š„ The National Barbecue & Grilling Association is the voice of the #bbq industry. We provide networking, events and more. #iambbq #businessofbbq š„
š„ Introducing the NBBQA Pitmaster Connect Program š„
Need someone who knows barbecue?
The National Barbecue & Grilling Association is creating a connection point for BBQ and grilling talent, businesses, brands, retailers, restaurants, caterers, and event organizers.
This program is for the whole barbecue community:
Backyard cooks who know their way around a grill.
Competition pitmasters who understand timing, pressure, and presentation.
Live fire cooks who know how to bring the experience.
Content creators who can tell the story.
Caterers and restaurant teams who can feed a crowd.
BBQ brands and retailers who need product demo support.
Event organizers who need trusted hands on-site.
If you are a cook, pitmaster, BBQ pro, content creator, or live fire enthusiast, sign up to be part of the BBQ talent network.
If you are a business, brand, retailer, restaurant, caterer, or event organizer looking for BBQ talent, sign up to let us know what kind of help you need.
The NBBQA Pitmaster Connect Program is built to help connect the right people with the right opportunities.
š Sign up here:
/sl/UgHlx3s
NBBQA ā The Business Home for Barbecue & Grilling Professionals.
#NBBQA #PitmasterConnect #BBQFamily #BBQBusiness #BackyardBBQ #CompetitionBBQ #LiveFireCooking #BBQBrands #BBQRestaurant #BBQCatering #BBQRetail #ContentCreators #NowThatsSmokin
National BBQ Month is about more than what is on the grill.
It is about the people behind the smoke. š„
The pitmasters teaching.
The small businesses growing.
The restaurants feeding their communities.
The brands helping move barbecue forward.
The friends who show up.
The mentors who pour into others.
The next generation learning the fire.
That is the heart of the National Barbecue & Grilling Association.
BBQ has always been bigger than food.
It is connection.
It is opportunity.
It is education.
It is family.
It is business.
It is tradition.
And it is a fire worth protecting.
Has barbecue given you friendship, opportunity, purpose, or a place to belong?
Drop a š„ in the comments if you believe BBQ is bigger than food.
#NBBQA #NationalBBQMonth #BBQFamily #NowThatsSmokin #BBQIsBiggerThanFood #LiveFire #BarbecueCommunity
Some weekends remind us why this barbecue family means so much. It is the handshakes, the hugs, the smoke in the air, the stories shared under tents, and the way folks cheer each other on like family.
NBBQA exists because barbecue has always been bigger than food. It is connection. It is opportunity. It is friendship. It is the fire that keeps bringing us back together.
š„ This is the kind of BBQ business story we love to celebrate.
Lifespace USA is featured on the May 2026 cover of Barbecue News Magazine, and their journey is a reminder that barbecue is about more than food.
It is about family.
It is about showing up.
It is about community.
It is about building something meaningful around the fire.
From South African braai traditions to Texas BBQ, the Lifespace family is growing a brand rooted in quality, connection, and live-fire cooking.
If you are attending Memphis in May, be sure to stop by and connect with Lifespace while you are there.
š NBBQA members can read the full Lifespace feature through their Barbecue News Magazine member access.
#NBBQA #BetterTogether #BBQFamily #LifespaceUSA #MemphisInMay #LiveFireCooking #OutdoorCooking #BarbecueNewsMagazine #NowThatsSmokin
š„ FIRE. FOOD. COMPETITION. COMMUNITY. š„
The BBQ world is about to experience something BIG.
Introducing the 2026 LIVE FIRE EXPERIENCE SERIES presented by the National Barbecue & Grilling Association ā a brand-new live-fire tour built to bring together elite pitmasters, passionate fans, major brands, food lovers, and the growing culture of outdoor cooking across America.
This isnāt just another BBQ contestā¦
This is a LIVE-FIRE EXPERIENCE.
š„ Open-fire cooking
š„ Live demos
š„ Competition-level food sampling
š„ Fire management skills
š„ VIP experiences
š„ Brand activations
š„ Pitmaster interaction
š„ Smoke, flavor, and adrenaline
And most importantlyā¦
š„ The road to the 2027 National Live Fire Championship begins HERE.
š NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
September 11ā12, 2026
š GREENWOOD, SOUTH CAROLINA
October 9ā10, 2026
š BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI
November 13ā14, 2026
Each stop will feature a limited field of live-fire teams battling it out in front of fans, sponsors, media, and some of the most passionate BBQ audiences in America.
This series was created for the people who truly LIVE the BBQ and grilling lifestyle.
The brands.
The pitmasters.
The backyard warriors.
The food lovers.
The fire keepers.
If you love smoke rolling through the air, real wood and charcoal cooking, perfectly cooked protein, and the energy that only live fire can createā¦ THIS IS YOUR EVENT SERIES.
š„ Sponsors wanting direct consumer engagementā¦
š„ Teams wanting national exposureā¦
š„ Fans wanting unforgettable food experiencesā¦
WELCOME TO THE FIRE.
Tag your BBQ crew.
Tag a pitmaster.
Tag a brand that belongs in this movement.
#LiveFireExperience #NBBQA #LiveFireCooking #BBQ #OutdoorCooking #Pitmaster #SteakCulture #BBQLife #FireHeatSkill #FoodFestival #SmokeFireFlavor #Grilling #BBQFamily
š„
The National Barbecue & Grilling Association joins Barbecue News Magazine in congratulating Company 7 BBQ in Englewood, Ohio for being named to the Best of the Best Barbecue Restaurants in America Restaurant Guide for the 15th consecutive year!
Restaurants on the guide are anonymously taste-tested and recognized for delivering exceptional barbecue, hospitality, and overall dining experience. Maintaining that standard for 15 years is an incredible achievement.
From the atmosphere inspired by a 1920s firehouse to the quality found throughout the menu, Company 7 BBQ continues to represent the kind of dedication and passion that makes the barbecue community special.
š Congratulations to the entire Company 7 BBQ family!
š Englewood, Ohio
š pany7bbq.com
#NBBQA #BetterTogether #NowThatsSmokin #BestOfTheBest #BBQCommunity
What happens inside NBBQA?
A whole lot more than most people realize. š„
Inside our community, members get access to:
š Special Interest Group (SIG) calls with industry leaders
š Real conversations about BBQ business, products, restaurants, and marketing
š Conference sessions that go beyond the basics
š Networking opportunities that turn into friendships, partnerships, and growth
This isnāt just another organization.
Itās a room full of people willing to help each other succeed.
From backyard cooks to restaurant ownersā¦ from sauce makers to championship pitmastersā¦ thereās a place for you here.
And honestly? Some of the best moments happen in the conversations between the sessions.
š„ Behind the scenes
š„ Shared knowledge
š„ Real connections
Thatās what membership looks like.
If youāve been watching from the outsideā¦ maybe itās time to pull up a chair.
š Learn more at NBBQA.org
#NBBQA #BetterTogether #BBQFamily #NowThatsSmokin #LiveFire #PitmasterLife
From all of us at NBBQA and Barbecue News Magazine, congratulations to the 2026 Barbecue Hall of Fame Top 10 Finalists! š
These names represent the heart and soul of barbecueāyears at the pit, building businesses, mentoring others, and moving this industry forward.
Being named to this Top 10 is a BIG dealā¦ and well deserved.
š¬ Drop a š„ below and help us celebrate these legends!
#NBBQA #BarbecueNews #BBQFamily #NowThatsSmokin #BBQLegends LiveFire BarbecueHallOfFame
Cinco de Mayo + Fire + Family š„š²š½ā¤ļø Weāre celebrating with a potjie full of flavor and a whole lot of gratitude. Happy Anniversary Kell & Janet ā¤ļø Whatās cooking at your place today? #NBBQA #CincoDeMayo #Potjie #LiveFire #BBQFamily #BetterTogether #NowThatsSmokin
š®š„ Potjie Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Stew
What youāll need:
2 lbs pork shoulder (or chicken thighs), cubed
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, sliced
3 cloves garlic
1 can fire-roasted tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup corn
1 can black beans (drained)
2 tbsp Rylee's Fiesta Rub
Juice of 1 lime
Fresh cilantro
How to cook it (potjie style):
Heat your potjie over live coals š„
Brown your meatādonāt rush this part
Add onion, peppers, garlicālet it build flavor
Layer in tomatoes, broth, beans, corn
Season and let it simmer low and slow (lid on, no stirring!)
Finish with lime and cilantro
Serve with tortillas or over riceā¦ and donāt forget to share it with someone.
Because thatās what this is really about.
š Food brings us together
š Fire slows us down
š And moments like thisā¦ they matter
Happy Anniversary, Kell & Janet ā¤ļø
Happy Cinco de Mayo, BBQ Family š²š½
#NBBQA #BBQFamily #LiveFire #PotjieCooking #CincoDeMayo #BetterTogether #NowThatsSmokin @lifespaceint@prairiefresh@steakprincessbbq
š„ BBQ family, letās celebrate a true legend! š„
Barbecue News Magazine and the National Barbecue & Grilling Association are proud to help spread the word about a special gathering honoring Ricky Bobby ā āThe Man, The Myth, The Legend.ā
Join 3 Taxi Guys BBQ, The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, Boars Night Out, and ACES Wild BBQ for an evening full of stories, laughter, fellowship, and a few Ricky Bobby-style shenanigans.
š Wednesday, May 13
ā° 6:00 PM
š 3 Taxi Guys & The Shed BBQ Booths H-300 & H-301
š» BYOB
š Wear your best hat ā Ricky Bobby loves a good hat!
This is what the BBQ community does best: we show up, we celebrate each other, and we make memories together.
š„ Hosted by:
3 Taxi Guys BBQ
The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint
Boars Night Out
ACES Wild BBQ
Weāre honored to help promote this celebration and hope to see our BBQ family there.
#NowThatsSmokin #NBBQA #BBQFamily #RickyBobby #BBQLife #BetterTogether #BarbecueNewsMagazine #NationalBarbecueAndGrillingAssociation
