An atlanta native, Graham was raised on southern cooking. he introduced yankee (and now wife) julie to real southern bbq on ONe of their first dates at the Famous FAt MATT’s Rib Shack.
the husband and wife team ARE CARRYING ON Georgia’s PROUD BBQ tradition IN CALIFORNIA’s WINE COUNTRY.
The Pit
Southern Stoke uses a mobile Lang BBQ pit made in Nahunta, Georgia. Dubbed “Hotlanta,” it’s an offset smoker which means it has a separate chamber for a large fire. The smoke drafts into the oven, then over the meat and out through the chimney. It’s designed to maximize indirect heat, allowing for “low and slow” barbecue. The temperature is controlled through fire management and the oven chamber provides for 22 cubic feet of cooking capacity. This behemoth can cook a whole hawg, ribs and much more.
brisket baby
It’s the king of BBQ meats for a reason. A labor of love, our Texas-style smoked brisket takes nearly 24 hours—but oh, are those hours worth it. The unctious, addictive, peppery beef pairs perfectly with our mustard-based BBQ sauce, aptly named “Cali Gold.”
PRIMo pork
Southern Stoke’s signature smoked meat is the pork shoulder, also known as the “Boston butt.” So which is it, a shoulder or butt? It all dates back to colonial New England when folks used buttload as a unit of measurement. So you’re getting a buttload ‘o pork shoulder.
LOVE & BBQ
This blurry cellphone picture is from one of Graham and Julie’s first dates at the Famous Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Hey, if it’s good enough for Anthony Bourdain it must be a great place to bring a date, right? Fat Matt’s is part of the holy trinity of BBQ in Greater Atlanta, along with Fox Brothers and Williamson Brothers. And if you find yourself at Fat Matt’s, order the ribs. It ain’t a chicken shack. (Graham taught Julie that lesson very early on…like just before this picture was taken.)
THE ROCK STARS
You can’t talk about southern BBQ without mentioning the real stars of the show—the side dishes. Deviled eggs are served everywhere now, even here in Napa, but they will always be quintessential southern fare.
Of course there are other scene-stealing side dishes every good southerner needs to perfect. Potato salad, collards, slaw to name a few. And the best part about these dishes? No two people do it the same. There’s always a special little something to make it yours.
CALIFORNIA LOVE
California has its own BBQ too, and it’s damn tasty! Santa Maria BBQ is focused on the Tri-Tip, a beef cut from the bottom of the sirloin. It is usually accompanied with salsa and pinto beans. Even though it isn’t southern BBQ, we honor our California home by cooking this amazing dish.