Welcome to Table Talk, The Daily Memphian’s weekly food and dining newsletter for subscribers only.

I came out unscathed from my first Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.

My hair might still smell like smoke after several washes, and pork might not be on my menu for a bit, but the four-day event was a special one. 

It was a record-breaking WCBCC.

Heath Riles BBQ won the contest’s grand championship last year and this year back to back — the first time that’s been done by a team in 42 years. 

As the last set of fireworks went off, I met pitmaster Heath Riles, who also won first place in ribs two years in a row. 

Talk about bragging rights. 

Jacey "BBQ Bugsy" Blurton, 13, reacts to winning the Patio Porker section of the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest May 16, 2026. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Another big winner: 13-year-old pitmaster Jacey Blurton. Her team, Bugsy Que, won the Patio Porkers amateur “backyard” barbecue division. As part of her win, Blurton will have to compete with the pros next year. 

I spent a lot of time at Liberty Park last week, and while I was there, I witnessed ... a lot.

There were several half-dressed, goggled adults, lathered in barbecue sauce, trying to put one another in a headlock during the sauce wrestling. 

Holy Smoke, the open-fire team by Atlanta-based chefs Dakari Akorede and Justin Robinson, cuts meat to serve to Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest attendees. (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian)

During Ms. Piggie Idol, I saw teams perform barbecue-themed parodies to hit songs in Irish-themed outfits. There’s a lot I could say here, but I’m going to stick with one word: creative. 

The event I was most impressed with was the Rib Rumble, where the only female contestant, Sadie Earney, took home the trophy from the rib-eating contest. 

Rib Rumble rib-eating contest winner Sadie Earney is from Jackson, Mississippi, and is on the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest team The Usual Saucepects. (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian)

Although I didn’t make it to Saturday’s Rib Rumble, I heard the winner of that event was also a woman.

Funnily enough, the Rib Rumbles were sponsored by Dude Wipes (you can click here if you’re curious what those are), and each winner won a golden toilet trophy. 

I also took the opportunity to buy new clothes that I felt fit the barbecue contest vibe: jean shorts, striped overalls, burnt-orange short overalls and a pig-themed T-shirt that I mentioned in last week’s newsletter. 

Food and dining reporter Sophia Surrett wears the pig-themed shirt mentioned in her Table Talk newsletter the week before the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

When I went back to the office, I polled The Daily Memphian’s staff on what our barbecue team’s name should be if we had one. The answers were pretty incredible: Reporkers, The Meatia, Meat the Press, ‘Cue & A and more.

All that is to say: I feel ready for next year’s barbecue week. Hope to see you there. 

This week in food

Josephine Estelle co-owner Andrew Ticer sets a table at the new Germantown restaurant. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Local chefs and restaurateurs Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman will open their newest restaurant, Josephine Estelle, in Germantown at the end of this month.

I spoke with the two childhood “best buds” about their six-year hiatus on opening a restaurant and how they keep working together after almost two decades. 

Jody Callahan reported that Newby’s will once again open to the public on the Highland Strip with a new owner, Memphis-native Sam Stalnaker, this summer. 

Bain Barbecue opened in Germantown on May 19, 2026. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

In Food Files, I talked about Bain Barbecue’s grand opening of its new Germantown location on Tuesday, May 19, the closure of Kura House Asian Cuisine on Sunday, May 31, and the next steps for the “Mushroom Queen” after Downtown’s The Artist Table closed. 

The WCBCC brought back teams this year who previously had swapped to compete in the rival Downtown barbecue contest, SmokeSlam, which launched in 2024 and was canceled this year.

I spoke with two teams that had made their way back, and both said it was more about tradition than about the organization behind the event. 

During the barbecue week, I interviewed Atlanta-based pitmasters Dakari Akorede and Justin Robinson, who took on 19 other teams in WCBCC’s first open live fire contest. Akorede was hot off competing in Food Network’s “BBQ Brawl,” which is now streaming. 

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