A Texas BBQ podcast highlighting the food, personalities, and traditions of the Lone Star State's smoked meats.
Episodes
Monday Apr 22, 2019
Monday Apr 22, 2019
When Ronnie Webber was ready to retire from the Houston Police Department, he and his wife Nancy had their sites set on opening a barbecue restaurant. With no restaurant operation experience but a passion for cooking, the Webbers invested their savings into opening Tin Roof BBQ in June 2001. The then small restaurant was a success in its original location, but as they were ready to grow the business they knew a change was needed for an expansion of their operation.
Hours:
Tue – Thu: 11am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 10pm
Sun: 11am – 3pm
Monday Apr 15, 2019
Monday Apr 15, 2019
There’s quite a bit going on in the BBQ world these days with openings and closings and special events happening seemingly every week. We take some time in this episode to talk about what we’ve been up to in BBQ lately, what’s coming up this spring, and answer some listener questions.
We have a lot planned for the spring and summer, but if there’s anything you think we need to add to our calendar, let us know! We’re also always taking listener questions, so DM us on social media or email us anytime.
Twitter: @bbqpodcast
Instagram: @talesfromthepits
Email: talesfromthepits@gmail.com
Monday Apr 08, 2019
Monday Apr 08, 2019
Anthony DiBernardo had a long and distinguished culinary career that spanned cooking on submarines during his military service to working in fine dining in Charleston. Anthony eventually got to a point in his career where he wanted to make more approachable, affordable food. In 2013, he opened his first Swig & Swine BBQ location.
Online
HOURS
11am-10pm 7 days a week
Locations
West Ashley Location
1217 Savannah Highway
Charleston, SC 29407
Summerville Location Returning soon
1990 Old Trolley Road
Summerville, SC 29485
Mt. Pleasant Location
2379 Hwy 41
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
Downtown Charleston Location
49 South Market St.
Charleston, SC 29401
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Justin and Jonathan Fox grew up all over Texas and brought their love of Texas barbecue with them when they settled in Atlanta, Georgia. They began tinkering with cooking the familiar flavors of central Texas in their backyard near the turn of the century and soon began to contemplate how to take it to the masses. The Fox brothers began throwing large backyard parties and eventually started providing catering services in addition to serving at their friends and eventual business partners bar.
Atlanta Ga 30307
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Monday Mar 25, 2019
John Lewis is one of the pioneers of the modern methods that have become so widely used in Texas BBQ over the last decade. From his innovations in pit design to seasoning and trimming methods and careful sourcing of meat, if you’ve enjoyed “new school barbecue” recently, there’s a high possibility it was prepared using methods Lewis popularized.
With a long successful career in Texas under his belt, John saw an opportunity to spread his brand of barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina, and began assembling a team to open his own restaurant. Phillip Powers, who you’ll also hear in this interview, had a strong culinary background and moved back home to South Carolina to be part of the opening crew at Lewis Barbecue and is the Chef de Cuisine at the restaurant.
Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner serving Lewis’ exemplary Texas barbecue along with menu specials, Lewis Barbecue is one of the must stop restaurants in Charleston today.
Visit Lewis Barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina
464 NORTH NASSAU ST.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 29403
SUN + MON 11AM UNTIL 9PM
TUES-SAT 11AM UNTIL 10PM
HAPPY HOUR: MON - FRI 4PM UNTIL 6PM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LewisBBQ/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lewisbarbecue/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnlewisbbq
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Rodney Scott grew up cooking whole hogs at his family’s general store in the small town of Hemingway, South Carolina. The tradition of hogs cooked under the direct heat of coals burned down from wood splits was the way Rodney learned to cook and still utilizes today.
As food media began to take notice of the whole hog traditions being carried on by Rodney, Hemingway would see an increase in tourists coming to try he and his family’s barbecue. Over the course of time Rodney would meet and become friends with Nick Pihakis, who encouraged Rodney to come to Charleston to open his own place. Rodney Scott’s BBQ opened in 2016 to huge success and acclaim. The city of Charleston embraced his barbecue traditions and in 2018 he became only the second pitmaster to win an acclaimed James Beard chef award.
Rodney and the Pihakis Restaurant Group continue to grow the Rodney Scott’s BBQ brand and spread more whole hog greatness across the country, the latest installment being the opening in early 2019 of a new location in Birmingham, Alabama.
Twitter: @rodneyscottsbbq
Instagram: rodneyscottsbbq
Charleston:
1011 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Hours: 11am-9pm 7 days a week
Birmingham:
3719 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222
Hours: 11am-9pm Sunday - Thursday
11am-10pm Friday - Saturday
B's Cracklin benefit dinner at Truth BBQ:
Tuesday Mar 12, 2019
Tuesday Mar 12, 2019
There are so many amazing events that take place during the five day Charleston Wine + Food (CHSWFF) festival and we were fortunate to be granted media access to many of them. From whiskey-centric experiences to barbecue excursions, we did our best to take in all of the sights and sounds of this incredible culinary opportunity.
This episode will give you a rundown of all of the events we covered as well as some food and drink highlights from each. We were fortunate to get to spend time with some amazing barbecue talents such as Rodney Scott, Sam Jones, Jonathan and Justin Fox, John Lewis, Anthony DiBernardo, and many more.
We've got some exciting interviews that we'll be posting in the coming weeks from these events, so stay tuned for those. A special thanks to Alyssa Maute Smith and the entire Charleston Wine + Food team for putting together such an outstanding collection of unbelievable events and excursions. Be sure to follow CHSWFF on social media to get tickets for next year's events when they are announced!
Charleston Wine + Food:
Website: www.charlestonwineandfood.com
Twitter: @ChsWineandFood
Instagram: @chswineandfood
Monday Mar 04, 2019
Monday Mar 04, 2019
The barbecue industry is full of kind, passionate folks. But like any profession, there are always going to be things that will annoy a person if they do it long enough. Tune in as we hear from Russell Roegels, John Brotherton, Nichole and Will Buckman, Jordan Jackson, John Mueller, Brett Jackson, and Esaul Ramos talk about some of their BBQ pet peeves. Make sure to follow us along on social media, and if you'd like to order one of our new "11 am in Texas" T-shirts, let us know!
Instagram: @talesfromthepits Twitter: @bbqpodcast E-mail: talesfromthepits@gmail.com
Monday Feb 25, 2019
Monday Feb 25, 2019
West Texas "Cowboy Style" cooking may not be as known as Central Texas style, but it is an important part of Texas BBQ history. As cattle drives made their way west across Texas, pits would be dug in the ground as the crews would stop along the way and whatever meats were available on the chuck wagons would be cooked quickly over wood that had been burned down to hot coals.
West Texas BBQ today is often mesquite cooked over live fire with signature "show pits" on display for the customer to look at and select their meats. Places like Cooper's and Hard Eight are some of the more known places that provide this experience.
Thank you for your support of the show. If you'd like one of our new shirts, please reach out to us via e-mail (talesfromthepits@gmail.com) or via Instagram (@talesfromthepits) where you can see our new shirts.
Monday Feb 18, 2019
Monday Feb 18, 2019
Before large scale meat packers and fast transport allowed for meat products to be cut offsite and sold by the case, towns were served by local meat markets and butchers who broke down entire animals and large cuts, called primal cuts, into portions that the end customer purchased. Unsold meats and the left over trimmings weren't tossed away, they were utilized in sausage. The art of sausage making came to Texas via Czech and German immigrants and you can still experience these meat markets, homemade sausages, and hot barbecue on the weekends across Texas. Many open early and they are a great first stop on a Texas barbecue road trip.
After deciding the big city life wasn't for him, Lukas Smrkovsky returned to his hometown of Schulenburg, Texas and is carrying on his family's meat market and sausage making legacy into their third generation.
City Market in Schulenburg has been part of the Smrkovsky family legacy since 1944 starting with brothers Rudy and Tony. Rudy bought out his brother in the early 1960s and in the 1970s moved the operation from downtown Schulenburg to where it is now, right on Highway 77 just south of I-10. Rudy's son Roy and his wife Carolyn took over the business in the early 1980s and Roy's son Lukas now oversees the day-to-day operations which includes producing approximately 10,000 pounds of sausage every week.
City Market is a classic style meat market which offers a variety of cuts for retail, over two dozen types of scratch made sausage, and their famous hot dog wieners. Be sure to try their jalapeno sausage, not overly spicy, and Schulenberg City Market may have been the first to develop the variety. On Saturday mornings they serve a BBQ menu out of their over 40 year old brick pits including brisket, ribs, sausage, pork steak, and chicken.
Check out this ad for City Market from 1952:
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth569495/m1/9/
Schulenburg City Market
109 Kessler Ave.
Schulenburg, TX 78956
Mon-Fri: 8 am - 5:30 pm
Saturday: 8 am - 2 pm