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From The Courtroom To BBQ Pitmaster: Erica Blair's Leap From Law To Barbeque Fame
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A not-guilty verdict, a porch, an owl sweatshirt, and a smoker...Erica Blair’s @bluesmokebbq journey from Miami criminal defense attorney to sommelier to award-winning pitmaster is anything but predictable.
Erica Blaire Roby is one of the country’s leading Black female pitmasters, an award-winning artist in the field of barbecue. However, being an acclaimed pitmaster is only one of her many accomplishments: Erica is also an attorney, a level-2 Certified Sommelier, a United States Navy wife, and a mother.
We sat down with Erica at World Food Championships 2025 in Indianapolis and traced the sharp turns that shaped her voice, palate, and competitive edge, from court trials to culinary exams and a pandemic that turned a backyard pit into a lifeline. Trust us, you will laugh... a lot!
Erica opens up about the final trial that changed everything, the precise moment she knew she had to walk away, and the uneasy quiet that followed.
When a blunt reminder - You’re in charge of your own happiness - cut through the fog, she chased sommelier credentials in California, passed certification under pressure, and rebuilt a career inside hotels and restaurants. Then the world shut down. A newborn at home, a rental pit, and Instagram brought her to a barbecue community that judged with kindness and competed with fire.
Then, Food Network came calling, and a hotel quarantine turned into a nationally televised win that launched a new chapter in her life after winning Food Network's BBQ Brawl.
We dig into the tactics of what it really takes to win: the balance of smoke, fat, salt, and crucial acidity that stamps a bite into memory. Erica shares how competition sharpened her instincts, why pickles matter, when citrus lifts heavy meats, and how “grandma good” beats fussy plating. Along the way, we laugh about her crazy missteps, celebrate the podiums at Memphis in May and South by Southwest, and spotlight a host who now brings big-stage energy to World Food Championships and beyond!
If you’ve ever felt stuck or wondered whether it’s too late to pivot, this story cooks up proof that pressure can be fuel. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review with your favorite barbecue tip or secret weapon below!
Follow and support Erica on her amazing journey and her crazy farm antics:
IG - https://www.instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire
Welcome to the show! Burnt Hands Perspective
Support the show
VIRTUAL TIP JAR: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2388325/support
CONTACT US:
www.burnthandsperspective.com
[email protected]
IG @Theburnthandsperspective
Thank you to our location sponsor, Luce Secondo, located in Summit Pointe in Chesapeake, VA www.lucesecondo.com
For sponsorship opportunities, don't hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
*The views and opinions on this show are meant for entertainment purposes only. They do not reflect the views of our sponsors. We are not here to babysit your feelings, if you are a true industry pro, you will know that what we say is meant to make you laugh and have a great time. If you don't get that, this is not the podcast for you. You've been warned. Enjoy the ride!
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By Antonio Caruana and Kristen CrowleySend us a text
A not-guilty verdict, a porch, an owl sweatshirt, and a smoker...Erica Blair’s @bluesmokebbq journey from Miami criminal defense attorney to sommelier to award-winning pitmaster is anything but predictable.
Erica Blaire Roby is one of the country’s leading Black female pitmasters, an award-winning artist in the field of barbecue. However, being an acclaimed pitmaster is only one of her many accomplishments: Erica is also an attorney, a level-2 Certified Sommelier, a United States Navy wife, and a mother.
We sat down with Erica at World Food Championships 2025 in Indianapolis and traced the sharp turns that shaped her voice, palate, and competitive edge, from court trials to culinary exams and a pandemic that turned a backyard pit into a lifeline. Trust us, you will laugh... a lot!
Erica opens up about the final trial that changed everything, the precise moment she knew she had to walk away, and the uneasy quiet that followed.
When a blunt reminder - You’re in charge of your own happiness - cut through the fog, she chased sommelier credentials in California, passed certification under pressure, and rebuilt a career inside hotels and restaurants. Then the world shut down. A newborn at home, a rental pit, and Instagram brought her to a barbecue community that judged with kindness and competed with fire.
Then, Food Network came calling, and a hotel quarantine turned into a nationally televised win that launched a new chapter in her life after winning Food Network's BBQ Brawl.
We dig into the tactics of what it really takes to win: the balance of smoke, fat, salt, and crucial acidity that stamps a bite into memory. Erica shares how competition sharpened her instincts, why pickles matter, when citrus lifts heavy meats, and how “grandma good” beats fussy plating. Along the way, we laugh about her crazy missteps, celebrate the podiums at Memphis in May and South by Southwest, and spotlight a host who now brings big-stage energy to World Food Championships and beyond!
If you’ve ever felt stuck or wondered whether it’s too late to pivot, this story cooks up proof that pressure can be fuel. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review with your favorite barbecue tip or secret weapon below!
Follow and support Erica on her amazing journey and her crazy farm antics:
IG - https://www.instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire
Welcome to the show! Burnt Hands Perspective
Support the show
VIRTUAL TIP JAR: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2388325/support
CONTACT US:
www.burnthandsperspective.com
[email protected]
IG @Theburnthandsperspective
Thank you to our location sponsor, Luce Secondo, located in Summit Pointe in Chesapeake, VA www.lucesecondo.com
For sponsorship opportunities, don't hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
*The views and opinions on this show are meant for entertainment purposes only. They do not reflect the views of our sponsors. We are not here to babysit your feelings, if you are a true industry pro, you will know that what we say is meant to make you laugh and have a great time. If you don't get that, this is not the podcast for you. You've been warned. Enjoy the ride!