Tales from the pits, a Texas BBQ podcast featuring trendsetters, leaders, and icons from the barbecue industry

New School Barbecue, Recipes for Next Level Smoking and Grilling by Evan LeRoy and Paula Forbes is a beautiful new cookbook that gives you behind the curtain access to the recipes that made LeRoy and Lewis a two-time Michelin Star recipient and Evan a James Beard semifinalist. Grab your copy wherever books are sold and get to LeRoy and Lewis for a taste of why it’s one of the best and most influ...

It had been years since we completed a half dozen stop BBQ run, but we decided to give it a try. The secret to our success on this trip? Skipping brisket! Sounds crazy, right? Tune in to hear where we went and what we ate.  

As barbecue continues to evolve, talented people are bringing in new ideas to expand on the tradition of wood fire cooked meats. One of the most exciting new additions to the Texas scene is Casey Lee's BBQ in the small town of Flatonia. Tune in to hear the story of their journey and the menu. Saturdays only: 11a - sold out Instagram: caseyleesbbq

Want to know what we've been up to? Tune in!  

Congratulations to Burnt Bean Co. on being selected as the number 1 BBQ joint in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine! We sat down with Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland to talk about their quest for this title and the sacrifices they made to reach the top.   This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. BBQ Distro is the home to the best sauces, seasonings, and rubs in all of Texas. No need to wait in li...

This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. BBQ Distro is the home to the best sauces, seasonings, and rubs in all of Texas. No need to wait in line to get a taste of Goldees or Snows. You can make it at home thanks to BBQ Distro. Go to  http://bbqdistro.com  and use promo code tales10 at checkout for a 10% discount on your order!    And keep watching our social channels for the epic Top 50 List live...

This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to  http://bbqdistro.com/top10  and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweeps...

This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to  http://bbqdistro.com/top10  and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweeps...

This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to  http://bbqdistro.com/top10  and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweeps...

This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to  http://bbqdistro.com/top10  and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweeps...

This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to  http://bbqdistro.com/top10  and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweeps...

Click for tickets!   In the summer of 2010 Jeff Jones, Matthew Wallis, Matthew Johnson and Brandon Gonzales set out to make a documentary titled For the Love of Meat about Texas barbecue. Little did they know what an incredible time capsule it would become to film some of the top pitmasters of that time such as Joe Capello, Roy Perez, John Fullilove, Tootsie Tomanetz and others. Additionally the c...

We reflect on our year of food and travel from 2024 as well as memorable moments  from ten years of BBQ road tripping together  

The Nevarez family recently celebrated five years of their business, LaVaca BBQ. This family owned restaurants helmed by parents Lupe and Christine and daughter Kelli produces a large menu of high quality options in a region of Texas that was lacking in modern options. With standout items such as their smoked tamales and an impressive roster of desserts, LaVaca BBQ should be on your road trip list...

The spotlight on Texas BBQ has never been brighter, and 2025 will bring the newest edition of the Texas Monthly Top 50 list. Our thoughts on the recent Michelin news, the upcoming new Texas Monthly BBQ list, and more.

One of the many great aspects of the newly minted Michelin starred restaurant LeRoy and Lewis is Evan and Sawyer’s cultivation of a strong team. That is no more apparent than with staff members Cole Parkman and Kasey Durham. Cole and Kasey might work in one of the most innovative BBQ places, but their passion for classic Texas barbecue runs deep. We caught up with them on the eve of the old school...

In this episode we do something we’ve never done: interview each other. We chose ten random questions to ask one another with neither of us having any indication as to what the questions would be before recording. This is a fun one that goes off on some tangents and includes a challenge we hope Daniel Vaughn takes us up on!

We’ve been asked what excites us to keep exploring barbecue after all these years. It’s not a simple question to answer because it’s evolved during our over decade long obsessions with barbecue. In this episode we go a bit down the rabbit hole of trying to explain what originally excited us, what interests us today, and how that has changed throughout our journey.  

There may be no more majestic setting to cook barbecue than along the Columbia River Gorge in Hood River, Oregon. It is here that Brendon, Drew and Sam put down roots for their business, Grasslands Barbecue. Serving up superb smoked meats and seasonal scratch made sides, this trio is producing some of the best Texas influenced barbecue you’re likely to find not just outside of the Lone Star State,...

Amir Jalali started his barbecue career learning the business and operational aspects at the great Feges BBQ, struck up a friendship which turned into a job at the phenomenal Goldee’s Bar-B-Q, and eventually opened his own place back in his hometown of Port Neches, Texas. With a menu of expertly smoked proteins and scratch made sides and desserts, Redbird BBQ is off to a roaring start as one of th...

Zain Shafi turned a curiosity into a passion and eventually a business in Sabar BBQ. Zain blends together the Pakistani flavors he grew up with alongside the familiar Texas barbecue staples. With seasonal, flavorful sides and well cooked proteins, Sabar is a great addition to the stellar Fort Worth barbecue scene. Instagram: sabarbbq Open Saturdays 11a-3p (or sold out) 194 Bryan Avenue, Fort Worth...

Season 5 of Tales from the Pits is finally underway! More episodes from the best and brightest in the barbecue world are headed your way, and tune in to this episode for details on our new project, Cookfire Tales. A video series focused on the passionate people from all avenues of the food world who play a role in the food that ends up on your plate, with Cookfire Tales we’re going to give you wid...

This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign yourself up for their monthly BBQ subscription box service or better yet sign up your BBQ obsessed loved one as a great gift for the holidays!   Check out  http://bbqdistro.com/tales  for all of your BBQ need...

This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign yourself up for their monthly BBQ subscription box service or better yet sign up your BBQ obsessed loved one as a great gift for the holidays! Check out  http://bbqdistro.com/tales  for all of your BBQ needs...

This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new monthly BBQ subscription box service! Check out  http://bbqdistro.com/tales  for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram.   Far West Texas is one...