Chris Lilly's influence spans many facets of BBQ including competition BBQ, restaurants, cookbooks, TV personality, product spokesman and retail products. On the competition circuit there has been no pitmaster with more success at Memphis in May in the Pork category. Lilly is a three time Memphis in May Grand Champion and seven time winner of the Pork category. Other competition accolades include Grand Champion of the American Royal Invitational, Reserve Grand Champion of the Jack
These weekend warriors of barbecue cooked billions of meals and hosted millions of backyard barbecues this year and spent billions of dollars on grills & smokers, charcoal, sauces, rubs and meats. They perused millions of recipes and product reviews in books, magazines and barbecue specific blogs like Amazing Ribs, Grill Grrrl, Grilling with Rich, and Embers & Flame and watched hours of shows on TV dedicated to BBQ like BBQ Pitmasters and Bobby Flay's Barbecue Addiction. Perhaps the only thing more common than a Weber Kettle in the backyards of America is grass.
Aaron Franklin is in a league all by himself when it comes to accolades being showered upon a BBQ restaurant. You name the publication, from Bon Apetit to Texas Monthly to Food & Wine to the New York Times) and Franklin's Franklin Barbecue has probably been heralded as one of the top BBQ joints in America, if not the top BBQ joint in America
Steven Raichlen is the most prolific author of BBQ themed cookbooks and one of the most prolific hosts of BBQ themed cooking shows. Steven Raichlen's influence on the backyard BBQer can't be understated as his books have been purchased by millions of readers and his shows have been watched by millions of viewers.
Tuffy Stone - the Mariano Rivera of barbecue. When you see Rivera come out of the bullpen you know there is little doubt he's going to get the job done. The same can be said for Tuffy Stone - when you see him pull up at a contest you are pretty certain that he's going to win.
Myron Mixon. Today we continue the countdown to the Most Influential Person in BBQ with the 5th most influential person in BBQ. Coming in as the 5th Most Influential Person in BBQ is pitmaster of Jack’s Old South, judge on BBQ Pitmasters and cookbook author, Myron Mixon.