Pitmasters

Mitch Benjamin

Meat Mitch
Lee’s Summit, MO

Meat Mitch is a world championship winning competition barbecue team from Kansas City. After more than a decade of honing his craft, Mitch and his smoking posse dove head first into creating their own unique blend of spices and sauces specifically designed to win championships and trophies….and win they did! Now Meat Mitch products are used in BBQ competitions throughout the U.S. and world - loved in Paris, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Nova Scotia...and the hits keep rolling!

Menu Items

Chicken Wings & Bacon Broccoli Slaw

Brandon Simpson

Jazzy B’s BBQ
Lee’s Summit, MO

In 2016 Brandon opened Jazzy B's Diner in North Lee's Summit, Missouri on Colburn Rd. where he built a following and quickly established himself as a successful businessman and entrepreneur in the Kansas City area. In January 2023 Brandon and his family opened a new location at 320 SW Blue Parkway in Lee's Summit, MO. The new location has an open floor plan and includes a full service bar which allows Jazzy B's to continue providing the greater Kansas City area with their favorite food items.

Menu Items

Turkey Sliders with Strawberry Ginger Chutney & Turkey Bacon Collard Greens

Chris Stuewe

Arthur Bryant’s
Kansas City, MO

Charlie Bryant started the Kansas City barbecue tradition, or some say it was Henry Perry for whom Charlie worked. Arthur visited his brother Charlie in Kansas City and never left. Upon his brother's death, Arthur took over the operation and moved the restaurant to where it stands today at 18th & Brooklyn. At the time, that was just four blocks away from Municipal Stadium, home of the Kansas City Blues and then the Kansas City Athletics. It was also the first home to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Menu Items

KC-Style Ribs & Potato Casserole

Teddy Liberda

Buck Tui BBQ
Overland Park, KS

As a Kansas City native and local restaurateur, Ted Liberda is well-known around town. He grew up eating both Kansas City-style barbecue as well as his mother’s home-cooked Isaan Thai classics. Ted trained at the Florida Culinary Institute before coming back to town. He’s married to Pam Liberda, Executive Chef at Waldo Thai. Buck Tui is Ted’s dream of the fusion of Thai cuisine and BBQ.

Menu Items

White Panang Curry Pork Belly Burnt Ends, Jasmine Rice & Brisket Rangoon

Jeff & Joy Stehney

Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
Kansas City, KS

In Kansas City, where barbecue is a way of life, it is understood that smoke has mystical properties. Smoke has the power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. It can transform the least desirable cuts of meat into the most delectable. It can even transform a neighborhood corner gas station into one of the most popular restaurants on the planet.

Menu Items

Brisket Nachos

Brad Orrison

The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint

Ocean Springs, MS

​​Since opening The Shed in August 2001, Brad Orrison and Brooke Orrison Lewis, have become internationally known for their unique blend of flavorful BBQ and toe-tapping blues. The Shed BBQ is the “real deal” with more than 150 awards and recognitions, and has become one of the most renowned BBQ joints in the South.

Menu Items

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Kabob & Cajun Bacon Man N’ Cheese

John Matthews and Brian Scoggins

Pappy's Smokehouse
St. Louis, MO

With the wild success of Pappy's Smokehouse, owners John and Brian are well-known by BBQ enthusiasts. Launching the BBQ renaissance in St. Louis in 2008, these two continue to be well known for their glazed, Memphis-inspired ribs. Their love of people and BBQ festivals ensures everyone who encounters Pappy's on the road has a great experience.

Menu Items

Baby Back Ribs & Pit Beans

Tim Scheer

Blues Hog Barbecue
Washington, MO

From start to finish, Tim has engineered his own barbecue process. The pitmaster of the successful competition BBQ team Shake and Bake, the owner of Blues Hog Barbecue, and the inventor of the Gateway Drum Smoker. He knows what it takes to make next-level barbecue!

Menu Items

Pulled Pork Sliders & Pineapple Slaw

Scott Umscheid

Scott's Kitchen and Catering
Kansas City, MO

Since opening Scott’s Kitchen in summer 2017, it has become a hub for competition and craft-style barbecue, cooked with plenty of hands-on attention and extra, labor-intensive steps that can make it challenging to pull off in a restaurant setting. Umscheid learned the style first-hand on the competitive barbecue circuit, entering his first competition back in 2009 and taking first place in the chicken category.

Menu Items

Burnt Ends, Ghost Pepper Chipotle Sausage & Jalapeno Apple Slaw

Brandon Hurtado

Hurtado Barbecue
Arlington, TX

Brandon Hurtado started Hurtado Barbecue with his wife, Hannah, in 2018, combining traditional central Texas cooking methods and bold Mexican flavors to create a unique culinary experience called “Mexicue.” Hurtado was voted a Texas Monthly Top 50 barbecue destination in 2021 and is one of the largest independently-owned barbecue brands in north Texas. They are now the featured BBQ at Globe Life Field.

Menu Items

Texas Brisket & Loaded Potato Salad

Joey Machado

VIP ONLY

Texas Original
Texas

Over 20 years in BBQ Industry, currently owner of Texas Original and Texas Original Brands. Specialized in Central Texas Style BBQ with a Latin Twist and live fire cooking.  As a competitive cook for the last several decades and still today, understands the industry from the inside out. Over the years has been responsible for the growth and success for many major brands and now manufacturers for or consulting for many in the segment. High quality products for exclusive markets is his focus in current lines. 

Menu:
Tomahawk Ribeye (VIP Hour Only)

Patrick Humphrey

VIP ONLY

Honeysuckle White
Lenexa, KS

Chef Patrick Humphrey is a Senior Chef Strategy & Innovation for Cargill’s protein business, based in Wichita, Kansas. In his role, Patrick focuses on providing the organization’s leading retail customers with culinary expertise and innovation and partnering with Research & Development in creating flavors and gold-standard recipes for duplication and manufacturing.  Patrick is also responsible for creating creative recipes for various Cargill branded websites such as Honeysuckle White®/Shady Brook Farms® and Rumba Meats®.

Menu:
Smoked Char Siu BBQ Turkey

Cade Colson

VIP ONLY

SMOAK Craft Barbecue+
Olathe, KS

SMOAK Craft Barbecue+ provides quality Hand Crafted Smoked Meats and Elevated versions of classic sides with unrelenting standards of quality and flavor. The + covers all the other things SMOAK related that reflect our passion for connecting people through food. Our mission is to serve the highest quality Craft Barbecue to our Friends and Family of Kansas city, who make up the heart of our  incredibly passionate Barbecue community.

Menu:
Smoked Prawn & Beef Belly BLT