In this episode of the Backyard Pitmasters podcast, Charlie and Tee discuss the impact of weather on cooking, share tips for choosing the right grill for weeknight meals, and review the Wood Family Premium Barbecue Blend rub. They also share their latest cooking experiences, emphasizing the importance of seasoning and cooking techniques. The conversation highlights the joy of barbecuing and the community built around it.

Chapters

00:00 Weather Talk and Its Impact on Cooking

06:52 Choosing the Right Grill for Weeknight Cooks

20:37 Reviewing a New Barbecue Rub

30:43 The Art of Seasoning and Rubs

38:55 Breaking Down Recent Cooks

54:55 Evaluating Products and Seasonings

In this episode of the Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast, Brandon Charlie and Tee and are joined by special guest Keenan Alforque for a lively conversation that bridges the gap between traditional barbecue and creative culinary fusion. Keenan opens up about his journey, discussing how he blends various cultural influences to create unique flavor profiles and why developing your own rubs is a game-changer for home cooks.

The crew dives deep into the technical side of the pit, debating the challenges of offset cooking and breaking the stigma around a practical secret: finishing your barbecue in the oven. Beyond the food, Keenan shares the emotional reality of losing and rebuilding a social media presence from scratch, offering valuable insights for creators. From adventurous snack reviews to the importance of documenting family memories in the kitchen, this episode is packed with humor, heart, and actionable advice.

Key Takeaways:

• Culture Meets Creativity: How blending different cultural influences can elevate traditional BBQ recipes.
• The Oven Debate: Why "real" barbecue can be finished in the oven without shame to save time and resources.
• Mastering the Craft: The role of trial and error in refining techniques and the specific challenges of offset smokers.
• The Social Media Grind: The emotional toll and resilience required to rebuild a digital presence after a setback.
• Flavor Profiles: Tips on developing unique rubs and using versatile ingredients to enhance your cooking.

• Community & Family: How sharing food fosters connection and the importance of documenting these moments for the future.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Light Banter

02:56 Seasonal Cooking and Weather Changes

05:42 Introducing Kenan Alforque

08:00 The Roots of Barbecue Passion

10:57 Cultural Influences in Cooking

13:45 Trial and Error in Barbecue Mastery

16:33 Exploring Ethnic Flavors and Dishes

19:37 Creating Unique Rubs and Seasonings

24:04 Adventurous Eating and Culinary Exploration

29:50 The Journey of Snack Reviews

34:10 Barbecue Techniques and Cooking Methods

41:21 Culinary Fusion: Blending Cultures in Cooking

42:49 Creative Culinary Innovations

44:02 Overcoming Adversity in Social Media

47:38 Father-Son Cooking Bonds

53:55 Lightning Round: Quickfire Questions

56:37 Future Aspirations and Collaborations

🔥 This episode is sponsored by Harder Charcoal & Exhibit Supply! 🔥

🎬 A Cinematic BBQ Documentary Series by The Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast

Episode 4 of our Open Fire MeatUp series is pure fire, flavor, and culture — a celebration of competition, tradition, and community cooking on a massive scale.

Filmed on the ground in Hondo, Texas, this episode captures some of the most high-energy moments of the weekend, from a fiery wing showdown to hands-on cultural cooking demonstrations and one of the most impressive whole-animal cooks of the entire event.

Brandon (@bkccooks) and Alton (@thedawgfathasbbq) take you through the action as the Open Fire story continues to unfold.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll experience:

🍗 Melinda’s Wing Battle 2025

A full-throttle wing competition featuring some of the most creative cooks in the game:

Chuck Matto of @ChucksFlavorTrain

Maciek Zurawski of @GrillinWithDad

Mel Chmilar Jr. of @DarkSideoftheGrill

Kevin Ortega of @KO.BBQ (returning winner)

Chris Binotto of @Chef_Binotto

Sunny Lynn Moody of @SunnyLynn_GrilledFit / @MoodSwingBBQ

Big flavors, bold techniques, and serious heat — all cooked live over fire.

🌮 Authentic Taco & Salsa Demonstration

A masterclass led by Alejandro Gutiérrez of @AlejandroSoyParrilleroMX, one of the most respected live-fire cooks in Mexico.

Alejandro breaks down:

Traditional taco preparation

Fresh salsa building from the ground up

Cooking with cabrito and whole ingredients

Why simplicity, fire, and respect for ingredients matter

This segment highlights the deep cultural roots that make open-fire cooking universal.

🔥 Argentine-Style Whole Steer Cook

A massive, show-stopping whole steer cook led by Javi Mejía of @BigJavs_BBQ, prepared in traditional Argentine asado style.

This is live-fire cooking at its highest level — patience, precision, and premium beef cooked low and slow over open flame.

This episode is about more than food.

It’s about fire as a shared language, tradition passed hand-to-hand, and the joy of cooking together in the open air.

📅 The Open Fire Series Continues

This is Episode 4 of a multi-part cinematic documentary filmed at Open Fire MeatUp 2025.

More episodes are coming — featuring more pitmasters, cooks, cultures, and unforgettable moments from Hondo.

👇 Join the conversation:

• Which cook or demo stood out to you most?

• Wings, tacos, or whole animal — what’s your fire preference?

• Who should we feature next?

More fire. More flavor. More stories.

🔥 Stay tuned — the Open Fire story continues.

Harder Charcoal – The premium fuel for serious pitmasters. Whether you’re smoking low and slow or grilling hot and fast, Harder XL Briquets and Lump Charcoal deliver clean, consistent heat with that authentic wood-fired flavor.

👉🏽 Use code BLACKSMOKE at checkout for a discount on your order!

🌐 https://www.hardercharcoal.com

Exhibit Supply – Trusted by food vendors, BBQ teams, and event pros nationwide. From heavy-duty canopies to custom food tents, Exhibit Supply keeps your setup looking sharp and built to last.

🌐 https://www.exhibitsupply.com

👉🏽 Before you do anything else — check out the site below!🎙️ The Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackSmokeBarbecue

📲 Connect With Us

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