it happen.”
As for me? If I make either festival it will surely be Memphis in May at Liberty Park.
Finally, in perhaps somewhat related news, the CEO of Memphis in May is retiring at the end of January.
Native News
Congrats to Raleigh’s The Pit, which will celebrate 15 years open this weekend
Phar Mill Brewing and BBQ’s downtown Concord location is now closed to the public and they will focus on the original Harrisburg location going forward
Can’t wait to see this new Jon G’s design on a t-shirt
FoodieScore checks back in with Johnny Ray’s Smokehouse in Fallston
A free gift with purchase from Concord’s SnS Grills
Speaking of gifts, this shirt from House of Swank is a little too reductive terms of barbecue ideology, but I appreciate it nonetheless
Non-Native News
FatStack Smokers, who relocated from California to Texas and has been accused of taking customers’ money without providing actual smokers, has closed up shop
FatStack Smokers, which recently moved operations from L.A. to Houston, appears to have closed up shop with a long list of pre-paid orders unfulfilled (per Redditt & FB user page). The owner previously addressed troubles on YouTube. h/t @KevinsBBQJointshttps://t.co/xkfeJICgpY
Speaking of Houston, here’s J.C. Reid’s top 30 barbecue restaurants list for the city
Here's a new barbecue list, if you're interested. 30 of Houston's top barbecue joints as of late 2023, my latest for the @HoustonChron (gift link). https://t.co/WgCB1XAh5j
One more from J.C. Reid on how brisket makes a Philly cheesesteak even better
Brisket makes everything better, right? It certainly makes classic sandwiches like a Philly cheesesteak better, at least in this Texan's opinion. My latest for the @houstonchron. (free link) #houbbq@RoegelsBarbecuehttps://t.co/NZfZ8lqNF6
Big Dave’s BBQ makes this Eater Essentials list for Greenville, SC
A review of a new type of grill brush
Talk about a #woodpilewednesday
If my measurements are correct and an orange cone is 28 inches tall, I think we are looking at around 16 feet of oak stacked painstakingly by the folks at California Firewood Sales. pic.twitter.com/JVYFiI3zA8
Monk: Owner Bobby Bradley, Jr. of Cozy Corner in Memphis is carrying on the traditions of his family’s barbecue legacy to this day, including the BBQ bologna sandwich.
Description: Cozy Corner is one of Memphis’s most popular barbecue restaurants, opening in 1977. Owner Bobby Bradley, Jr. is carrying on his family’s traditions by making the restaurant’s popular ribs, bologna sandwiches, and barbecue spaghetti.
Monk: The Cuegrass festival, a mix of barbecue, bluegrass, and beer, is back next April in downtown Raleigh. It’s been a few years since I’ve been, but it looks like they’ve moved a few blocks away from in front of The Pit restaurant onto Fayetteville Street. Here were my thoughts from 2019:
Bark Barbecue Café and 2Fifty Texas BBQ mix Texas tradition and hospitality with touches from their Armenian and Salvadoran cultures, respectively. https://t.co/nisGMRyS5x
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