An Austin Pitmaster Is Competing in Netflix’s Barbecue Series
Kareem El-Ghayesh on Barbecue Showdown’s first episode.
It’s been a great year for Austin chefs starring in national cooking competition shows (see: Top Chef). Austin pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh of Egyptian-Texan smoked meats truck KG BBQ is going to be competing in the next season of Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown, premiering on Thursday, July 4.
The basic premise of the show involves nine contestants competing in cooking challenges centered on smoking meats and the such, all to win the $50,000 prize. It’s hosted by stand-up comedian and actor Michelle Buteau, with judges Melissa Cookston (pitmaster of Mississippi restaurant Memphis Barbecue Company) and Kevin Bludso (pitmaster of Los Angeles restaurant Bludo’s BBQ). The trailer teases guest judges like chef and The Bear actor Matty Matheson, celebrity pitmaster Tuffy Stone, and chef Kwame Onwuachi of Afro-Caribbean restaurants Tatiana in New York and the forthcoming Dōgon in Washington, D.C.
Throug KG BBQ, El-Ghayesh blends his Egyptian roots with Texas techniques, leading to stellar dishes like pork ribs glazed in a pomegranate molasses; lamb bacon ribs; kebabs; and the rice bowl brisket studded with pomegranate seeds, candied nuts, and tahini.
The Barbecue Showdown contestants.
El-Ghayesh started KG BBQ as a pop-up in 2017 as he worked in various Austin barbecue restaurants learning as much as he could. He debuted his truck in 2022, parked at MLK brewery Oddwood Ales. The next year, he was named a James Beard Award semifinalist and the truck won Eater Austin’s Eater Award for Best New Food Truck.
In Barbecue Showdown, El-Ghayesh will be joined by Texas contender Sloan Rinaldi, pitmaster of Houston-area truck Texas Q and the namesake line of barbecue sauces.