Meet the Chefs

Chef Tawnya Brant

Team Leader for Team Indigenous Chef Tawnya “Katsítsyo” Brant grew up and resides on Six Nations in Ontario. She began her culinary career as a...

Chef Truck Carlson

Team Leader for Team Oyster SFC (RET) John “Truck” Carlson is a native Georgian and a Veteran of 30 years in the military. He spent 8 years in the...

Chef Matthew Deaton

Team Leader for Whole Hog Team For Matthew, the journey to becoming a professional pitmaster and chef is rooted in a passion for food instilled in...

Chef John Haney

Team Leader for Whole Hog Team Longtime Pitmaster, John Haney is the owner of Alveron BBQ Company as well as Fabricator of some of the best whole...

Chef Bryan Kyzar

Team Leader for Kill Team My name is Bryan Kyzar. I was born in southern Louisiana. I am a father, a carpenter, and teacher. I believe that as a...

Chef Blair Machado

Team Leader for Team Goat Blair Machado is the owner of Farmstead Co., a sustainable butcher and farm consultant company in Charleston, South...

Chef Dave McClusky

Team Leader for Ring Leader Mohawk Chef Dave Smoke McCluskey is the owner of Local Pop Catering: A Local Chefs Collective, ring leader of...

Chef Scott McDaniel

Team Leader for Hash & Rice Team I’ve been involved in barbecue one way or the other for most of my life, but I really got the bug back in the...

Cher Toby Melancon

Team Leader for Team Cracklin' Heading up Team Cracklin' and Co-Leading Team Boudin, Army Vet and Lafayette, Louisiana native Toby Melancon joins us...

Chef Greg Mueller

Team Leader for Porchetta Team Greg Mueller is a WORLDCHEFS-certified master chef, and the Director of Culinary Innovation at REC TEC Grills. In...

Chef Kristian Niemi

Team Leader for Team Rooster Chef/Restaurateur Kristian Niemi is a pioneer in Columbia’s burgeoning food and beverage industry, having opened some...

Chef Tripp Rion

Team Leader for Boudin Team He’s no ordinary hash slinger! Tripp Rion is your essential chef consultant that’s trusted by the food industry. Tripp’s...

Chef Hipolito Sanchez

Team Leader for Team Goat Hipolito Sanchez is the Pitmaster/Owner of Slow Motion for Meat in Chicago, Illinois . Affectionately known as "The Mayor"...