The Low & Slow Barbecue Show

Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 Behind the Scenes

Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 features 3 days of events and the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational and has quickly become one of the Carolinas’ premier barbecue events. Andrew Stilwell gives us a behind-the-scenes look at this year’s barbecue festival event Aug. 29-31, the participating pitmasters, the diverse menus of food options, and a chance to win a lifetime ticket to the festival. Get the history of the festival, how it started in the Village of Pinehurst, and breaking news about the second-annual Smithfield Cup between North Carolina and South Carolina pitmasters. Listen to this episode for the details on Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 and where you can get tickets for the one-of-a-kind festival over Labor Day Weekend.
This episode sponsored by Pinehurst Barbecue Festival 2025 coming Labor Day Weekend Aug. 29-31 in the Village of Pinehurst. 3 days, 5 signature events, concluding with 7 N.C. pitmasters serving meats & sides in the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational. Buy tickets online today and enter the giveaway for a LIFETIME PASS.
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Dampf Good BBQ, Brisket Tips & BBQ Business with Nick Dampf

Dampf Good BBQ Founder Nick Dampf went from being a brisket first-timer with a backyard smoker to North Carolina’s best brisket bite according to Texas Monthly. He shares the Dampf Good BBQ story and his tips to help you cook the best brisket in your own backyard. Don’t miss the news from Dampf Good BBQ about an expansion in the business (and the Dampf family). Listen to this episode of The Low and Slow Barbecue Show and get the scoop on the plans for a 3,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar coming soon. Find out how Dampf Good BBQ is different from other Texas barbecue in North Carolina and the faith that keeps Nick Dampf’s fire burning.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival. Learn more about the festival here!
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Meet Golden Rule BBQ, the Nation’s Oldest BBQ Joint

Golden Rule BBQ is America’s oldest, longest-running barbecue restaurant with a history dating back to 1891. In this episode of The Low & Slow Barbecue Show we learn the story of Golden Rule and its 135-year-old tradition of pork barbecue sandwiches. Golden Rule’s Daniel Harp takes us through the bankruptcy that nearly ended the storied barbecue business, how new owners rescued the famous brand, and what is on the horizon for the future. Listen and discover what you can expect from a visit to Golden Rule BBQ and what sets this business in Irondale, Alabama apart from the rest of the barbecue in the region – and the U.S.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival. Learn more about the festival here!
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Food Writer Andre James & Mount Rushmore of BBQ

What are the four main styles of barbecue? Food writer Andre James shares his Mount Rushmore of BBQ, as well as his favorite stops for barbecue in Chattanooga, Myrtle Beach, and his hometown of Southport, N.C. Find out how Andre James turned time spent in the food and beverage industry into a career in food journalism and how his adventure has combined travel with journalism to highlight the best bites around the South. Read more of Andre’s opinions on the BBQ Mount Rushmore here, and don’t miss his 10 top BBQ Joints in Chattanooga reporting here.
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Barbecue News from the Carolinas | Summer 2025

Barbecue news updates around the Carolinas in Summer 2025 include updates on a James Beard Award Finalist, 2025 North Carolina BBQ Hall of Fame Inductees, Operation BBQ Relief Volunteer Awards, State Whole Hog Championships, and the South Carolina Connection to SmokeSlam 2025. Listen to this episode for the Summer 2025 barbecue news recap from The Lowdown, our weekly barbecue newsletter. You’ll find out about upcoming barbecue events, barbecue business news, and the food trucks we’re following around the Carolinas. Have news, events, or barbecue food truck schedules to share? Email the Lowdown at lowandslowbarbecueshow@gmail.com
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Whole Hog N.C. State Champion Showtime’s Legit BBQ Pitmaster Kevin Peterson

N.C. Whole Hog State Champion Kevin Peterson joins the Low & Slow Barbecue Show to reveal tips for preparing the best whole hog barbecue. The pitmaster behind Showtime’s Legit BBQ details his whole hog process from start to finish and shares insights into his husband-and-wife barbecue team. Get the backstory on Showtime’s Legit BBQ and its success and find out how Kevin Peterson started smoking barbecue low and slow in Eastern North Carolina.
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Carolina BBQ Festival 2026: What’s coming in YEAR 5? Sweet Lew’s BBQ & Let’s Meet CLT

Carolina BBQ Festival 2026 marks its fifth anniversary, and organizers from Sweet Lew’s BBQ and Let’s Meet CLT reveal what’s working, what’s not, and what folks can expect for April 17-18, 2026. Find out how festival events throughout the year are bringing a greater spotlight to Charlotte, the Carolina barbecue scene, and small businesses throughout the region. Lewis “Sweet Lew” Donald and Erin Hunter from Let’s Meet CLT talk about how they started the Carolina BBQ Festival and why BBQ for a Cause is motivating bigger and better things every year. Don’t miss Sweet Lew’s wish list for future barbecue menu items and festival events. You’ll also hear perspectives on the food and events scene in Charlotte and how barbecue fits in.
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Rusty’s Bar-B-Q Founder Reveals Roots, Summer BBQ Tips

Rusty’s Bar-B-Q Founder Rusty Tucker opens the doors of his Alabama barbecue restaurant and shares the story of his smoked meat upbringing. Find out the important role family traditions play in his career, from childhood pitmaster to formal culinary training. Learn which Rusty’s Bar-B-Q sauces and menu items are the most popular and how an untraditional order is a measuring stick for the best Alabama barbecue joints. Who’s spending the most time on the pits at Rusty’s Bar-B-Q? Rusty reveals the answer. Don’t miss Rusty’s summer tips for taking your barbecue on the road or delivering desserts that will please the masses. Listen to the podcast here and learn more about Rusty’s Bar-B-Q at the website.
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Brains behind Bubbles and Brisket: Max Trujillo NC F&B Podcast

Bubbles & Brisket’s Max Trujillo shares the roots of the annual North Carolina food and beverage event and the NC F&B Podcast. Get the festival details about North Carolina pitmasters and North Carolina beverage producers and hear why bubbles and brisket go so well together. Find out how industry experience led Max to launch other media platforms. Don’t miss Max Trujillo’s perspective on the best North Carolina city for food. Listen to learn his favorite places in the state for barbecue. Be sure to visit the NC F&B Podcast’s episodes library here.
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What is the Alabama Barbecue Chase? Founder Ricky Harmon

Alabama Barbecue Chase Founder Ricky Harmon shares the story of his campaign to celebrate barbecue across the state of Alabama. Find out his favorite stops among the 75+ he’s visited. What Alabama city has the best barbecue? Alabama’s Barbecue Chaser shares his answer and explains his approach for restaurant reviews – and where he awards bonus points. If you are planning a trip to Sweet Home Alabama, here’s your guide!
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