17th Street BBQ

Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

We are tremendously grateful for our friends across the globe whose support makes it possible for us to live our version of the great American dream.
We barbecue every single day.
How blessed are we?

Well, hello there, Gentleman.

A long-standing tradition at barbecue contests where Randy Twyford is present is the 9:22 a.m. good luck shot of Gentleman Jack. Why 9:22, you ask? Because you might have something to do at 9 and 9:30 and 10 … but most people can steal away for a few minutes at 9:22.

A record crowd gathered around the stage this year in Murphysboro.

Randy delivered his colorful, not-quite-PC blessing and the crowd took a moment to reflect on the glory of the barbecue lifestyle we’re so fortunate to live. This brief shared moment set the tone for Saturday and sent us all back to our tasks with renewed vigor.

Tell us your favorite cook-off tradition in the comments below!   

Warren Buffet is a very smart man.

What’s the best advice you ever got from your daddy?

Danny Meyer, Mike Mills, Amy, and Mitchell Davis.
Photo ® Ken Goodman

Still finding lots of photos I haven’t shared of the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. Besides hanging out with our fellow pitmasters, one of the highlights of the weekend is the opportunity to nuture the friendships we’ve made over the years, and forge some new ones, too.

® Ken Goodman

If you’ve read Peace, Love, and Barbecue, you know the story about Pat Daily and Tom Viertel, pictured above with Mike. Pat and Tom are Broadway royalty and treasured friends. The first person to tell me, in the comments below, why they’re significant to barbecue in New York City will get one of our “I Love New Pork” t-shirts!

® Ken Goodman

David Bogan {far right} and his sweet family. We are so grateful to him for his help during the weekend and it’s always a treat to see his growing family.

Union Square Hospitality Group’s Michael Romano and David Swinghamer.
® Ken Goodman

These two. We have come a long, long way from the weeks spent sitting in our pit room during practice cooks!

We met Ed Levine when he was best known for his expertise on all things pizza and now he’s the overlord of the excellent Serious Eats site.

My son, Woody, always has a posse of Roxbury Latin School and college friends in the city for the summer. Here is this year’s pack of Sewanee friends.

Nate Goldstein and James Beard Foundation EVP Mitchell Davis. This has quickly become one of Nate favorite weekends. We shared moments as big as years at Eleven Madison Park the night before the festivities began.

PR pro extraordinaire Robin Insley greets a friend.

® Ken Goodman

Shake Shack culinary director Mark Rosati.

Meat Men: Mark Pastore and Pat LaFrieda, along with Pat’s son.
Photo ® Ken Goodman

OnCue friends and clients. Rick Thomas {top} and
Bob Yarmuth {bottom} from Sonny’s Barbecue with Mike.
Photo ® Ken Goodman

More OnCue friends and clients: Top: Billy Durney and Mike Mills.
Bottom: Mike with Eva Pesantaz and her sweet son, Jesse.
® Ken Goodman

OnCue friends and clients from Hometown Barbecue and Brother Jimmy’s.

Our sweetest little friends love this day, too.

Photo ® Ken Goodman

So much goodness in this photo. I spy Laurie Jon Moran, Le Bernardin pastry chef, and his wife, Wayne Mueller, Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn, and James Boo of Serious Eats.

Photos ® Ken Goodman

Top: Ed Levine and Todd English; bottom photo: Chef Kerry Heffernan and Mike.

® Ken Goodman

Daniel Vaughn and photographer Nick Solares.

® Ken Goodman

Daniel, me, and Wayne Mueller.

® Ken Goodman

Wayne Mueller and brisket boy Daniel Delaney of Brisket Town in Brooklyn.

Ace Chew producers Anthony Underwood and Maggie Barnes with Mike.
Botom photo: Anthony and husband, Josh Davis, and me.
® Ken Goodman

Note Josh’s hat. Love that these two are always careful to wear half Hill Country and half 17th Street attire to the Block Party.

More Chew crew: Daphne Oz and her husband, John Jovanovic, with Mike, me, and Elizabeth Karmel.
® Woody Tunnicliffe

Read more about our Big Apple Barbecue Block Party adventures here and here.