Smoke Ring Syndicate

We got to sit down with Nate Shaffer and chat about his BBQ restaurant. From Wiley McCrary founder of Wiley’s Championship Barbecue. He started with catering back inn the early 80s. Transitioning into competitive bbq. Winning countless awards and trophy’s. In 2005 Wiley, along with Janet his wife, fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved to Savannah, GA to make it their home and create a new business, their restaurant Wiley's Championship BBQ opening September 12, 2008. Fast forward to 2019 new owners Nate and Melinda Shaffer took over the reins from Wiley McCrary. After learning the business directly. Today, Nate and Melinda continue to rack up accolades and awards of a different kind, TV and internet awards; with highlights on Canadian Food Networks Big Food Bucket List and YouTube sensation Jolly with over 2.7 million view "Brits try BBQ for the First Time" with MasterChef Noah Simms sampling BBQ. It’s a hard life running a restaurant but Nate and his crew do it in stride and make it look easy.

Hold your Horses, you can’t rush perfection… With that we aren’t editing this episode; we’re just happy to be back with podcast episodes in general!

Cary Chasteen joins us for a competition bbq lifestyle. How 40 plus weeks on the road doing competitive bbq might wear you out. Kitty even be considered work for some folks… Cary grew up with the typical Sunday supper around the table and hog harvest time was a block pit feeding friends and neighbors. The competition world was introduced in the 2014-15 year range and quickly became something to chase, for Cary. Who himself now teaches bbq classes for both the competition world and the backyard bbq world. He attended several classes to cut the learning curve by years. Since then Cary has walked across many stages often and last plenty of times. Earning his way into all the big league competitions like The Jack, The Royal, MIM & plenty of other stages. All of which accomplished dragging his own wagon adorned in Hold Your Horses lettering, no coattail competitions for him. You can imagine a rigorous schedule like this doesn’t lend freetime easily, but loving the bbq lifestyle means teaching classes for the novice and the competitive side too.

Chef John Pannell stops by the Smoke Ring Syndicate for this weeks podcast episode. I’ve been patiently awaiting our schedules to align since our cook together for comedian Burt Kreischer’s tour with leading men and women of comedy. Even adding Jelly Roll to the list of recipients of the food. This week we dove into his early years peeling potatoes as a “sous chef” to his mother, and assisting his dad on the grill. John found his personal passion early in life with food. Working his way through restaurants eventually under a great French chef who encouraged him to take the next step into becoming a chef. Fresh out of Le Cordon Bleu he worked in nearly every world cuisine’s kitchens. Eventually landing back in Ga & with his business partner in tow they created a restaurant that captured the attention of local entrepreneur and fan of a great Philly cheese steak, Ray Carnes. Ray co-owns Recteq grills and frequently enjoyed Chef John’s creations. Even requesting to meet the chef to praise his work in food as a foodie himself. When the grill company announced they were looking for personality for their social media Chef John threw his hat in the ring. Unbeknown I him they had history in John’s restaurant, so Ray knew having that steak sandwich sculptor on staff was a great idea. Beginning as a part time endeavor Ray soon realized it wise to have such a majestic show pony for the grill company and captured Chef John. Building recipes around the grills, on air personality, cooking for celebrities, news casts and even movie sets and shows Chef John grew. His personal brand as well as the grill company’s chef de cuisine personality stroll hand in hand as the same food expert person. Authenticity is huge in Food based social media and his work on both his personal and Recteq content is seamless in the content space, allowing Chef/Pitmaster John to grow both. An important aspect if you’re going to be saddled with a branded saddle, you need to be the brand, or good with being the brands idea, or be with a company that allows you to be you on all fronts. Which lucky for Chef is option 3 with Recteq. Fresh off a TV program cook, gearing up for out of state cooking for the likes of Warren Sapp maybe even Coach Prime out in Colorado this fall. Chef John is living a dream many in the content creation world have aspirations for with the high caliber team in the folks at Recteq. Videography sound folks, marketing professionals and so much more for bouncing ideas tasting recipes and generally pushing the love of bbq to the world, what it’s all about. We could definitely do another hour or more but you just pulled up to your destination and it’s time to go to work.

83: Pearls in bbq.

Tina Cannon, a 29+ year veteran of the kitchen and bbq joins us at the pit. Checking boxes for food skills and techniques has been what drove her to learn as much as she could about bbq. From making charcoal in her upcoming whole hog block pit bbq class to making plates of perfection for the World Food Championship events. Unshakable. This ms has been on five different TV programs leading the way for herself to victory in some cases and lessons in others. All e-bike rocking a set of pearls as only Tina Cannon can, with a splash of bbq sauce likely. Catch her here in Atlanta Ga at one of her many upcoming events and classes. TinaCannonCooks.com

If you can’t come to Ga to learn you can at least experience her flavor with one of her 5 rubs & spice blends, or her Fresno chili pepper sauce, eat your heart out Bobby Flay…

The Smoke Ring Syndicate Podcast is bringing it this week for an exciting episode featuring renowned BBQ content creators; Kunchi Lattore of Cookin Wid Kunchi, Duce Raymond of Duces Wild, Sweet Baby Rays restaurant & catering, as well as bbq marketing whizz, Nick Paraons of ForgeFire Creative. With their collective following of around 1 million fans, this trio brings a wealth of experience to the table, offering valuable insights into the world of BBQ content creation. Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster or just beginning your grilling journey, they will share valuable tips and tricks on how to elevate your grilling game while effectively engaging your audience. As well as pitfalls not discussed elsewhere.

Throughout the episode, listeners will discover new techniques for crafting BBQ capturing stunning visuals, and building a loyal community of BBQ lovers. Kunchi, Nick, and Duce dive into their personal journeys and the lessons they’ve learned along the way, providing inspiration for anyone looking to enhance their BBQ skills or expand their online presence. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about outdoor cooking, so tune in to ignite your passion for BBQ content and take your grilling game to new heights. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from some of the best in the BBQ business!

Pizza, BBQ, and Competition: A Slice of Culinary Innovation with Jerry Belcastro.

Welcome back to the Smoke Ring Syndicate podcast, where we explore the delicious world of BBQ and all things culinary! This week, we have a special guest who’s on a mission to combine the popular food of pizza into an exciting competition. Join us as we welcome Jerry Belcastro, the visionary founder of the Pizza Cook-Off Association! With Jerry’s Journey into Food Competitions, from his roots in BBQ judging, he’s developed a keen palate and an appreciation for the intricacies of flavor. We discussed how his passion for BBQ intersected with his love for pizza, igniting the spark for the Pizza Cook-Off Association. Tune in as Jerry shares the pivotal moments that led him to create this unique competition. Birth of the Pizza Cook-Off Association: Jerry takes us behind the scenes of the Pizza Cook-Off Association. We’ll learn about the inspiration behind this innovative concept and how he’s working to bring pizza lovers and chefs together through friendly competition. We'll discuss what makes a great pizza and how the judging process works, giving our listeners insight into what to expect at these competitions. Jerry shares his vision for the association, we’ll explore the challenges he faces in the early years of establishing this new food competition. Discover how he is fostering a community of pizza enthusiasts and creating unforgettable experiences through his events. We’ll also touch on the importance of connecting with local pizzerias and BBQ aficionados to enhance the competition's reach. Future Events and What’s Next: Jerry gives us a sneak peek into upcoming events and what participants can look forward to. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook, there’s a place for you at the Pizza Cook-Off! We’ll discuss how listeners can get involved and support this burgeoning competition, as well as the delicious potential it holds for the future of food.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of the Smoke Ring Syndicate podcast! We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Jerry Belcastro and feel inspired to embrace your own culinary passions. Don’t forget to check out the Pizza Cook-Off Association at www.pizzacook-off.com for more information on events and how to participate. Until next time, keep your grills & smokers rolling!