Let’s Talk BBQ, Fam – A Love Letter from Chef Stef

Let’s Talk BBQ, Fam – A Love Letter from Chef Stef


🔥 Let’s Talk BBQ, Fam – A Love Letter from Chef Stef

Hey hey, BBQ lovers!
Chef Stef here, and today we’re diving into one of my absolute favorite things to eat, cook, and daydream about: barbecue. Whether you like it sweet, smoky, tangy, spicy—or all of the above—you know that BBQ hits different. It’s more than food. It’s soul. It’s community. It’s that slow-smoked kind of love that brings people together.

Let’s fire this up.

What Even Is BBQ?

First off—real BBQ isn’t just throwing some burgers on the grill (no shade to burgers though, we love ‘em too). Barbecue is a slow-cooked, low-temp love affair. It’s meat cooked over wood or coals for hours, soaking up all that smoky goodness until it practically falls apart.

We're talkin' brisket that melts like butter. Ribs so tender you don't need teeth. Pulled pork that turns sandwiches into spiritual experiences. You feel me?

BBQ Around the Country – Pick Your Flavor

You already know I’ve done some BBQ taste-testing in my travels (all in the name of research, of course 😏). Here's the quick rundown:

🥩 Texas – All about the beef, baby. Brisket is king, rubbed with salt, pepper, and smoke. No sauce necessary, just respect the bark.

🐖 North + South Carolina – Vinegar-based sauces, whole hog, pulled pork. If you like tangy heat that cuts through richness? This is your jam.

🔥 Memphis – Ribs are the star, and you’ve got two camps: dry rub vs. wet sauce. Either way, they’re packed with flavor.

🍖 Kansas City – Thick, sticky sweet sauces on everything. Brisket, ribs, burnt ends, sausage… KC doesn’t hold back.

Where’s your BBQ loyalty? Or are you like me—BBQ polyamorous and proud?

Behind the Smoke: Why BBQ Feels Like Home

Every time I smoke a brisket or pull a rack of ribs out of the pit, it’s a vibe. There’s something meditative about it. BBQ forces you to slow down. You can't rush smoke, and that’s part of the magic.

It reminds me of cookouts growing up—uncles hovering around the grill like it's a sacred altar, cousins running around with sauce-stained fingers, and music bumpin’ while we wait for that first bite. BBQ is storytelling with seasoning.

Let’s Not Forget the Sides, Y’all

Look—I love a slab of ribs as much as the next pitmaster. But the sides? That’s where you round out the experience.

  • Creamy mac & cheese – baked, bubbling, golden on top.

  • Tangy coleslaw – crunchy, fresh, perfect on a pulled pork sandwich.

  • Collard greens – simmered low and slow with smoky bits of something good.

  • Cornbread – sweet or savory? I say: why not both?

And if you ever come to one of my pop-ups or private dinners, you will get the real deal. No shortcuts in the Chef Stef kitchen.

BBQ = Love

Here’s the truth: BBQ is about people. It's about gathering, sharing stories, and showing love through food. It doesn’t matter if you're using a fancy smoker or an old-school drum in your backyard—if you’re cooking with heart, you’re doing it right.

So go ahead—fire it up, invite your people over, and let the smoke do its thing. And if you’ve got a family BBQ story, a sauce you swear by, or a brisket tip that’s changed your life—I wanna hear about it. Drop a comment or shoot me a message. Let’s talk BBQ.

Till next time,
🔥 Stay smoky, stay hungry.
—Chef Stef

Back to blog