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This morning, Axios Charlotte brings details on the upcoming Carolina Barbecue Festival to be held May 22 at Camp North End in Charlotte. I’ve heard rumors of a Charlotte barbecue festival starting last summer from Donald himself and more recently from Garren Kirkman of Jon G’s. But this festival is shaping up to be quite the event, with a roster of notable pit bosses from Barbecue Bros favorites from all over the Carolinas including Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ Barbeque (who grew up in Charlotte), Elliot Moss of Asheville’s Buxton Hall Barbecue, Nathan Monk of Lexington Barbecue, Matthew Register of Southern Smoke in Garland, Tay Nelson of Bobby’s BBQ in Fountain Inn, SC, and Brandon Shepard of Shepard’s Barbecue in Emerald Isle. Master Blend Family Farm, a family-owned farm in Kenansville, N.C., will contribute the hogs for the event.

The day looks to be full of Carolina barbecue (be it east, west, or South), beer, local music, and charity, with the proceeds going to nonprofits Piedmont Culinary Guild, World Central Kitchen and Operation Barbecue Relief. And I’m here for it.

More details and tickets at carolinabbqfest.org

Native News

John Tanner’s been making the rounds in NC lately with fruitful stops at Troutman’s Barbecue in Denton

…as well as Dickie-Do’s BBQ in Haw River where he discovered some delicious, smoky barbecue

Jon G’s will be back in Waxhaw today

Charlotte Magazine has a pretty straightforward list of Where to Get Barbecue in Charlotte for 2022

Non-Native News

Now’s your chance to get your barbecue story featured on the Southern Foodways Alliance’s Gravy Podcast

Calling all podcast reporters & producers—@thegravypodcast wants your barbecue stories! Until March 15, SFA is accepting pitches for fresh, unexpected episodes about barbecue of, from, or culturally connected to the American South. Find out how to pitch: https://t.co/vH7cRDWUj6 pic.twitter.com/juF4G7GbSr

— Southern Foodways Alliance (@southfoodways) February 22, 2022

Cattleack Barbeque, Hurtado Barbecue, and Heim Barbecue make Eater Dallas’ Essential Restaurants for the city

Check out the Eater 38, a guide to the city’s essential restaurants https://t.co/F5qfaQpp8A

— Eater Dallas (@EaterDallas) February 19, 2022

Latest Blake’s BBQ building update

Ain’t no rest for the weary. Let’s gooo pic.twitter.com/v6moecSInS

— Blake’s BBQ (@BlakeStoker5) February 18, 2022

At Brett’s BBQ Shop, J.C. Reid dug the sausages

This Houston-area barbecue joint’s wildly inventive sausages push the envelope @brettsbbqshop @jcreidtx #barbecue https://t.co/O9T5L0RYd0 pic.twitter.com/UcViOPIage

— PREVIEW (@PreviewNow) February 17, 2022

Very curious to see who Tesla gets to smoke the barbecue at what could be the “Largest Barbecue in Texas” at their Austin Gigafactory

Tesla to hold giant BBQ event at the Austin Gigafactory April 7.
Now who's @elonmusk gonna round up to cook it all? https://t.co/65IFpRttdF

— Bryan (@BBQBryan) February 20, 2022

More coverage on the passing of Rene “Ray” Rodriguez

Rene “Ray” Ramirez, an L.A. champion of Texas-style barbecue, dies at 47 https://t.co/poLqKYUSF7

— L.A. Times Food (@latimesfood) February 18, 2022

Chef Michael Symon’s Mabel’s BBQ is expanding

First look: Mabel's BBQ at Eton, opening in March https://t.co/SPnFDzrqv2

— Cleveland Scene (@ClevelandScene) February 15, 2022

AMEN

Whole hog is catching on in Texas. The more people do it, the happier we all are 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OY4rMxICX7

— BBQ Confessional (@bbqconfessional) February 20, 2022