The annual Awards of Excellence put on by the National Barbecue & Grilling Association were announced via a Facebook livestream last week and Pasatiempo Barbecue’s The Firestarter captured second place in the “BBQ Blog” category.

The NBBQA awarded a top three that included Hey Grill Hey’s blog in third place and The Smoke Sheet BBQ Newsletter in first.

The Firestarter is a blog series that highlights people, places, and products in the barbecue and culinary industry.

“Even in a world of social media, podcasts, and video, I still believe in the written word,” said Pasatiempo Barbecue owner Justin Potts. “Everyone loves a good story and there is no shortage of stories to be told, especially in an industry that touches everyone’s life. Every single one of us has a fond memory or experience involving food.

“A major part of Pasatiempo’s mission is to connect people through food, and one way we do that is through The Firestarter. If we can share a story that connects a customer to a new brand or helps a store attract new customers, I consider it a job well done.”

The Firestarter was launched in July 2020 with a story about George & Pink’s Market — a hole-in-the-wall vegetable stand in Edisto, South Carolina run by Pink Brown, whose ancestors were enslaved on virtually the same land in the late 1800s.

“The George & Pink’s story is a perfect example of what we’re trying to do,” Potts said. “She has an incredible story that deserves to be told. Her shop may be hidden down a dirt road, but it’s a success story and a must-visit for produce, pies, and a step back in time if you’re in the Charleston or Savannah area.”

Over the past six months, we have featured stories on products form Rosewood Block, BLiS Gourmet, Spaceman Knives, and Chigger Creek, as well as grillmaster Joe Pichey of Go Blue BBQ and The 100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America author, Johnny Fugitt.

If you or your brand would like to share your story, or if you know of a person, place, or product that deserves their story to be told, please let us know or reach out to us via Facebook or Instagram.