In this special episode I chat with Ryan Cooper(@BBQTourist: https://www.instagram.com/bbqtourist) who by day works for the National Park Service, but by night(and off hours) is co-founder of The Smoke Sheet(https://www.bbqnewsletter.com) and travels the country searching out incredible barbecue. We talk about his recent 10 day trip to Texas(from Nebraska where he lives) where he visited 20 BBQ joints and went to what is possibly the best BBQ party of the year(Robert Jacob Lerma's Summer BBQ Bash).

The journey begins when he picks up Chris Bengston from Common Decent Provisions(https://www.commondescentprovisions.com) and ends with a through visit to all of the latest BBQ spots opening in Fort Worth and Arlington.
For reference, here's a list of his stops:1. Boss Hog’s BBQ and Bail Bonds: https://bit.ly/2lfUWMh2 Brothertons Black Iron BBQ: https://www.facebook.com/PFTXBBQ/3. Valnetina’s Tex Mex BBQ: https://www.valentinastexmexbbq.com/4. Interstellar: https://www.facebook.com/Interstellarbbq5. The Switch: https://www.theswitchdripping.com6. Smitty’s Market: http://smittysmarket.com7. Kreuz Market: https://kreuzmarket.com8. City Market Luling: http://www.lulingcitymarket.com9. Brett’s Backyard Bar-B-Que: https://www.brettsbackyardbarbque.com10. Louie Mueller BBQ: https://www.louiemuellerbarbecue.com11.Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden: https://www.bangersaustin.com12. Panther City BBQ: http://www.panthercitybbq.com13. Flores Barbecue: https://www.facebook.com/FloresBarbecue14. Smoke-A-Holics BBQ: https://www.facebook.com/smoke1tx15. Derek Allan's Texas BBQ: https://derekallansbbq.com16. Hurtado Barbecue: http://hurtadobbq.com17. Zavala's Barbecue: http://www.zavalasbarbecue.com18. Lillian’s Barbecue: https://www.facebook.com/lilliansbbq19. Dayne’s Craft Barbecue: https://daynescraftbarbecue.com20. Goldee's Barbecue: https://www.facebook.com/goldeesbbq/

Sign up for The Smoke Sheet at: https://www.bbqnewsletter.comFollow The Smoke Sheet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmokesheetSee The Smoke Sheet on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thesmokesheetCheck out The Smoke Sheet on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/thesmokesheet

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In this episode I chat with AJ Ramirez from AJ's Custom Cookers in Fort Worth, Texas. AJ started welding at age 15 and hasn't stopped since. In this interview we discuss his upbringing, ALL about welding itself(the three types of welding in detail), how he get into the BBQ world, opening his own shop, and growing the business with integrity and above and beyond customer service. He can do ANYTHING when it comes to welding and fabrication. ANYTHING. From fixing a cooker that you may have that doesn't work the way you want it to creating something completely from scratch. Currently his lead time is 11 months. You're going to really enjoy thisSee all things AJ's Custom Cookers here: https://www.ajscustomcookers.comFor anything you need, contact AJ at: 817-714-4495 (call or text)Follow AJ's Custom Cookers on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/ajscustomcookers/See AJ's Custom Cookers on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/AJsCustomCookers/?ref=br_rs

Sign up for The Smoke Sheet at: https://www.bbqnewsletter.comFollow The Smoke Sheet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmokesheetSee The Smoke Sheet on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thesmokesheetCheck out The Smoke Sheet on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/thesmokesheet

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In this episode I chat with Matthew Register from Southern Smoke BBQ in Garland, North Carolina about his unique journey to opening his equally unique barbecue restaurant which is only open two days a week and on most days has an exceptional line(which they get through very expeditiously. They do a large amount of catering business, have a food truck, and in the spring of 2019 he launched a book entitled Southern Smoke: Barbecue, Traditions, and Treasured Recipes Reimagined for Today which is broken down specifically into three sections: Low Country, Memphis/Delta, & North Carolina. There is also a unique section on how through a southern dinner party. It's an exceptionally interesting and insightful interview that I know you'll enjoy.See all things Southern Smoke here: http://southernsmokebbqnc.comCheck out Southern Smoke BBQ on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/southernsmokebbqofncSee Southern Smoke BBQ on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SouthernSmokeNCFollow Southern Smoke BBQ on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Southern-Smoke-BBQ-of-NC-406353742759545Pick up Southern Smoke here: https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Smoke-Traditions-Treasured-Reimagined/dp/0760364028

Sign up for The Smoke Sheet at: https://www.bbqnewsletter.comFollow The Smoke Sheet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmokesheetSee The Smoke Sheet on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thesmokesheetCheck out The Smoke Sheet on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/thesmokesheet

Kevin's BBQ Joints on Twitter

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In this episode I chat with Andrew Soto from Butter's BBQ in Mathis, Texas(a town with only 3 street lights). We get into his background, which included working at a refinery at age 19. We discuss the epiphany he had when he visited Franklin Barbecue in Austin, which was completely different than any BBQ he had ever had. He turned that newfound passion for BBQ into a barbecue business, building a smoker and selling out an old tax office. We go into the low(it’s been difficult to get people to understand what they were doing when they aren't used to this style of BBQ) and the highs(making the Texas Monthly Top 25 Best New BBQ Joints. I think you'll really enjoy this.We discuss his menu in depth, which borrows from his heritage and food he grew up on, as well as beef cheek barbacoa on Saturdays and Sundays.Hours: Wednesday Through Sunday - 11AM til Sold OutMathis is 1.5 hours from San Antonio and 2.5 to 3 hours to Austin.Check out Butter's on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/butters_bbqFind Butter's BBQ on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/BUTTERSBBQ

In this episode I chat with Andrew Soto from Butter's BBQ in Mathis, Texas(a town with only 3 street lights). We get into his background, which included working at a refinery at age 19. We discuss the epiphany he had when he visited Franklin Barbecue in Austin, which was completely different than any BBQ he had ever had. He turned that newfound passion for BBQ into a barbecue business, building a smoker and selling out an old tax office. We go into the low(it’s been difficult to get people to understand what they were doing when they aren't used to this style of BBQ) and the highs(making the Texas Monthly Top 25 Best New BBQ Joints. I think you'll really enjoy this.We discuss his menu in depth, which borrows from his heritage and food he grew up on, as well as beef cheek barbacoa on Saturdays and Sundays.Hours: Wednesday Through Sunday - 11AM til Sold OutMathis is 1.5 hours from San Antonio and 2.5 to 3 hours to Austin.Check out Butter's on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/butters_bbqFind Butter's BBQ on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/BUTTERSBBQ

Sign up for The Smoke Sheet at: https://www.bbqnewsletter.comFollow The Smoke Sheet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmokesheetSee The Smoke Sheet on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thesmokesheetCheck out The Smoke Sheet on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/thesmokesheet

Kevin's BBQ Joints on Twitter

Kevin's BBQ Joints on Instagram

Kevin's BBQ Joints on Facebook

In this episode I chat with Andrew Soto from Butter's BBQ in Mathis, Texas(a town with only 3 street lights). We get into his background, which included working at a refinery at age 19. We discuss the epiphany he had when he visited Franklin Barbecue in Austin, which was completely different than any BBQ he had ever had. He turned that newfound passion for BBQ into a barbecue business, building a smoker and selling out an old tax office. We go into the low(it’s been difficult to get people to understand what they were doing when they aren't used to this style of BBQ) and the highs(making the Texas Monthly Top 25 Best New BBQ Joints. I think you'll really enjoy this.We discuss his menu in depth, which borrows from his heritage and food he grew up on, as well as beef cheek barbacoa on Saturdays and Sundays.Hours: Wednesday Through Sunday - 11AM til Sold OutMathis is 1.5 hours from San Antonio and 2.5 to 3 hours to Austin.Check out Butter's on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/butters_bbqFind Butter's BBQ on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/BUTTERSBBQ

In this episode I chat with Andrew Soto from Butter's BBQ in Mathis, Texas(a town with only 3 street lights). We get into his background, which included working at a refinery at age 19. We discuss the epiphany he had when he visited Franklin Barbecue in Austin, which was completely different than any BBQ he had ever had. He turned that newfound passion for BBQ into a barbecue business, building a smoker and selling out an old tax office. We go into the low(it’s been difficult to get people to understand what they were doing when they aren't used to this style of BBQ) and the highs(making the Texas Monthly Top 25 Best New BBQ Joints. I think you'll really enjoy this.We discuss his menu in depth, which borrows from his heritage and food he grew up on, as well as beef cheek barbacoa on Saturdays and Sundays.Hours: Wednesday Through Sunday - 11AM til Sold OutMathis is 1.5 hours from San Antonio and 2.5 to 3 hours to Austin.Check out Butter's on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/butters_bbqFind Butter's BBQ on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/BUTTERSBBQ

In this episode I chat with Andrew Soto from Butter's BBQ in Mathis, Texas(a town with only 3 street lights). We get into his background, which included working at a refinery at age 19. We discuss the epiphany he had when he visited Franklin Barbecue in Austin, which was completely different than any BBQ he had ever had. He turned that newfound passion for BBQ into a barbecue business, building a smoker and selling out an old tax office. We go into the low(it’s been difficult to get people to understand what they were doing when they aren't used to this style of BBQ) and the highs(making the Texas Monthly Top 25 Best New BBQ Joints. I think you'll really enjoy this.We discuss his menu in depth, which borrows from his heritage and food he grew up on, as well as beef cheek barbacoa on Saturdays and Sundays.Hours: Wednesday Through Sunday - 11AM til Sold OutMathis is 1.5 hours from San Antonio and 2.5 to 3 hours to Austin.Check out Butter's on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/butters_bbqFind Butter's BBQ on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/BUTTERSBBQ

In this episode I chat with Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor from Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta, Georgia. Jiyeon was born in Seoul, South Korea and Cody was from Texas/Tennessee(his family was Texas ranchers and he grew up in the smokey mountains of East Tennessee). The two met in a restaurant in Atlanta and in opening Heirloom Market BBQ they were at the forefront of combining Korean ingredients with BBQ(and Texas BBQ in particular). We learn all about their journey, what it's like to share a restaurant with your spouse, and their extensive menu.See everything Heirloom Market BBQ here: https://heirloommarketbbq.comFollow Heirloom Market BBQ on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/heirloommarketbbqFind them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/heirloommarketbbqCheck out Heirloom on twitter here: https://twitter.com/heirloombbqHours:Tuesday - Thursday - 11AM - 8PMFriday - 11AM - 9PMSaturday 12PM - 9PMClosed Sundays and Mondays

Sign up for The Smoke Sheet at: https://www.bbqnewsletter.comFollow The Smoke Sheet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmokesheetSee The Smoke Sheet on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thesmokesheetCheck out The Smoke Sheet on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/thesmokesheet

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In this interview I chat with Andrew Hill from Embers Barbecue in Lubbock, Texas about his challenging road to their current location in Charles Adams Studio Project (https://www.instagram.com/casp_lbk/) in Lubbock, Texas. We discuss his time at Bigham's Smokehouse where he assumed he knew barbecue, to trying out cooking a Central Texas style brisket, to his epic BBQ fail trying to sell chopped beef sandwiches, to the crazy journey to opening in Levelland. That initial success and eventual downturn in business taught he and Jewel a lot of business and life lessons. It's a great story where I think you'll learn much about what it's like going into the BBQ business in an area not familiar with Central Texas style barbecue.Here's a map to the location: http://bit.ly/2M4OrYOSee all things Embers Barbecue here: https://www.realtexasgrit.comFollow Embers Barbecue on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/embersbarbecueCheck out Embers Barbecue on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/embersbarbecueSee them on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/EmbersBarbecue

Sign up for The Smoke Sheet at: https://www.bbqnewsletter.comFollow The Smoke Sheet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmokesheetSee The Smoke Sheet on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thesmokesheetCheck out The Smoke Sheet on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/thesmokesheet

Kevin's BBQ Joints on Twitter

Kevin's BBQ Joints on Instagram

Kevin's BBQ Joints on Facebook