Congratulations to Burnt Bean Co. on being selected as the number 1 BBQ joint in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine! We sat down with Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland to talk about their quest for this title and the sacrifices they made to reach the top. This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. BBQ Distro is the home to the best sauces, seasonings, and rubs in all of Texas. No need to wait in line to get a taste of Goldees or Snows. You can make it at home thanks to BBQ Distro. Go to http://bbqd...
May 27, 2025•52 min•Season 6Ep. 221
This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. BBQ Distro is the home to the best sauces, seasonings, and rubs in all of Texas. No need to wait in line to get a taste of Goldees or Snows. You can make it at home thanks to BBQ Distro. Go to http://bbqdistro.com and use promo code tales10 at checkout for a 10% discount on your order! And keep watching our social channels for the epic Top 50 List livestream brought to you by BBQ Distro. We’ll be joined by great guests on May 27th when the big list goes l...
May 19, 2025•56 min•Season 6Ep. 220
This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to http://bbqdistro.com/top10 and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweepstakes! Must be at least 18 years of age and a Texas resident to enter, go to http://bbqdistro.com/top1...
May 12, 2025•50 min•Season 6Ep. 219
This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to http://bbqdistro.com/top10 and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweepstakes! Must be at least 18 years of age to enter, go to http://bbqdistro.com/top10 for full rules and ...
May 05, 2025•34 min•Season 6Ep. 218
This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to http://bbqdistro.com/top10 and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweepstakes! Must be at least 18 years of age and a Texas resident to enter, go to http://bbqdistro.com/top1...
Apr 28, 2025•54 min•Season 6Ep. 217
This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to http://bbqdistro.com/top10 and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweepstakes! Must be at least 18 years of age and a Texas resident to enter, go to http://bbqdistro.com/top1...
Apr 21, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 216
This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to http://bbqdistro.com/top10 and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweepstakes! Must be at least 18 years of age and a Texas resident to enter, go to http://bbqdistro.com/top1...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 215
Click for tickets! In the summer of 2010 Jeff Jones, Matthew Wallis, Matthew Johnson and Brandon Gonzales set out to make a documentary titled For the Love of Meat about Texas barbecue. Little did they know what an incredible time capsule it would become to film some of the top pitmasters of that time such as Joe Capello, Roy Perez, John Fullilove, Tootsie Tomanetz and others. Additionally the crew was there shortly after Wayne Mueller had taken the reigns at Louie Mueller and only a few months ...
Jan 27, 2025•27 min•Season 6Ep. 214
We reflect on our year of food and travel from 2024 as well as memorable moments from ten years of BBQ road tripping together
Dec 30, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 213
The Nevarez family recently celebrated five years of their business, LaVaca BBQ. This family owned restaurants helmed by parents Lupe and Christine and daughter Kelli produces a large menu of high quality options in a region of Texas that was lacking in modern options. With standout items such as their smoked tamales and an impressive roster of desserts, LaVaca BBQ should be on your road trip list. Instagram: mylavacabbq web: www.lavacabbq.com Port Lavaca 532 N Virginia St, Port Lavaca, Texas, 7...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 212
The spotlight on Texas BBQ has never been brighter, and 2025 will bring the newest edition of the Texas Monthly Top 50 list. Our thoughts on the recent Michelin news, the upcoming new Texas Monthly BBQ list, and more.
Dec 09, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 211
One of the many great aspects of the newly minted Michelin starred restaurant LeRoy and Lewis is Evan and Sawyer’s cultivation of a strong team. That is no more apparent than with staff members Cole Parkman and Kasey Durham. Cole and Kasey might work in one of the most innovative BBQ places, but their passion for classic Texas barbecue runs deep. We caught up with them on the eve of the old school BBQ pop up they put together at LeRoy and Lewis last summer to talk all things barbecue old and new...
Dec 02, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 210
In this episode we do something we’ve never done: interview each other. We chose ten random questions to ask one another with neither of us having any indication as to what the questions would be before recording. This is a fun one that goes off on some tangents and includes a challenge we hope Daniel Vaughn takes us up on!
Sep 16, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Season 5Ep. 209
We’ve been asked what excites us to keep exploring barbecue after all these years. It’s not a simple question to answer because it’s evolved during our over decade long obsessions with barbecue. In this episode we go a bit down the rabbit hole of trying to explain what originally excited us, what interests us today, and how that has changed throughout our journey.
Jul 29, 2024•43 min•Season 5Ep. 208
There may be no more majestic setting to cook barbecue than along the Columbia River Gorge in Hood River, Oregon. It is here that Brendon, Drew and Sam put down roots for their business, Grasslands Barbecue. Serving up superb smoked meats and seasonal scratch made sides, this trio is producing some of the best Texas influenced barbecue you’re likely to find not just outside of the Lone Star State, but the quality they’re providing would stand up against some of the best in Texas as well. Check t...
Jun 03, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 207
Amir Jalali started his barbecue career learning the business and operational aspects at the great Feges BBQ, struck up a friendship which turned into a job at the phenomenal Goldee’s Bar-B-Q, and eventually opened his own place back in his hometown of Port Neches, Texas. With a menu of expertly smoked proteins and scratch made sides and desserts, Redbird BBQ is off to a roaring start as one of the best new barbecue spots to open in the state in recent years. Instagram: redbirdbbq 1104 Port Nech...
May 20, 2024•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 206
Zain Shafi turned a curiosity into a passion and eventually a business in Sabar BBQ. Zain blends together the Pakistani flavors he grew up with alongside the familiar Texas barbecue staples. With seasonal, flavorful sides and well cooked proteins, Sabar is a great addition to the stellar Fort Worth barbecue scene. Instagram: sabarbbq Open Saturdays 11a-3p (or sold out) 194 Bryan Avenue, Fort Worth
Apr 15, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 205
Season 5 of Tales from the Pits is finally underway! More episodes from the best and brightest in the barbecue world are headed your way, and tune in to this episode for details on our new project, Cookfire Tales. A video series focused on the passionate people from all avenues of the food world who play a role in the food that ends up on your plate, with Cookfire Tales we’re going to give you wide ranging behind the scenes views of different types of cuisine and the role fire plays in so many o...
Apr 01, 2024•20 min•Ep. 204
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign yourself up for their monthly BBQ subscription box service or better yet sign up your BBQ obsessed loved one as a great gift for the holidays! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram. 2023 was another great year for BBQ an...
Dec 31, 2023•58 min•Season 4Ep. 203
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign yourself up for their monthly BBQ subscription box service or better yet sign up your BBQ obsessed loved one as a great gift for the holidays! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram. There is a lot we’re thankful for righ...
Nov 13, 2023•36 min•Season 4Ep. 202
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new monthly BBQ subscription box service! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram. Far West Texas is one of the most magical regions of the state to visit for a number of reasons, but until recently barbecue w...
Aug 07, 2023•49 min•Season 4Ep. 201
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new BBQ subscription box service! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram. They’re bringing the best of Texas barbecue to the world! The west Texas barbecue landscape has experienced immense growth over the la...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 200
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new monthly BBQ subscription box service! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram. As we approach our 200th episode we take a look back at the memorable guests, episodes and experiences from the first six year...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 4Ep. 199
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new BBQ subscription box service! The first box featuring Blood Bros BBQ ships in July! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram. Marvin Ross is a fifth generation farmer owning and operating Peculiar Pig Farm ...
Jun 26, 2023•52 min•Season 4Ep. 198
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new BBQ subscription box service! The first box featuring Blood Bros BBQ ships in July! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram. Cooper Abercrombie took his initial curiosity with barbecue, turned it into a pa...
Jun 12, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 197
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new BBQ subscription box service launching this summer! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram. We were elated to once again sit down at the Charleston Wine and Food Festival with esteemed author and culinary...
May 29, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 196
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram! —————————————————————- Nick and Elliott Reese got bit by the BBQ bug while going to school in Austin. Their journey took them to far west Texas but eventually brought them back to their ...
May 15, 2023•36 min•Season 4Ep. 195
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram! Shuai and Corrie Wang were ready for a change after years working in New York City restaurants. They’d settled on their next move being to Charleston to open a new restaurant with a frie...
May 01, 2023•58 min•Season 4Ep. 194
This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram! LeRoy and Lewis BBQ has become one of the most influential and revered barbecue businesses in the industry. What Evan LeRoy and Sawyer Lewis have built since launching their food truck i...
Apr 11, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 4Ep. 193
Charleston continues to be one of our favorite food cities to visit, and the Charleston Wine + Food Festival is one of the great gateways to exploring the scene. We were fortunate to be invited to this event again in 2023 and had an absolutely wonderful time both at the festival events and eating around the city. Tune in to hear about plenty of barbecue and other culinary delights we were able to partake in this year. An enormous thanks to the Charleston Wine + Food team for giving us such a gre...
Apr 10, 2023•44 min•Season 4Ep. 192
