The Low & Slow Barbecue Show

If you’re heading to the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, get ready to experience why Master Blend Family Farms is one of the most talked‑about names in North Carolina barbecue. Pitmaster and president Ronald “Mr. 365” Simmons returns to The Low & Slow Barbecue Show to talk about how his business is evolving into weekly food truck operations. Revisit the roots of Master Blend Family Farms and find out how the company is supplying top restaurants, selling premium pork online, and introducing more people to the brand. Find out how Ron got involved with the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival and how his North Carolina produced pork will be involved in this year’s event.

This episode sponsored by Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 coming Labor Day Weekend Aug. 29-31, in the Village of Pinehurst. 3 days, 5 signature events, concluding with 7 N.C. pitmasters serving meats & sides in the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational. Buy tickets online today and enter the giveaway for a LIFETIME PASS.

Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

Old Colony Smokehouse Pitmaster Adam Hughes reveals the barbecue experience at his Edenton, NC, business. Find out how he evolved from barbecue competitions to the restaurant business, and how his current menu items compare with the world championship barbecue bites he produced for judges. Learn about the Old Colony Smokehouse sauces and what differentiates Old Colony Smokehouse from other Carolina barbecue options. Adam Hughes shares how he’s applying three generations of family hog farming and butchery into his modern-day Southern Culinary Revival. Don’t miss the Old Colony Smokehouse pitmaster’s advice for making great sausage – just like his grandmother did. Listen and get the details on Adam Hughes’ menu item for the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival and what he enjoys about participating in the annual event.

This episode sponsored by Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 coming Labor Day Weekend Aug. 29-31 in the Village of Pinehurst. 3 days, 5 signature events, concluding with 7 N.C. pitmasters serving meats & sides in the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational. Buy tickets online today and enter the giveaway for a LIFETIME PASS.

Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

Christopher Prieto shares the latest news from Prime STQ, his new steak and barbecue concept slated to launch by early 2026. Find out about his plans for the menu, the progress on the project at Boxyard RTP, and what will differentiate Prime STQ from his other ventures. Listen to this episode of The Low & Slow Barbecue Show, and you’ll also hear Christopher Prieto describe the experience at Prime Barbecue and the roots behind his restaurant in Knightdale. Find out how his faith and family set a firm foundation for a non-stop approach to barbecue that keeps him opening the door at the shop and shaking hands with barbecue lovers every day. Don’t miss his motivation for joining the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, the strategy for the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational and his overview of the Q School Grilling Class. Also in this episode: Christopher Prieto’s overlooked tip for the backyard pitmaster.

This episode sponsored by Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 coming Labor Day Weekend Aug. 29-31 in the Village of Pinehurst. 3 days, 5 signature events, concluding with 7 N.C. pitmasters serving meats & sides in the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational. Buy tickets online today and enter the giveaway for a LIFETIME PASS.

Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 features 3 days of events and the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational and has quickly become one of the Carolinas’ premier barbecue events. Andrew Stilwell gives us a behind-the-scenes look at this year’s barbecue festival event Aug. 29-31, the participating pitmasters, the diverse menus of food options, and a chance to win a lifetime ticket to the festival. Get the history of the festival, how it started in the Village of Pinehurst, and breaking news about the second-annual Smithfield Cup between North Carolina and South Carolina pitmasters. Listen to this episode for the details on Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 and where you can get tickets for the one-of-a-kind festival over Labor Day Weekend.

This episode sponsored by Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 coming Labor Day Weekend Aug. 29-31 in the Village of Pinehurst. 3 days, 5 signature events, concluding with 7 N.C. pitmasters serving meats & sides in the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational. Buy tickets online today and enter the giveaway for a LIFETIME PASS.

Visit the Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

Dampf Good BBQ Founder Nick Dampf went from being a brisket first-timer with a backyard smoker to North Carolina’s best brisket bite according to Texas Monthly. He shares the Dampf Good BBQ story and his tips to help you cook the best brisket in your own backyard. Don’t miss the news from Dampf Good BBQ about an expansion in the business (and the Dampf family). Listen to this episode of The Low and Slow Barbecue Show and get the scoop on the plans for a 3,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar coming soon. Find out how Dampf Good BBQ is different from other Texas barbecue in North Carolina and the faith that keeps Nick Dampf’s fire burning.

This episode is brought to you by our friends at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival. Learn more about the festival here!

Visit the Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

Golden Rule BBQ is America’s oldest, longest-running barbecue restaurant with a history dating back to 1891. In this episode of The Low & Slow Barbecue Show we learn the story of Golden Rule and its 135-year-old tradition of pork barbecue sandwiches. Golden Rule’s Daniel Harp takes us through the bankruptcy that nearly ended the storied barbecue business, how new owners rescued the famous brand, and what is on the horizon for the future. Listen and discover what you can expect from a visit to Golden Rule BBQ and what sets this business in Irondale, Alabama apart from the rest of the barbecue in the region – and the U.S.

This episode is brought to you by our friends at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival. Learn more about the festival here!

Visit the Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

What are the four main styles of barbecue? Food writer Andre James shares his Mount Rushmore of BBQ, as well as his favorite stops for barbecue in Chattanooga, Myrtle Beach, and his hometown of Southport, N.C. Find out how Andre James turned time spent in the food and beverage industry into a career in food journalism and how his adventure has combined travel with journalism to highlight the best bites around the South. Read more of Andre’s opinions on the BBQ Mount Rushmore here, and don’t miss his 10 top BBQ Joints in Chattanooga reporting here.

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Barbecue news updates around the Carolinas in Summer 2025 include updates on a James Beard Award Finalist, 2025 North Carolina BBQ Hall of Fame Inductees, Operation BBQ Relief Volunteer Awards, State Whole Hog Championships, and the South Carolina Connection to SmokeSlam 2025. Listen to this episode for the Summer 2025 barbecue news recap from The Lowdown, our weekly barbecue newsletter. You’ll find out about upcoming barbecue events, barbecue business news, and the food trucks we’re following around the Carolinas. Have news, events, or barbecue food truck schedules to share? Email the Lowdown at [email protected]

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N.C. Whole Hog State Champion Kevin Peterson joins the Low & Slow Barbecue Show to reveal tips for preparing the best whole hog barbecue. The pitmaster behind Showtime’s Legit BBQ details his whole hog process from start to finish and shares insights into his husband-and-wife barbecue team. Get the backstory on Showtime’s Legit BBQ and its success and find out how Kevin Peterson started smoking barbecue low and slow in Eastern North Carolina.

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Carolina BBQ Festival 2026 marks its fifth anniversary, and organizers from Sweet Lew’s BBQ and Let’s Meet CLT reveal what’s working, what’s not, and what folks can expect for April 17-18, 2026. Find out how festival events throughout the year are bringing a greater spotlight to Charlotte, the Carolina barbecue scene, and small businesses throughout the region. Lewis “Sweet Lew” Donald and Erin Hunter from Let’s Meet CLT talk about how they started the Carolina BBQ Festival and why BBQ for a Cause is motivating bigger and better things every year. Don’t miss Sweet Lew’s wish list for future barbecue menu items and festival events. You’ll also hear perspectives on the food and events scene in Charlotte and how barbecue fits in.

Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!