BBQ Interview Series - Kevin’s BBQ Joints
A BBQ Interview Series by Kevin’s BBQ Joints focusing on personalities in the BBQ, meat and food world. We dive deep into their history, current projects, and more importantly their passion for BBQ and meat.
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Episodes
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Tuesday May 05, 2020
In this episode of '10 Minutes With' I catch up with AJ Ramirez of AJ's Custom Cookers in Seguin, Texas. He's a sponsor of the podcast and YouTube show, so I wanted him to provide additional information as to what he offers as well as give you more insight into who he is as a person. As far as what he offers, he does a tremendous amount of business with corporate clients, which is helpful during this self-isolation period, as well as work with restaurants, guys doing pop-ups, caterers, and the backyard cook. He can do anything from stainless steel to mild steel and currently his lead time is from 1 year to 14 months. We also discuss his recent injury to his wrist that required surgery and of course all of the pits he's done, especially noting that he is working(or has worked on) pits for folks who are meshing their heritage with Texas style BBQ AND how he is trying to incorporate cooking devices on their pits or trailers to display their unique background.
Here's a list of those:
Texas/Pakistan @texpakq
Texas/Iran @swigandsmokebbq
Texas/Korean @kortexbbq
Texas/Czechoslovakia @lilliansbbq
Texas/Mexican @vaquerostexasbarbq
Texas/Vietnamese @duo0ng
Texas/Philippine @thetexasbbqguy
Texas/Soul @smokeaholicsbbq
He's also worked with Patriotic Pig, Smoke-A-Holics, Derek Allan's BBQ, Dayne's Craft Barbecue, and Brix Barbecue.
You can see his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Y_pq7ZeyLMyeEWQJM_nGg
Call or text AJ here: 817-714-4495
See all things AJ's Custom Cookers here: https://www.ajscustomcookers.com
See AJ's Custom Cookers on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/ajscustomcookers
Check AJ's out on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/AJsCustomCookers
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
In this episode I get a chance to talk with John Troxell. He's a photographer, however to call him just as that would not be giving the complete picture. He truly is a visual artist who focuses(among other things) on food(and the people that provide it), the earth, dirt, energy, farmer's markets, local, the ocean, kitchens, restaurants, and street food from San Diego to San Francisco. His work is powerful and dynamic.
Check out TONS of his work on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/troxphotos
See his website here: https://www.johntroxell.com
We go into his journey from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and from the world of food commercials to his current path. Lately, because of the pandemic, he's been documenting the effect that has had on our world.
Check out the YouTube version of this chat here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFxMDDTpAjI
Sponsors:
Treaty Oak Distilling: https://www.treatyoakdistilling.com/
AJ's Custom Cookers: https://www.ajscustomcookers.com/
Monday Apr 27, 2020
Monday Apr 27, 2020
In this episode I chat with Jordan Okun, the host of the Air Jordan: A Food Podcast which is a celebration of Los Angeles and the food that make Los Angeles what it is. We discuss his early days in Westwood, working in the mailroom and being an assistant at ICM, his time working for a drunk of a director on a film to writing his first novel 'LA Fade Away'(https://www.amazon.com/L-Fadeaway-Novel-Jordan-Okun/dp/1451651988). We talk about his screenplay writing, his food writing, and how he began the Air Jordan podcast(and how that evolved). Topics covered within: Goldbelly, RC Provisions, Pat LaFrieda, Shake Shack, Langer's Deli, Brent’s Deli, The Original Tommys, Pink's Hot Dogs, Chef Beran's Dialogue's Short Rib Wellington, Antico's Ice Cream to-go, Lawry's The Prime Rib, Moo's Craft Barbecue, SLAB, Chi Spacca, APL, Flannery Beef, and Petit Trois.
Places to Donate: Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org
James Beard Relief Fund: https://www.jamesbeard.org/relief
Follow Jordan on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/jordanokun
Check out the Air Jordan podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/air-jordan-a-food-podcast/id1437334078
See the first of many F Coron stories here: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17851064434929779
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
In this episode I catch up with my friend Andy Wang who writes for Food & Wine(among many other publications) with a focus on Los Angeles, California, and Las Vegas. He covers the food world not as a critic, but as someone inviting you into the restaurant itself. His articles an introduction to a chef or way of cooking that makes you truly long to visit. On top of that he's a good human and has always been incredibly gracious to me and the show. We talk about how the restaurant world has changed since COVID19 and what restaurants and restauranteurs are doing to cope and innovate.
You can see Andy Wang on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/andywangnyla
You can follow Andy Wang on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/andywangnyla
Here are some recent pieces by Andy: Porto's: https://www.foodandwine.com/desserts/pastries/porto-cuban-bakery-nationwide
Cooking Classes for Kids: https://www.foodandwine.com/cooking-techniques/online-cooking-demos-kids-chefs
David Kinch - Mentone: https://www.foodandwine.com/news/david-kinch-mentone-pizza-takeout https://www.instagram.com/andywangnyla
Charles Olalia - RiceBar: https://www.foodandwine.com/news/charles-olalia-resurrects-ricebar
We mention some of these(in the write-ups above) as well as:
Moo's Craft Barbecue: https://www.mooscraftbarbecue.com
SLAB: https://www.slabbarbecue.com
The Brother's Sushi(Woodland Hills): https://thebrotherssushi.com
Sunday Apr 19, 2020
Sunday Apr 19, 2020
In this episode I get a chance to chat with Erin Smith Feges from Feges BBQ in Houston, Texas. Our interview took place on March 12, 2020 just as restaurants were starting to deal with COVID19. We talk about her journey which led her away from dental school into culinary school and a chance to at Thomas Keller's Per Se in NYC as well as Italian Wine Merchants and Babbo, back to Houston where she met her husband Patrick(see a link to his interview). We discuss their opening Feges BBQ and end the interview discussing their second location in Spring Branch which was scheduled to open in early 2021. We also talk about her two times on FoodNetwork's chopped. Since then they have closed the Greenway Plaza location due to COVID19 and will be opening it up again for dinner service(3PM - 6PM) Tuesday through Friday(pickup curbside) and will be popping up on Saturdays at what will be their second location in Spring Branch. Check out their instagram for ALL updates.
See all things Feges BBQ here: https://www.fegesbbq.com
Place an online order for Feges BBQ here: https://www.fegesbbq.com/preorder-form
Order a Feges Giftcard here: https://squareup.com/gift/QX5WWWCFGN8F6/order
Check out Feges BBQ on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/fegesbbq
Follow Erin on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/purslane_erin/
See my interview with Patrick Feges here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0YHh_vMu8Q&t=1s
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
In this episode I chat with David Slaughter from David's BBQ Oasis in Sulphur Springs, Texas. This was recorded in January prior to the shutdown in the world. He is still open the usual hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 10AM til Sold Out and please check his Facebook for the daily specials:
https://www.facebook.com/Slaughtersbbqoasis
Slaughter's BBQ Oasis on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/dslaughtertx
Monday Apr 06, 2020
Monday Apr 06, 2020
In this episode I get a chance to chat with Catherine Stiles from Barbecue Wife AND two incredible BBQ joints: Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew and The Switch Dripping. We go in depth into her background, her businesses prior to opening Stiles Switch with her husband Shane Stiles, how she started and built Barbecue Wife, and ends with talking about their new(ish) spot in Dripping Springs; The Switch Dripping. She gives a TON of info about the thought process going into everything along with a number of pitfalls to avoid. Please visit both restaurants for take-out and shop at barbecuewife.com to support Catherine and the entire team at both restaurants.
See all things Barbecue Wife here: http://www.barbecuewife.com
Get Barbecue Wife Bloody Mary Mix, Margarita Mix, salt, apparel and swag here: http://www.barbecuewife.com/shop
See all things Stile Switch BBQ & Brew here:http://www.stilesswitchbbq.com
See all things The Switch Dripping here: https://www.theswitchdripping.com
Friday Apr 03, 2020
Friday Apr 03, 2020
In this episode I chat with Stan Hays from Operation BBQ Relief and Todd Johns from Plowboys Barbeque about their pilot Restaurant Relief Program that began on Tuesday March 31st to assist those in need during this COVID19 crisis.
Contact Operation BBQ Relief here: https://operationbbqrelief.org
Donate to Operation BBQ Relief here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/team039s-campaign-for-operation-bbq-relief
Donate Supplies and Services: development@obr.org
Follow Plowboys Barbeque here: https://www.instagram.com/plowboysbbq
Follow Stan Hays here: https://www.instagram.com/stanhays
