Our Pitmasters & Chefs
Prairie Fresh partners with several chefs and pitmasters from around the country to bring you delicious pork recipes you can make at home.

Mississippi native Melissa Cookston is a seven-time world barbecue champion and a celebrated chef with a deep passion for cooking and barbecue. She makes frequent appearances on national cooking shows and stars in a show on Netflix titled “American Barbecue Showdown.” Melissa also owns the Memphis BBQ Company with restaurants in Mississippi and Georgia, and is the author of two cookbooks, “Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room” and “Smokin’ Hot in the South.”
As our Prairie Fresh ambassador and a Barbecue Hall of Fame inductee, Melissa shares her amazing insights and recipe ideas for making delicious mealtimes at home.

Mississippi native Melissa Cookston is a seven-time world barbecue champion and a celebrated chef with a deep passion for cooking and barbecue. Melissa also owns the Memphis BBQ Company with restaurants in Mississippi and Georgia, and is the author of two cookbooks, “Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room” and “Smokin’ Hot in the South.”
As our Prairie Fresh ambassador and a Barbecue Hall of Fame inductee, Melissa shares her amazing insights and recipe ideas for making delicious mealtimes at home.
Whether it’s serving up delicious food at his restaurant, Slap’s BBQ in Kansas City, or competing on the television show BBQ Pitmasters, Joe Pearce has perfected his fall-off-the-bone tender recipes that are worth falling over.
We’re excited to have pitmaster Joe Pearce, a Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue reserve grand champion, share his favorite backyard recipes for Prairie Fresh® pork with all of us.


Whether it’s serving up delicious food at his restaurant, Slap’s BBQ in Kansas City, or competing on the television show BBQ Pitmasters, Joe Pearce has perfected his fall-off-the-bone tender recipes that are worth falling over.
We’re excited to have pitmaster Joe Pearce, a Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue reserve grand champion, share his favorite backyard recipes for Prairie Fresh® pork with all of us.

With humble roots and the visions of Brad Orrison, Brooke Orrison Lewis and their family, The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint has grown from an offbeat takeout shed to a nationally recognized barbecue destination. Located in Mississippi, The Shed features live blues musicians, delicious barbecue and an unforgettable experience.
The Shed’s two-time Memphis in May World Championship competition barbecue team has been equally successful, with awards spanning meats, sauces and coleslaw categories.

With humble roots and the visions of Brad Orrison, Brooke Orrison Lewis and their family, The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint has grown from an offbeat takeout shed to a nationally recognized barbecue destination. Located in Mississippi, The Shed features live blues musicians, delicious barbecue and an unforgettable experience.
The Shed’s two-time Memphis in May World Championship competition barbecue team has been equally successful, with awards spanning meats, sauces and coleslaw categories.
Before Chef Jean-Paul made his way to New York to be the chef he is today, he sat around a dinner table with his family eating biscuits and mayhaw jelly in the heart of Louisiana. That’s where he learned the traditions of southern cooking and the ability a good meal has to bring people together. And inside of a little seafood shack in the bayou is where his career took shape. Boiling crawfish and crabs in a spicy broth eventually led him to France, California, Atlanta, and St. Thomas. Chef Jean-Paul is setting a new standard with his cuisine.


Before Chef Jean-Paul made his way to New York to be the chef he is today, he sat around a dinner table with his family eating biscuits and mayhaw jelly in the heart of Louisiana. That’s where he learned the traditions of southern cooking and the ability a good meal has to bring people together. And inside of a little seafood shack in the bayou is where his career took shape. Boiling crawfish and crabs in a spicy broth eventually led him to France, California, Atlanta, and St. Thomas. Chef Jean-Paul is setting a new standard with his cuisine.