The Pitmaster's Podcast

Lee Coronado, raised in Perryton, Texas, has always had a passion for experimenting with flavors. As a child, he would mix different sauces and condiments from the fridge together to create unique taste combinations, showcasing his natural curiosity in the kitchen. Lee's journey into the world of barbecue began when his good friend Matt Yara built an Ugly Drum Smoker. After trying the BBQ Matt cooked on it, Lee was hooked. Inspired by the flavors, he decided to build his own smoker and dive deeper into the art of grilling. That decision sparked his love for barbecue, eventually leading him to compete in SCA, CBA,KCBS, IBCA events. In his very first BBQ competition, he walked away with the Grand Champion title, and from that moment, he was fully committed to the craft! Today, Lee is the creator of Meat Hammer Rubs, offering a line of award-winning seasonings, including Meat Hammer All Purpose (1st place winner in the NBBQA poultry category in 2024), designed to elevate the flavor of any dish. His rubs are made with high-quality ingredients, never cutting corners when it comes to flavor, ensuring each product delivers the perfect balance of spice and taste. His products have become a favorite among grilling enthusiasts, backyard cooks, restaurateurs, and chefs alike. Lee continues to share his passion for barbecue, from his home base in Amarillo to pitmasters, cooks and food lovers across the country.

Blake lived in Brazil, where he fell in love with churrasco - not just the incredible food but the way it brought people together, connecting them through fire and flavor. When he returned to the U.S., he wanted to bring that tradition home. But nothing quite captured the essence of Brazilian barbecue - so he built it. Bacana makes it easy to bring the flavor and energy of Brazilian churrasco to any backyard. The multiple rotating skewers let you cook everything from picanha to chicken, sausage, and veggies - effortlessly delivering results. Whether it's a weeknight dinner or a big cookout with friends, Bacana isn't just great food - it's a show they'll remember.

Today we are talking about the new Traeger Woodridge pellet smoker.

Phil has competed in over 300 sanctioned competitions (350 to be exact) including IBCA, KCBS, BCA, and LSBS to date. Phil currently has 90 Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion wins combined, with over 300k Career Earnings. ​Phil grew up In Sour Lake, Texas, his love for food started at a young age, and sports fueled his competitive drive to be the best. He now resides in Bandera Texas with his wife Carmen and their four children. Phil's first competition was in January of 2015…Hardin County Go Texan in Silsbee, TX. The cookoff had 19 teams and they only called top 3 places in each meat. Phil remembers "I sat on my butt through chicken, then ribs, then brisket until they got to 1st place…Boom! I was hooked." Now borderline obsessed with the sport of competition barbecue he was constantly mixing up new concoctions to get an edge. That's when Fowl Play was born. Phil went through many versions starting in 2016 until perfection was reached and he launched LC BBQ Fowl Play in 2018. This same method is still in place, He perfects each recipe and tests them in real competitions until the results let him know it's a winner. Play Bull debuted later in 2018, with Bosshog and Angry Bull to follow in 2019.

Rooster and Greybeard are back to help us plan the perfect Valentine's Day!

We are excited to announce that we will be conducting a blind tasting of various BBQ rubs to determine the winner of the 2025 BBQ Rub competition. This event will feature a diverse selection of rubs, some of which will be tasted live during the events. Join us for this thrilling experience as we uncover exceptional flavors, ultimately crowning the champion of BBQ rubs. Don't miss out on the chance to witness this epic showdown and find out which rub will crowned Champ!

Self-sufficiency and discipline are hallmarks of Johnson's persona, ingrained early in his life by his hard-working and devoted parents. Growing up a "latchkey kid" while his parents worked, Johnson learned to cook and take care of himself, while navigating the streets of Manhattan on his own. His parents' hard work paid off, and they moved their family to Wyandach, a suburb on Long Island, known equally for its less-than-stellar public schools and the exceptional artists and athletes it turned out. At times tempted to rebel, Johnson was set straight both by his parents, and his elders in the neighborhood, who took it upon themselves to keep an eye on the neighborhood kids.

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After graduating high school, Johnson embarked on a college career at the University of Connecticut. He soon began to see his college classmates graduating and returning home to their parents. For Johnson, this was an unacceptable and unfathomable future, and during his second year of college, he altered course. It was a pivotal decision for the young man, and one that would shape the rest of his adult life. Relocating to New Jersey, Johnson began working in the custom furniture business, a trade he'd learned in his teen years from an uncle. Over the next few years, Johnson honed his craft and at 27, began his own custom furniture business, living in New Jersey and working in Manhattan. It was during this time that he began to cultivate a passion for cooking. He began to consider a future in the catering industry.

I am a husband, father and bbq athlete! I started doing competition cooking in 2020 and have been hooked ever since. I mainly participate in SCA events, but also compete in backyard and KCBS competitions when the opportunity arises. I just came off my best season overall where I was able to secure the Grand Champion title for both ancillaries and ribs in the BBQ Pitstop steak championship series for Utah and finished 4th place in steak.