PITMASTERS
The cooks, builders and community leaders keeping barbecue culture moving.
PITMASTERS
8 published items
Memphis Barbecue Is Not All Sauce: Dry-Rub Ribs Are Part of the City’s Identity
Memphis barbecue includes both sauce and dry-rub traditions, with paprika-forward spice blends and iconic dry ribs helping define the city’s barbecue identity.
Entry-Level Pitmasters Get a Shot at Memphis in May Through the Carriage Crossing Cookout
The Carriage Crossing Cookout is designed for entry-level pitmasters, with a grand prize that includes paid entry into the 2027 Memphis in May Patio Porkers division or a cash alternative.
Kansas City Is Now Missouri’s Official State Barbecue Capital
Missouri formally designated Kansas City as the state barbecue capital in 2026. The move recognizes a barbecue tradition that grew from Henry Perry, the stockyards era and a restaurant culture that now spans more than 100 barbecue stops.
North Carolina Barbecue Is Really Two Traditions on One Map
North Carolina barbecue has two major regional traditions: Eastern whole hog with vinegar-pepper sauce and Lexington-style pork shoulder with tomato-tinged dip and red slaw.
KCBS Competition Barbecue Is Built Around Four Main Meats
KCBS Master Series teams compete in chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder and brisket, with each meat contributing to category results and the overall standings.
Why Lockhart Became the Barbecue Capital of Texas
Lockhart’s barbecue identity comes from generations of Central Texas smokehouse tradition, including family-run institutions and a 1999 state designation as the Barbecue Capital of Texas.
Sorry, Can't. I'm Smoking Meat.
Official Pit Culture merchandise from Texas Thread Theory, built for people who live for fire, smoke and low-and-slow weekends.
How Memphis in May Barbecue Judging Works Behind the Smoke
The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest uses trained judges and multiple judging formats. Here is what fans and aspiring competitors should understand about the process.
Barbacoa Belongs in the Texas Barbecue Family Tree
Texas barbecue is bigger than brisket. Barbacoa connects older pit-cooking traditions, Mexican influence, and the modern smokehouses reshaping the state’s barbecue identity.