The Low & Slow Barbecue Show

Ashley Christensen shares the latest updates on renovations and reopening at Poole’s Restaurant and reveals that her Pinehurst Barbecue Festival entrée is more than just shrimp and grits. Find out how the Ashley Christensen Restaurants group is homing in on the things it does best, and where each venue fits into the evolving Raleigh restaurant scene. Listen to this episode of The Low & Slow Barbecue Show to hear Ashley explain the spark that started her love for cooking and how a trip to Uruguay ignited a focus on live fire cooking. 
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.

Barbecue Reimagined brings Pinehurst Barbecue Festival an alternative taste of traditional ingredients and cooking methods from North Carolina’s top chefs. Chad Blackwelder from N.C Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services shares an inside look at the event’s roots and what barbecue enthusiasts can expect when the visit BHAWK Distillery. Find out what’s on the Barbecue Reimagined menu and how it spotlights the Got to Be NC program and the N.C. producers who provide ingredients for food and beverages found in businesses and homes across the nation. Don’t miss Chad’s scoop on his favorite restaurants in the Pinehurst area, as well as the upcoming events in the Got to Be NC calendar.
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.
Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!
 

Catch up with Southern Smoke BBQ Pitmaster Matthew Register during a busy barbecue festival season to find out coming soon for his business and the “Garland Metroplex” in Eastern North Carolina. Find out how Southern Smoke is combining barbecue with high school football to turn attention to a critical role player for Friday Night Football in the fall. Is there another cookbook coming? Chef Coach Daddy Matt talks about the how-to recipe video projects he’s working on and whether they’re replacing cookbooks. Listen to hear how he’s applied the “Southern Smoke” touch to the menu for Pinehurst Barbecue Festival and the Christopher Prieto Invitational.
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.
Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

If you’re heading to the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, get ready to experience why Master Blend Family Farms is one of the most talked‑about names in North Carolina barbecue. Pitmaster and president Ronald “Mr. 365” Simmons returns to The Low & Slow Barbecue Show to talk about how his business is evolving into weekly food truck operations. Revisit the roots of Master Blend Family Farms and find out how the company is supplying top restaurants, selling premium pork online, and introducing more people to the brand. Find out how Ron got involved with the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival and how his North Carolina produced pork will be involved in this year’s event.
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.
Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

Old Colony Smokehouse Pitmaster Adam Hughes reveals the barbecue experience at his Edenton, NC, business. Find out how he evolved from barbecue competitions to the restaurant business, and how his current menu items compare with the world championship barbecue bites he produced for judges. Learn about the Old Colony Smokehouse sauces and what differentiates Old Colony Smokehouse from other Carolina barbecue options. Adam Hughes shares how he’s applying three generations of family hog farming and butchery into his modern-day Southern Culinary Revival. Don’t miss the Old Colony Smokehouse pitmaster’s advice for making great sausage – just like his grandmother did. Listen and get the details on Adam Hughes’ menu item for the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival and what he enjoys about participating in the annual event.
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.
Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

Christopher Prieto shares the latest news from Prime STQ, his new steak and barbecue concept slated to launch by early 2026. Find out about his plans for the menu, the progress on the project at Boxyard RTP, and what will differentiate Prime STQ from his other ventures. Listen to this episode of The Low & Slow Barbecue Show, and you’ll also hear Christopher Prieto describe the experience at Prime Barbecue and the roots behind his restaurant in Knightdale. Find out how his faith and family set a firm foundation for a non-stop approach to barbecue that keeps him opening the door at the shop and shaking hands with barbecue lovers every day. Don’t miss his motivation for joining the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, the strategy for the Christopher Prieto Pitmaster Invitational and his overview of the Q School Grilling Class. Also in this episode: Christopher Prieto’s overlooked tip for the backyard pitmaster.
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.
Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

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.
Visit the Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

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!
Visit the Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!
 

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!
Visit the Low & Slow Barbecue Show website here!

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.
Visit The Low & Slow Barbecue Show here!