I've caught the BBQ bug big time, and man, is it getting to be an expensive hobby! Just a couple years ago, I thought throwing some steaks on the grill was good enough for me, but now I'm diving deep into the world of smoking and low-and-slow cooking techniques. I've been working hard to learn from some of the world's best pitmasters so I can take my backyard dinners from good to mind-blowing. That's why I love practicing this art so much... plus, you gotta admit that even the mistakes are usually pretty tasty!
The Memphis SmokeSlam BBQ Festival kicks off May 15th at the beautifully renovated Tom Lee Park along the river in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, bringing together the nation's top pitmasters competing for a record-breaking $250,000 prize purse. This event is the perfect guys getaway featuring the trifecta of mouthwatering BBQ, incredible live music from headliners like The Revivalists, Big & Rich, Southern Avenue, and Shane Smith & The Saints, and making new friends in the spiritual homeland of American barbecue!
The festival includes a full carnival with a Ferris wheel, carousel, games, and a central marketplace featuring local arts and crafts - making it an immersive experience that goes way beyond just great food.
Sweet Cheeks BBQ
Led by pitmaster John Jordan Proctor, whose team secured a prestigious third-place trophy in the shoulder division at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Sweet Cheeks BBQ has established itself as a formidable presence in the competitive barbecue circuit. As a representative of Home Place Pastures, Proctor brings his expertise in quality meat sourcing directly to his award-winning barbecue techniques.
Source Quality Meat
Source excellent pork. This element gives them the competitive edge at major competitions. Find quality pasture-raised, antibiotic-free product with superior marbling and fat quality for exceptional results every time.
Proper Seasoning Technique
Apply salt and pepper before the rub. Salt directly on the meat provides perfect seasoning while allowing the natural pork flavor to shine through. Trim the shoulder surface to expose more muscle area, creating maximum surface contact for developing that coveted bark texture.
Low and Slow Cooking
Add water pans to the smoker to maintain proper moisture levels and develop clean flavor profiles without bitter bark. Competition shoulders demand 18-20 hours at 250-275°F, requiring disciplined temperature control and monitoring. Boston butts require less time, typically 10-12 hours of focused attention.
Strategic Wrapping
Wait to wrap your shoulders until a rich dark bark forms on the exterior. Perfect timing means achieving good smoke penetration and a crunchy bark texture without developing bitter flavors. Look for significant darkening without reaching total black coloration before placing your shoulder in a foil pan to complete the cooking process.
Proper Rest and Service
Rest meat for one to two hours before pulling to allow juices to redistribute throughout the protein. Pull meat to order rather than in advance to preserve moisture and texture. Create perfect sandwiches by balancing bark pieces with juicy interior meat for contrasting textures and maximum flavor impact.
Hotty Totty BBQ Crew
Fire Management creates the foundation for all successful BBQ. Master your cooker's specific airflow patterns and develop the skill to recognize clean, thin blue smoke that delivers perfect flavor. Proper smoke quality transforms ordinary meat into competition-worthy barbecue with complex flavor profiles.
Game of Bones
Smoke wings low and slow, then finish with a high-heat sear to create the ultimate texture contrast. This two-stage cooking process develops deep smoke penetration while providing crispy skin that delivers the perfect bite – combining competition smoking techniques with crowd-pleasing presentation.
Smoked N' Spiced
Focus on mastering fundamental techniques and developing a deep understanding of your specific equipment. Good BBQ demands patience, consistent practice, and genuine enjoyment of the entire process. A quality thermometer provides essential temperature data, allowing you to develop your skills with confidence and precision.
Deeez Butts
Perfect ribs maintain structural integrity while demonstrating proper tenderness. After completing the wrap phase and setting your sauce, properly cooked ribs should bend without falling apart. Calvin's bend test reveals the exact balance between tenderness and texture that competition judges seek in championship-level barbecue.
Southern Hoggers
Invest in premium temperature monitoring equipment, develop comprehensive knowledge of target internal temperatures, and become intimately familiar with your cooker's performance characteristics. Jimmy Korn's approach emphasizes mastering the technical foundations that separate casual weekend grillers from serious pitmasters who consistently produce exceptional results.
Learning The Art Of Barbecue Is A Journey That Never Stops!
Embracing barbecue means joining a tradition of patience, technique, and flavor. Start your journey today with accessible equipment and affordable cuts – a simple smoke tube in your gas grill can transform pork loins, chicken thighs, or even vegetables like carrots into smoky delights while you build confidence. Save those expensive briskets and competition ribs for after you've developed your fundamentals, since discovering you've spent 5+ hours on a disappointing result can be disheartening.
Temperature control, quality ingredients, proper rest periods, and patient cooking form the foundation of exceptional barbecue regardless of what you're smoking. The technical aspects matter tremendously, but the willingness to practice and refine your approach over time ultimately determines your success. BBQ is a lifelong craft that rewards dedicated practice with increasingly impressive results, which is exactly why I'm heading to SmokeSlam from May 15-17 at Tom Lee Park to learn from the world's best pitmasters!
The learning never stops, and I can't wait to bring back new techniques to elevate my summer cookouts. For tickets and more information, visit SmokeSlam.com.
