Matthew Register takes us 94 and ½ feet down Warren Street for the latest news from Southern Smoke BBQ and South Catering of N.C. Find out what’s on the horizon for the business, get a glimpse into the Southern Smoke roots, and learn more about what motivates Matthew Register to keep pouring barbecue love into his Eastern North Carolina community. Listen today to discover which barbecue bite Matthew and Southern Smoke BBQ will bring to the Carolina BBQ Festival in Charlotte – and why they made the unique selection! Don’t miss your chance to meet the pitmaster in our podcast – then taste his special entrée at this year’s festival April 4-5 in Victoria Yards!

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This episode was made possible by our sponsor Cranford Brothers BBQ in Hickory, NC! Have you been to Cranford Brothers Barbecue yet? Every day Cranford Brothers Barbecue serves the best smoked meats, sides, sandwiches, and craft beer – all produced on-site in downtown Hickory, North Carolina. Visit Cranford Brothers Barbecue today for lunch or dinner and find out everything that’s happening at the historic Old Pawn Shop - the home of Cranford Brothers Barbecue, City Walk Brewing Company, and the great new breakfast spot, Main Chick Jammin Biscuits. Be sure to call Cranford Brothers Barbecue to cater your next gameday get-together or special event. Your guests will always remember the best barbecue bites they get from Cranford Brothers Barbecue. Visit CranfordBros.com to learn more or plan your visit today.

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Sam Jones BBQ’s pitmaster and business leader Michael Letchworth shares the story of his barbecue journey. From an early start working the pits at Skylight Inn to his current role leading the Sam Jones BBQ business alongside Sam, who carries on the Carolina barbecue legacy started by his grandfather Pete Jones. Don’t miss Michael’s perspective on a life spent in the barbecue business and what motivates him away from the pits. Listen to find out what the Sam Jones BBQ team will bring to the Carolina BBQ Festival in Charlotte (spoiler alert: it is exactly what you expect.)

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Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue reveals big news about his first brick-and-mortar location and his first time participating in the Carolina BBQ Festival for the first time April 4-5, at Victoria Yards in Charlotte. Find out details about this year’s BBQ Festival and why you want to attend. Listen to learn more about how Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue continues to serve western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene, while expanding his own business opportunities. 

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The Low & Slow Barbecue Show reveals the Carolina BBQ Festival Pitmasters for 2025. Listen today and find out who will serve their best barbecue bites at the festival April 4-5. Get a hint of what they’ve brought in the past. Lexington Barbecue’s Nathan Monk, City Limits BBQ’s Robbie Robinson, Southern Smoke’s Matthew Register, and Bryan Furman lead the line-up. Get festival details and where you can buy tickets. Be sure to visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show to hear the pitmasters share their stories in their own words. 

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Hickory Barbecue is in the spotlight as The Low & Slow Barbecue Show welcomes the beer aficionados from 3 Beers Down for the first-ever Hickory Holiday Meat Crawl! We taste and rate pulled pork from 6 Hickory barbecue restaurants that top the list for the “best” according to Hickory Metro social media channels and keyboard warriors. And choosing a winner is no easy task for the judges sampling smoked meat from Anywhere’z Fine, JD’s Smokehouse, Hugh’s Q, Cranford Brothers, The BBQ Pit, and Apple City BBQ. Listen for the food reviews and the decisions on which Hickory barbecue reigns supreme – at least when it comes to pulled pork. Don’t miss the winter beer recommendations from 3 Beers Down, especially the Cold Mountain 2024 release from Highland Brewing Company. From favorite holiday foods to the things we skip at the dinner table, this episode pairs perfectly with your holiday festivities.

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1976 Barbecue Pitmaster Gus the Butcher shares his tips for turkey just in time for Thanksgiving … or Christmas! Listen to the Thanksgiving Day episode of the Low & Slow Barbecue show to hear a few favorite traditions and memories from host Chigger Willard and Gus the Butcher, who also shares advice for future meals of smoked meat. Find out why Gus the Butcher started 1976 Barbecue, where he serves, and how you can bring his great barbecue to your home or business. What does it take to be a master charcutier? Gus knows. Don’t miss the details about the 1976 Barbecue traveling live fire smoking rig.

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The calendar year is winding down, but there’s still big barbecue news and events happening around the Carolinas. In this episode of The Low & Slow Barbecue Show we hit a few highlights, including Prime BBQ pitmaster Chris Prieto’s new venture in Durham. We talk about some of our favorite barbecue places in the media spotlight and celebrate the effort by Hickory Soup Kitchen and Operation BBQ Relief to feed more than 200 families in Hickory, NC. And with a big new barbecue business in town – we talk a little bit about Jim N’ Nick’s, but we visited a local favorite and share the review of Hugh’s Q.

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The Carolina climate is getting cooler but things are heating up for the Carolina BBQ Festival in 2025. The Low & Slow Barbecue Show is serving the details as well as an update on a new barbecue business in Hickory and Hurricane Helene Relief efforts. Find out about a great fall recipe for collard green chowder from Southern Smoke BBQ Pitmaster Matthew Register. Don’t miss the listener shout-out and reader mail! 

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Barbecue reviews are on the menu as well as some of the top news stories on the barbecue beat. Low & Slow Barbecue Show Host Chigger Willard reviews recent visits to Little Pig’s Barbecue in Newton, N.C., and Cranford Brothers Barbecue in Hickory. Listen to find out about the big event Cranford is hosting to benefit N.C. hospitality industry workers affected by Hurricane Helene. Get the latest update on devastating fires at historic barbecue joints as well as the upcoming barbecue events that need to be on your radar. 

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Ben’s Backdraft BBQ Pitmaster Ben Hooper returns to The Low & Slow Barbecue Show to share his story about Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. As a member of the fire service, Ben tells of days spent working swift water rescues and evacuations while wondering about the safety of his own family and his barbecue business.

Follow Ben’s journey after the storm when he went from serving as a first responder to working as a pitmaster feeding families, utility linemen, hospital workers, and other first responders, largely thanks to his own generosity and that of others in the barbecue community. Don’t miss this conversation that promises to give renewed hope in humanity through the stories of neighbors helping neighbors continue to survive. 

Listen to find out how you can support Ben’s Backdraft BBQ, find him at barbecue festivals in WNC towns begging for tourists, or learn which charities he believes are doing the most good in North Carolina. Venmo financial support to @Ben-Hooper-0.

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