Ed Mitchell (pitmaster)
Ed Mitchell | |
|---|---|
Pitmaster | |
| Website | www |
Ed Mitchell (born 1948 or 1949)
Early life
Ed Mitchell grew up in Wilson, North Carolina. He learned about barbecue from his family, who frequently held large family gatherings.[4]
When Mitchell was 14 or 15 years old, he attended a family barbecue. It was attended by his father, uncles, grandfather and other male relatives. The family passed around moonshine and eventually, the adults fell asleep. Mitchell began tending to the barbecue fire. His grandfather woke up and saw a cooked pig in the barbecue and when he asked who cooked it. Mitchell acknowledged he did. Mitchell thought he was going to be chastised by his grandfather. Instead, his grandfather grabbed the bottle of moonshine and gave Mitchell a glass to celebrate - it was his first alcoholic beverage and his first time barbecuing.[5]
Cuisine
Mitchell specializes in whole hog barbecue. Mitchell uses traditional techniques for his barbecue, including using oak and hickory logs which are soaked in vinegar, onions and garlic, in addition to charcoal briquettes. His rub comprises salt, black pepper, red pepper, and onion powder. His barbecue sauce comprises cider vinegar, crushed red pepper, salt, sugar and black pepper. He cooks "hot and fast" with a bank of coals surrounding the hog. He closes the barbecue vents and will let the hog smoke overnight. He will smoke a hog starting at 500 degrees, lowering the temperature to 250 gradually.[1]
Mitchell prefers whole hog because it allows one to taste "all the different parts."[6] For example, to prepare a pulled pork sandwich, Mitchell will smoke a whole hog, believing that a proper pulled pork sandwich requires a blend of shoulder, ham, and belly meat.[1]
Career
In the 1990s, he started selling his barbecue at his family's grocery store in Wilson.[7] In 2004, the business closed after Mitchell was accused of failing to pay state taxes for the store.[7]
Mitchell co-founded The Pit in Raleigh. He left The Pit in 2011.
In 2020, Mitchell created three barbecue sauces for True Made Foods.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d Raichlen, Steven (28 September 2015). "Barbecue Secrets From Carolina Pitmaster Ed Mitchell". Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Jackson, Drew (2 December 2019). "Ed Mitchell, NC's most famous pitmaster, is ready to open a new barbecue restaurant". Food & Drink. The News & Observer. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "Famous pitmaster gives taste of new restaurant via food truck :: Out and About at WRAL.com". WRAL. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Purtell, David (27 November 2019). "TBJ Plus: Barbecue legend to open new restaurant in Raleigh; Stay safe when toy shopping". Triangle Business Journal. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ Pollan, Michael (2016). "Fire". Cooked. Season 1. Episode 1. Netflix.
- ^ Singer, Mike. "BBQ&A: Pitmaster Ed Mitchell's Grilling Tips". Cooking Channel. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ a b c Weigl, Andrea (6 October 2016). "Pitmaster Ed Mitchell may return to downtown Raleigh". The News & Observer. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ a b Perkins, Erin (17 February 2015). "Renowned North Carolina Pitmaster Ed Mitchell Closes Que Restaurant". Eater Carolinas. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ Schouten, Rebekah (24 February 2020). "True Made Foods debuts barbecue sauces sweetened with vegetables". Food Business News. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
External links
- Official website
- Ed Mitchell at IMDb
- "The Rise and Fall and Rise of Pitmaster Ed Mitchell" from the Gravy podcast
- "Pitmaster Ed Mitchell explains his passion for barbecue" from The News & Observer