We Ate Some of the Best BBQ in Texas… Here’s What Happened

The Pastrami Queen of BBQ | Christie Vanover talks Girls Can Grill, BBQ Competitions & Live Fire

This week on the Wise Guys BBQ Podcast, Vin, Charlie, and Bob from Big Bobby’s Q sit down with Christie Vanover of Girls Can Grill — also known in this episode as The Pastrami Queen. Christie shares her journey from public relations and marketing to becoming one of the most recognized names in barbecue, grilling, and live fire cooking. The crew talks about how Girls Can Grill started, what it takes to build a BBQ brand, and how Christy turned her love of backyard grilling into a full-time career filled with recipe development, competition cooking, judging, organizing events, product creation, and traveling the country for barbecue. This episode dives into competition BBQ, KCBS cookoffs, the Jack Daniel’s Invitational, Memphis in May, live fire cooking, and the launch of the Live Fire Cooking Association. Christy explains why open fire cooking is growing so fast, how live fire competitions are different from traditional barbecue contests, and why this style of cooking connects so strongly with both cooks and crowds. The guys also get into Christy’s product development work, including her Girls Can Grill rubs and her new pastrami kit. From brining and testing recipes to dialing in flavor with a co-packer, Christy breaks down what goes into creating products that help backyard cooks make better barbecue at home. If you’re into BBQ podcasts, competition barbecue, live fire cooking, KCBS, Memphis in May, pastrami, BBQ rubs, grilling recipes, pitmaster stories, or the business side of barbecue, this conversation with Christy Vanover is packed with insight, laughs, and real BBQ talk. Watch the full episode and meet The Pastrami Queen behind Girls Can Grill. #bbqpodcast #outdoorcooking #barbeque #competitionbbq #podcast

The BBQ Bus Story: Competition Barbeque, Brisket Wins & Brutal Judging

In this episode of the Wise Guys BBQ Podcast, Vin, Charlie, and special guest Bob Bowman from Big Bobby’s Q sit down with Brian and Brandon Dwyer of The Barbecue Bus, a father-and-son competition BBQ team with a great story, plenty of wins, and no shortage of honest opinions. Brian and Brandon talk about how they got started in competition barbeque, the story behind the original BBQ Bus, and how they turned it into a traveling competition setup with a prep space, kitchen area, and everything needed for serious BBQ contests. They also break down what it is like cooking together as a father-son team, why brisket became one of their strongest categories, and how they’ve earned major success in the competition world. The conversation gets into KCBS judging, certified judges, rising competition costs, what happens when great food doesn’t get called, and the reality of cooking for six strangers at the judging table. The guys also talk about chicken, rub development, the Peep Show seasoning, American Royal success, World Cup qualifiers, MBN contests, and why competition BBQ can be both rewarding and frustrating. Plus, they share thoughts on Chicago barbecue, rib tips, hot links, Sweet Baby Ray’s, and the BBQ spots that deserve more attention. Whether you follow KCBS BBQ competitions, love behind-the-scenes BBQ stories, or just want to hear from a team that has lived the ups and downs of the circuit, this episode is packed with competition insight, laughs, and real barbeque talk. Watch now and join the Wise Guys BBQ crew for a deep dive into the BBQ Bus story. #bbq #competitionbbq #bbqpodcast #barbecue

Charlie’s Ultimate Leftover BBQ Sandwich | Abudanza in the Wise Guys Kitchen

This week on the Wise Guys BBQ Podcast, Vin and Charlie are out of the studio and back in the kitchen for a fun, flavor-packed episode built around one big question: what can you make with leftover BBQ? Charlie digs into his “Bachelor Cookbook” and makes his Abudanza sandwich, a loaded leftover BBQ sandwich recipe made with smoked pulled pork, peppers, onions, garlic, diced tomatoes, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, and a meatloaf mix of beef, pork, and veal. Everything gets cooked down together in one pan and piled onto a hard Italian roll for a messy, hearty sandwich that Vin compares to an Italian sloppy Joe. This episode is perfect for anyone looking for leftover pulled pork recipes, BBQ sandwich ideas, smoked pulled pork sandwiches, easy BBQ recipes, or a creative way to turn weekend cookout leftovers into something completely new. If you’ve got leftover smoked pork, sausage, peppers, onions, or anything from the grill, this is the kind of recipe that proves nothing should go to waste. Along with the cook, Vin and Charlie talk New England barbeque, local Rhode Island Italian rolls, the growing BBQ scene in the Northeast, El Jefe’s recent appearance on the podcast, the big Golden Ticket news for the NEBS Invitational, upcoming Wise Guys BBQ content, Big Bob’s BBQ, Blackbird Farm, and more of the usual Wise Guys kitchen banter. If you love BBQ podcasts, barbeque recipes, pulled pork sandwich recipes, New England BBQ, competition BBQ talk, and creative backyard cooking ideas, this episode is for you. Drop a comment and tell us: what’s your favorite way to use leftover BBQ? In this episode: Charlie’s Abudanza sandwich recipe Leftover BBQ sandwich ideas Smoked pulled pork sandwich recipe Italian sloppy Joe-style BBQ sandwich Pulled pork with peppers, onions, pepperoni, and mozzarella Easy recipes for leftover barbeque New England BBQ and competition barbeque talk NEBS Invitational Golden Ticket discussion Wise Guys BBQ kitchen cook and podcast conversation Subscribe to Wise Guys BBQ for more BBQ recipes, podcast episodes, Destination Q restaurant visits, barbeque tips, grilling ideas, smoker recipes, and real BBQ conversations from the Wise Guys crew. #cooking #bbq #sandwich #bbqpodcast

A Big NEBS Announcement Just Dropped | El Jefe Talks Grand Am & NEBS

New England barbeque is having a serious moment, and this week’s Wise Guys BBQ Podcast episode proves it. Jeff Kulacz from El Jefe joins Vin, Charlie, and Bob from Big Bobby’s Q to talk competition BBQ, the Grand American Barbecue Championship, NEBS, and what’s ahead for New England teams this season. The crew breaks down the action from the Grand Am in New Paltz, New York, where New England BBQ teams made a major statement with big scores, strong finishes, and serious BBQ World Cup implications. Jeff also shares what it takes to compete at a high level, how teams plan their season around goals like The Jack, The American Royal, and major championship opportunities, and why brisket can completely change the final standings. And somewhere in this episode, Jeff drops a major NEBS announcement that could raise the stakes for New England competition BBQ in a big way. We won’t spoil it here — but if you follow NEBS, competition BBQ, or the future of New England barbeque, you’ll want to hear it for yourself. This episode covers BBQ judging, 180 scores, brisket strategy, Grand Am results, upcoming NEBS events, backyard BBQ opportunities, and why the New England BBQ scene is getting more attention than ever. 🔥 In this episode: • Grand American Barbecue Championship recap • El Jefe’s strong start to the season • New England teams making noise on the BBQ circuit • BBQ World Cup qualifying implications • Why brisket can make or break a BBQ contest • How competition BBQ scoring and tie-breakers work • Upcoming NEBS events and backyard competitions • A major NEBS announcement you’ll want to hear Subscribe to Wise Guys BBQ for more BBQ podcasts, competition BBQ coverage, pitmaster stories, recipes, and barbeque culture from New England and beyond. #podcast #bbqcompetition #bbqpodcast #bbq #pitmaster

We Ate Some of the Best BBQ in Texas… Here’s What Happened

The Wise Guys are back from Fort Worth, Texas, and this week’s podcast is all about the start of our Texas BBQ Safari. Vin, Chip, and Tommy the Butcher sit down to recap the trip, the travel chaos, and the Texas barbecue spots that lived up to the hype. In this episode, we talk about Goldie’s BBQ, Dayne’s Craft Barbecue, and Panther City BBQ, breaking down everything from brisket, beef ribs, ribs, sausage, Texas Twinkies, smash burgers, kolaches, potato salad, house-made bread, and the overall Texas BBQ experience. Tommy shares why he believes Texas barbecue is in a league of its own, the guys debate what makes great BBQ worth waiting in line for, and the crew looks back on the people, pit rooms, hospitality, and unforgettable moments from the trip — including Buc-ee’s, airport bag drama, and plenty of Wise Guys chaos. If you love BBQ road trips, Texas brisket, Fort Worth barbecue, BBQ restaurants, pitmaster stories, and honest food talk, this episode is for you. Watch the full Texas BBQ Safari episodes on the Wise Guys BBQ channel, and let us know: is Texas BBQ really the best in the country? #bbqpodcast #texasbbq #bbq #foodtour #bestbbq #bbqfood