Olive Branch
FOOD & DRINK
Grand champion crowned the best in pork at barbecue world championship in Memphis
Competition is fierce at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, where pitmasters are sweating and smoking to see who will be crowned “best in pork”. Teams from around the U.S. and internationally spend days working on huge whole hogs, massive slabs of shoulder and cuts of ribs in Memphis, Tennesse. (AP video shot by Kristin Hall) The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest crowned a grand prize winner Saturday after hundreds of dedicated pitmasters sweated through smoke to be named the best in pork. The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, won the whole hog division and was named the grand champion in Memphis, Tennessee. Considered one of the premiere cooking competitions in the U.S., the contest dates back to the 1970s. But as the so-called culinary sports expanded beyond local home cooks, the competition has become fiercer than ever.
The sights! The swine! The sauce! The best things we saw & tasted at Memphis BBQ contests
The dueling SmokeSlam and Memphis in May barbecue competitions have come and gone. But it shouldn’t be a competition between the two events: Both contests were filled with plenty of interesting sights, smells and tastes for spectators to enjoy. This year marked the first time Commercial Appeal reporters Jacob...
Young Dolph’s fiancé calls out D.A. Mulroy after trial date rescheduled
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The fiancé of slain rap star Young Dolph is pushing for answers after a trial date was rescheduled for one of the men accused in his killing. This comes after a trial was rescheduled for Justin Johnson, one of the men accused of being involved in Dolph’s killing. In a video from 2022, […]
Building plans approved for Uptown Chick-fil-A
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Plans to build a Chick-fil-A in the Uptown district in Downtown Memphis have been approved. The Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development approved the plans for the fast-food restaurant to go up on Auction Street, according to the website Develop901, which tracks new construction permits.
Winner, winner!—Smokeslam BBQ Fest announces first Grand Champion, cooks up food and fun
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - SmokeSlam Festival named “SmokeMaster BBQ” the Grand Champion of the inaugural three-day festival judged by Memphis Barbecue Network. “We’re so proud of the MBN for making this happen and getting through this with all the mud-slinging that’s happened. I can’t describe it. I really can’t. I’m a little lost for words. We’ve made a lot of large changes to our process in the last two months and they’re finally paying off, and I’m thrilled. I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Pitmaster Will “Uncle Woo” Hair of SmokeMaster BBQ.
The Iconic Memphis Label Behind Music’s Most Soulful Stars
“We were flying by the seat of our pants,” Stax legend William Bell recently recalled of the early days of the venerable label that tracked the rise of the civil rights movement. “A lot of us came in from the gospel arena, right out of church, just neighborhood kids. We learned how to craft a song as young kids, 14, 15 years old, but really, we just wanted to hear our voices on the radio.”According to legend, Stax Records replaced cotton as the single biggest product coming out of Memphis, Tennessee, during its late-1960s heyday. And if you know the...
Contestants talk about the weekend of two BBQ festivals
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - This weekend was the battle of BBQ, as for the first time there were two contests in the same weekend, and they brought out the best of the best. For the contestants though there was a lot to think about when it came to which venue they wanted to cook at.
SmokeSlam announces winners of the World Food Championship Awards
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After Friday night’s festivities, SmokeSlam judges announced the winners of the World Food Championships (WFC) Awards. The following lists shows which teams finished top-five in each category: Bacon 1st – Rebel Roaster Review (Booth 209) 2nd – Pancho and Lefty 3rd – Ole Booger Bears BBQ 4th – Team Croix Valley 5th – Swineantology Beef 1st – Smokemasters […]
BIG30 Is Looking To Prove He Is "Still King" On New LP
The Memphis MC goes lone wolf on his third album. Memphis, Tennesee might be one of the hardest cities for a rapper to stand out in. Just think about all og the powerhouse names that originate from there. You have Key Glock, GloRilla, Yo Gotti, Juicy J, Moneybagg Yo, and so many others. One quality that all of these artists share would be the trademark Memphis accent and the resonant cadence. Sometimes, that similarity can really make it hard for listeners to discern who they are listening to. Unfortunately, for BIG30, he is one of the MCs that are having a harder go of things.
Beale Street Walk of Fame honors rock star Bobby Whitlock
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Beale Street Walk of Fame took the time to honor the international musician Bobby Whitlock. Whitlock began his career as a teenager in the studio at Stax Records. He also worked with stars like George Harrison and The Rolling Stones. Whitlock says that he is...
Pitmasters show off their skills in the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
Competition is fierce at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, where pitmasters are sweating and smoking to see who will be crowned “best in pork”. Teams from around the U.S. and internationally spend days working on huge whole hogs, massive slabs of shoulder and cuts of ribs in Memphis, Tennesse. (AP video shot by Kristin Hall)
SmokeSlam: Meet the winners of Memphis' new barbecue contest
SmokeMasters BBQ was named the Grand Champion of the inaugural SmokeSlam barbecue festival. The Memphis team was announced as Grand Champion and winner in the Ribs division during Saturday's awards ceremony at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis. It was the perfect birthday present for chief cook of SmokeMasters Will Hair, who turned 50...
Memphis Ignites Culinary Spark with Debut of SmokeSlam BBQ Festival Along the Mississippi River
Memphis' appetite for barbecue is insatiable, and the city's latest event, SmokeSlam, stoked the fires of competition along the Mississippi River this weekend. In what is already making headlines as a smoldering success, more than 50 teams congregated at Tom Lee Park for the inaugural SmokeSlam BBQ festival, where pit masters vied for a chunk of the $250,000 total prize money.
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