Pitmaster Doug Bauer of Lucinda rubbed elbows and choice cuts of meat last week with some of the biggest names in barbecue.
Bauer is the owner of DB’s Smokin’ BBQ.
“The Shack” received national recognition last year when it was dubbed one of the best barbecue joints in the country.
Bauer’s pit prowess received another nod at the National Barbecue Association conference last week in Jacksonville, Florida.
There he cooked alongside barbecue champions Myron Mixon and Tuffy Stone. Both are television personalities and internationally recognized names on the barbecue circuit.
Bauer’s camp cooked 10 briskets at the conference and received a people’s choice award, he said.
“Brisket is probably one of the hardest to cook right in barbecue,” Bauer said.
Brisket is often called the king of barbecue meats and is commonly part of a competitive barbecue cookoff, he said.
Bauer was right to bring the brisket.
Myron Mixon asked Bauer to cook alongside him in Harrisburg on a stop at the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour in June.
“He apparently liked my style,” Bauer said.
“We’ll be doing the whole gamut of different meats,” Bauer said of the Sam’s Club competition.
That cookoff comes with a purse that could purchase a lot of marinade – $50,000.
Bauer received another compliment in the form of a request to come on board as an organizer with the National Barbecue Association, he said.
All these accolades helped increase Bauer’s competitive confidence.
“It just reinforced that I am doing barbecue the way it’s supposed to be done,” he said.
Although his star is rising as a competitive pitmaster, Bauer has not left his roots.
“My heart’s in Lucinda. I definitely love everything about this little shack,” he said.
Anyone craving the taste of Bauer’s signature sauce, or maybe the award-winning brisket, will have to wait no longer than April Fool’s Day when The Shack opens for the season.
“No foolin,” Bauer joked.
“I feel as though it’s been a long and fun road to be doing this,” Bauer said. “It’s my passion.”