🔥 This episode is sponsored by Harder Charcoal & Exhibit Supply! 🔥

🔥 What happens when Chicago flavor meets Texas barbecue?

On this episode of The Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast, we welcome Shawn Ealy, better known as Shawn Blaze of Shawn Blaze Kitchen, for a powerful conversation about barbecue, entrepreneurship, faith, family, and the grind behind building a food business.

From grilling in the Midwest to making a name for himself in the Dallas–Fort Worth barbecue scene, Shawn Blaze has built a following with his signature smoked turkey legs, smoked oxtails, Creole shrimp mac and cheese, and Chicago-inspired jerk creations.

But his journey goes far beyond the food.

After a serious battle with COVID-19, Shawn gained a new perspective on life and discovered what he believes is his purpose: feeding God's children. That experience helped fuel his passion for cooking and inspired him to take his culinary journey to another level.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE:

🍗 Chicago Flavor Meets Texas BBQ:How Shawn brought his Midwest roots to the Texas barbecue scene with smoked turkey legs, jerk chicken, brisket, and loaded mac and cheese.

💪🏾 Finding Purpose Through Adversity: How surviving COVID changed Shawn's outlook on life, faith, and pursuing his passion.

💰 The REAL Cost of Barbecue: Why great barbecue isn't cheap and why customers need to understand the time, labor, ingredients, and dedication behind every plate.

⏰ The Entrepreneurial Grind: The early mornings, long hours, and sacrifices involved in running a catering and pop-up food business.

📱 The Power of Social Media: How food reviews, customer recommendations, and viral posts can help small barbecue businesses reach new audiences.

🚚 What's Next for Shawn Blaze Kitchen: Food truck plans, bigger events, expanding catering opportunities, and Shawn's signature Blaze jerk aioli.

🏆 THE MAC AND CHEESE SHOWDOWN: Things get interesting when Shawn Blaze and Brandon start talking about going head-to-head in a mac and cheese cook-off! Who's really got the best Mac?

Whether you're a backyard pitmaster, barbecue entrepreneur, food lover, or somebody who appreciates a great success story, this episode delivers real conversations, plenty of laughs, and insight into the barbecue business.

🔥 CONNECT WITH SHAWN BLAZE KITCHEN

Facebook: Shawn Blaze Barbecue

Instagram: Shawn Blaze Kitchen

TikTok: @BlazeKitchenOne

Follow Shawn to find out where he'll be serving up his signature creations next!

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👍 LIKE this video if you love great barbecue and real conversations.

💬 COMMENT BELOW: Are you choosing smoked turkey legs, smoked oxtails, or jerk chicken mac and cheese? And who would win a mac and cheese cook-off: Brandon or Shawn Blaze?

🔔 SUBSCRIBE to the Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast for conversations with pitmasters, chefs, entrepreneurs, and the people shaping barbecue culture.

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#BlackSmokeBarbecue #ShawnBlazeKitchen #BBQPodcast #TexasBBQ #Barbecue

Harder Charcoal – The premium fuel for serious pitmasters. Whether you’re smoking low and slow or grilling hot and fast, Harder XL Briquets and Lump Charcoal deliver clean, consistent heat with that authentic wood-fired flavor.

👉 Use code BLACKSMOKE at checkout for a discount on your order!

🌐 https://www.hardercharcoal.com

Exhibit Supply – Trusted by food vendors, BBQ teams, and event pros nationwide. From heavy-duty canopies to custom food tents, Exhibit Supply keeps your setup looking sharp and built to last.

🌐 https://www.exhibitsupply.com

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🔥 This episode is sponsored by Harder Charcoal & Exhibit Supply! 🔥The day we've been waiting for has arrived. 🇫🇷🔥Black Smoke Barbecue continues our journey through Saint-Martin for the 2025 Festival de la Gastronomie, and this time we're heading into the streets of Marigot for one of the biggest days of the entire festival — the Saint-Martin BBQ Competition.In Episode 1, we explored the Village de la Gastronomie, met some of the people behind the festival and watched massive dino beef ribs and brisket hit the smokers in preparation for BBQ day.Now it's time to see how it all comes together.Brandon heads down Rue de la République as competitors fire up their grills and smokers, cooking their way through multiple categories for a chance to be named the Best BBQ in Saint-Martin.But barbecue is only part of the story.Throughout the day, the streets of Marigot come alive with steelpan, Carnival dancers, music, food and the culture of Saint-Martin. We also sit down with the Texas judges as they share what they're looking for in the competition and introduce the island to another barbecue tradition.Then we head into the Village de la Gastronomie, where Texas barbecue meets the Caribbean. We're talking brisket, massive dino beef ribs and the flavors of Bludso's BBQ, before Brandon continues eating his way through Saint-Martin — including freshly grilled lobster along the Marigot waterfront.As the sun goes down, we return to Rue de la République. The smokers are still going, the streets are packed, the music is playing — and eventually it's time to find out who will take home the trophies and be crowned among the 2025 Saint-Martin BBQ Competition winners.From Texas barbecue to Caribbean open-fire cooking, from the competition pits to Carnival in the streets, Episode 2 is about more than who wins.It's about the food, the people and the culture behind the smoke.🔥 In this episode:Saint-Martin BBQ • BBQ Competition • Dino Beef Ribs • Brisket • Bludso's BBQ • Caribbean BBQ • Grilled Lobster • Carnival • Steelpan • Village de la Gastronomie • Rue de la République • Marigot • Festival de la Gastronomie • Island Culture🌎 BLACK SMOKE: SAINT-MARTIN — EPISODE 2If you haven't watched the first chapter, start with Episode 1 and follow our entire Saint-Martin journey.Subscribe to Black Smoke Barbecue for more stories from the people, places and traditions shaping barbecue culture.We tell the stories behind the smoke.Special thanks to our sponsors Exhibit Supply and Harder Charcoal for supporting Black Smoke and helping us bring this story from Saint-Martin to you.Festival de la Gastronomie • Saint-Martin 🇸🇽#BlackSmokeBarbecue #SaintMartin #BBQ #CaribbeanFood #FestivalDeLaGastronomie #SXMHarder Charcoal – The premium fuel for serious pitmasters. Whether you’re smoking low and slow or grilling hot and fast, Harder XL Briquets and Lump Charcoal deliver clean, consistent heat with that authentic wood-fired flavor.👉 Use code BLACKSMOKE at checkout for a discount on your order!🌐 https://www.hardercharcoal.comExhibit Supply – Trusted by food vendors, BBQ teams, and event pros nationwide. From heavy-duty canopies to custom food tents, Exhibit Supply keeps your setup looking sharp and built to last.🌐 https://www.exhibitsupply.com👉🏽 Before you do anything else — check out the site below!🎙️ The Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackSmokeBarbecue📲 Connect With UsInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/blacksmokebarbecue/TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@blacksmokebarbecueFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/blacksmokebarbecue