The Resort at Paws Up Welcomes Austin Grill Master Evan LeRoy for BBQ-U

Comfortable around a live fire from a young age, Chef Evan LeRoy’s culinary experiences range from fine dining at Hudson’s on the Bend to barbecue at Hill Country Barbecue. LeRoy was named as one of Zagat’s 30 Under 30 rising stars in the Austin culinary scene. LeRoy has appeared on Burgers, Brew & Que and Food Porn and gained the title of Austin Grill Master on the Travel Channel.

In 2017, LeRoy opened the barbecue truck LeRoy and Lewis, with a rotating menu of nontraditional meats and cuts and a working motto of “new school barbecue, old school service.” LeRoy has also traveled to Australia and Russia to train and work with prospective pit masters and is known for his openness to teaching and sharing smoking secrets. We are thrilled to have him this year for BBQ-U on June 22–24, 2018. We had a chance to sit down with LeRoy for a quick interview.

The last time you visited Paws Up was in 2016, correct? Tell us a little about your favorite memory on our ranch.

Correct. I took a hike through the woods one morning and saw a bald eagle for the first time in my life. Also, the last day of archery with my wife was fun and competitive.

What activity are you most excited about trying on property?

I’m most interested in doing some fishing this trip. I was not able to do that last time, and it seems like fun.

How did you become interested in barbecue?

I’ve been interested in barbecue for a long time. Since I was a kid cooking in the backyard with my dad. It’s more than an interest growing up in Texas—it’s an ingrained part of our culture.

Can you tell us about the dual smoker, which we hear you’re bringing to Paws Up? And why it’s called “the twins”?

Between leaving Freedmen’s (my last BBQ job) and opening LeRoy and Lewis, I taught some classes to keep me busy, keep money coming in and to stay relevant in the barbecue scene. I liked the idea of cooking with people and connecting with people over BBQ on a deeper level. One of my students was Sheldon Mason from Montana. He has his own pop-up BBQ business, and he designed the pits for capacity and travel—as two back-to-back smokers that mirror one another.

Can you explain what you mean by “new school barbecue”?

As the next generation of Texans who are carrying this tradition of barbecue into the next decades, it’s our responsibility to put our own stamp on it, improve it and give it to those who come after us. New school BBQ is about taking the method and soul of BBQ and injecting new life into it with updates on classic cuts, global flavor profiles and modern hospitality.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?
Vegetables, mostly in pasta and stir fries. I like to keep it simple and use herbs from my garden. I also use a lot of eggs.

What is your favorite cooking show on television?

Used to be Good Eats. Now it’s Mind of a Chef.

Is there something you’ve never grilled that you want to attempt?

I’ve never cooked a fish I caught on the beach or on a shore. I would love to do that.

 What travel destination is next on your bucket list?

Germany, Hawaii, Italy.

If you could cook alongside one barbecue chef, who would it be?

I would love to cook with Tootsie Tomanetz from Snow’s BBQ in Lexington, TX.

From the Grammys to Glamping Robbie Fulks Kicks Off Campfire Stars 

From the Grammys to Glamping, Robbie Fulks will be heading to The Resort at Paws Up for Campfire Stars at Paws Up on June 19–23. Robbie is a singer, recording artist, instrumentalist, composer and songwriter. His most recent release, 2017’s Upland Stories, earned year’s-best recognition from National Public Radio and Rolling Stone among many others, as well as two Grammy® nominations for folk album and American roots song. We were lucky to sit down with Robbie for a chat.

Your last record, Upland Stories, was nominated for two Grammys in 2017. Did that bring your career more exposure?

It’s definitely helped. I’ve been playing at more places where people are listening respectfully as opposed to throwing bottles at my head. (laughs)

Did you attend the ceremony?

I was there with the whole family. The bigger ceremony is telecast and that was the part I was expecting not to enjoy, but it was amazing. Beyoncé and Bruno Mars and all these people are great singers. It was like a positive presentation of the state of popular music today and the production was done very well.

You performed at Paws Up during Montana Master Grillers 2015. What were your experiences at Paws Up like?

It was super memorable. As far as gigs go, usually you travel someplace and you’re in and out, but at Paws Up, somebody picks you up and takes you out into the woods and you’re there for three or four days. And the amenities are unbelievable. You can hike. You can rappel. The food is unbelievable and the staff is really kind.

Do you have songs in mind that you will play during Campfire Stars?

No, not at all. The way that it works best for me is to go in and respond to the situation, to keep it in the moment. If you plan too much in advance, the audience can read it and it can seem scripted and gets a little bit robotic sometimes.

What would you tell young people at Campfire Stars who might want to start playing music themselves?

For me, music was a great thing to have early in life because it set up music as a verb, not as something that you just go and witness. It’s something participatory as well. It’s something that can be meaningful about where you live and what your ancestry is. So I try to reflect that now when I play.