A Texas BBQ podcast highlighting the food, personalities, and traditions of the Lone Star State’s smoked meats.
Episodes
Monday May 23, 2022
Monday May 23, 2022
Five years ago we launched Tales from the Pits to help tell the stories behind the people in barbecue. Daniel Vaughn’s writing and documenting of Texas barbecue has been one of our (and everyone else in the state’s) biggest resources in seeking out new places and visiting the classic joints.
We were excited to have Daniel join us on this episode to discuss all things barbecue past, present and future, lists, Texas Monthly, and more. A big thanks to Daniel for sitting down with us and to everyone who’s tuned in over all these years!
Thanks to Texas Monthly BBQ Club for sponsoring this episode. Get 50% off your first year subscription to the TMBBQ Club if you sign up during May for national BBQ month: https://txmnth.ly/3FEvrJu
Monday May 09, 2022
Monday May 09, 2022
We were thrilled to have the chance to sit down with Robert F. Moss during our recent trip to South Carolina for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival. Robert is a wealth of culinary knowledge and the research he's done on barbecue history is second to none. Born and raised in South Carolina, Robert is an accomplished author who has had several books published on Barbecue, spirits, and other facets of culinary history. He's an absolute wealth of information and in this episode we discussed topics ranging from modern barbecue, historical barbecue, and Robert's daunting task of composing Southern Living's 50 Best Barbecue Places in the South list.
Tune in to hear some great stories on barbecue history and be sure to pick up Robert's incredible books. Go to his website to sign up for his 'Cue Sheet newsletter.
Robert F. Moss
Twitter: mossr
Instagram: robertfmoss
Website: robertfmoss.com
Thank you to Charleston Wine + Food for helping to facilitate our recordings during this trip
Website: charlestonwineandfood.com
Audio support provided by Arvaughnna Audio
Website: arvaughnnaaudio.com
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
We joined up with some of our friends in barbecue for a BBQ road trip to some of our favorite old school barbecue joints. For some of us it was a revisit to these classic places and for others it was their first visit.
We ended the day in Lockhart where we recorded this episode reflecting on our favorite bites and memorable experiences. We all agreed that while we love modern barbecue, it is great to stop in to the historic places to see where barbecue came from and get a taste of more simple flavors. Thanks to Joe and CJ from Zavala’s Barbecue, Jay Arnold from Barbecue, Bets and Beats, and Terry Osborn for joining us on the trip.
Stops along the route:
City Meat Market (Giddings)
Snow’s BBQ
Kolacny Bar-B-Q
Spoetzl Brewery
City Market (Gonzales)
City Market (Luling)
Kreuz Market
Smitty’s BBQ
Thank you to The Texas Monthly BBQ Club for sponsoring this episode. Sign up via the link in our show notes for a 25% off discount on your first year of membership and be on the lookout for new details coming from Texas Monthly on their BBQ festival which will be held in Lockhart this year!
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Hector Garate has combined the inspiration of his heritage, his upbringing, and modern techniques to create a menu at Palmira BBQ in Charleston that produces high quality items from top to bottom. Serving high quality meats and flavorful, carefully crafted sides, Palmira has burst onto the barbecue scene and quickly become one to watch.
In addition to being open seven days a week, Hector and his partner chef Graham Calabria have also launched Cienfuegos, a pit building business inspired by the direct heat cookers Hector built to cook the heritage breed hogs he serves at Palmira.
Check out Hector’s story and be sure to add a stop at Palmira BBQ to your next Charleston trip.
Palmira BBQ
Instagram: PalmiraBBQ
Located inside Port of Call Food Hall
99 S Market St
Charleston, SC
Special thanks to Charleston Wine + Food, Hed Hi Media, and Arvaughnna Audio for helping to put this episode together.
Charleston Wine + Food
Instagram: chswineandfood
www.charlestonwineandfood.com
Arvaughnna Audio
Instagram: Arvaughnnaaudio
www.Arvaughnnaaudio.com
Hed Hi Media
Instagram: hed_hi_media
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Michael Johnson of Centex Smokers had welding in his blood, growing up with a father who was a professional welder. Though Michael originally resisted the idea of making it into a career, he quickly fell back on his years of training to embark on a successful career in the pipeline welding industry.
Growing up in Luling, barbecue was always a part of Michael’s life but it wasn’t until later that he’d start down the road of pit building. Through a few lucky breaks and word of mouth about the top notch quality of his work, Michael’s pit building business grew rapidly and he now makes pits for some of the best in the industry. Tune in to hear Michael’s story and contact him via Facebook and Instagram to start your custom pit build!
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
The Charleston Wine + Food festival is an amazing showcase of so many talented chefs and spirits professionals from not just South Carolina but all around the country. We were thrilled to be invited back to cover the event and made the most of our five days in the Lowcountry.
Tune in to hear about the whole hog road trips we made in between going to festival events, including one of the best bites of whole hog we’ve ever had. We had an awesome time attending the CHSWF events, supporting local Charleston restaurants, and eating old school South Carolina BBQ.
Start planning for your CHSWF experience in 2023! Festival dates for next year are March 1-5!
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
John Bates had a long and successful cooking career before turning his attention to barbecue. After a decade running a scratch sandwich shop which included in-house pickling, bread baking and meat curing, he was ready for a change.
Interstellar BBQ launched in 2019 and quickly began receiving acclaim for their meats, inventive specials and exemplary sides. But the attention for Bates’ team grew tenfold in October 2021 when Texas Monthly named it the second best barbecue place in the entire state.
The achievement of being named near the top of the Texas Monthly Top 50 list has been life changing for the Interstellar team. Tune in to hear all about John’s career, the menu, and how they’ve navigated the recent change in business brought on by this accolade.
Interstellar BBQ
12233 Ranch Road 620 N. Suite 105
Austin, TX 78750
Hours of operation: Wed-Sun 11a-5p
Instagram: InterstellarBBQ
Website: www.TheInterstellarBBQ.com
This episode is sponsored by The Texas Monthly BBQ Club. TMBBQ Club is your destination for all things barbecue. Subscribe today to gain access to exclusive content including in-depth interviews, members only events to be held throughout 2022, early access to Texas Monthly BBQ Fest tickets, and a whole lot more!
Learn more and joint the TMBBQ club at
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Having owned a BBQ restaurant for over twenty years, Russell and Misty Roegels are no strangers to the barbecue industry. After being part of a chain for many years, the Roegels struck out on their own in 2015 to great acclaim. Check our archives for episodes 39 and 40 to hear the story of Russell’s early career.
Their original restaurant on Voss Road in Houston has long been one of the top BBQ joints the city has to offer, and in 2021 they saw an opportunity to expand their brand in the ever-growing Houston suburb of Katy, Texas. Towards the end of the year Russell and Misty began the process of opening their second location.
Roegels Barbecue in Katy - set to open any day now at the time of this episode posting - will be serving the same great ‘cue they’ve become known for alongside their rotating specials menu that features items like their smoked pastrami Reuben, turkey katsu sandwich, and housemade sausages. The Roegels’ standout pit crew that includes Alfredo Tapia and Fletcher Sheridan will keep leading the operations on Voss and Katy respectively, so longtime fans of the original location can expect the same level of quality at both spots.
Tune in to hear Russell and Misty provide details on how this new spot came to be and what some of the differences will be at the new spot which will include a full bar and dinner service. Please note hours of operation are subject to change as this new location find its footing and staffs up.
Roegels Barbecue Co. - Katy Location
20702 Katy Freeway
Katy, TX 77449
Monday and Tuesday - closed
Weds, Thur, Sun - 11a - 8p
Friday and Saturday - 11a - 9p
Roegels Barbecue Co. on Boss
2223 S. Voss Rd.
Houston, TX 77057
Open 7 days a week 11a - 3p
Roegels on Social
Instagram: Roegelsbarbecue
Twitter: Roegelsbarbecue
Website: www.Roegelsbarbecue.com
Tales From The Pits on Social
Instagram: talesfromthepits
Twitter: bbqpodcast
Website: www.TheBBQPodcast.com
Monday Jan 17, 2022
Monday Jan 17, 2022
Welcome to season three of Tales from the Pits! Season two was a whirlwind of travel and fun, and we have exciting news on what we have planned for 2022.
Tune in as we reflect a bit on last year, highlight some of our favorite episodes to date, and provide details on some of our big show plans for the new season including a big announcement on our return to one of our favorite food events.
The barbecue world suffered numerous losses in 2021, and we spend a few moments reflecting on memories we have with two figures in barbecue.
Our site: www.TheBBQPodcast.com
Instagram: talesfromthepits
Twitter: bbqpodcast