Class Description
Learn to BBQ Like a DESPERADO
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced backyard pitmaster, our immersive, hands-on BBQ class is designed to help you produce championship-quality barbecue with confidence.
There are countless barbecue classes across America, each offering a different approach to the craft. If you're looking for a professional instructor with decades of real-world competition experience and a genuine passion for teaching, you've found the right place.
Led by award-winning Pitmaster Steve Botkin, every class is built around proven techniques that blend championship competition methods with authentic Texas barbecue traditions. You'll receive practical instruction you can immediately apply at home, whether you're cooking for family, friends, or your next BBQ competition.
Full-Blown BBQ Pitmaster Class
This comprehensive, hands-on class teaches the complete barbecue process from start to finish. We focus on BBQ fundamentals while incorporating competition-level techniques that will dramatically improve your results.
You'll Learn:
- BBQ 101 fundamentals
- Competition-style cooking techniques
- Food safety and proper meat handling
- Selecting premium meats
- Trimming brisket, ribs, pork, and poultry
- Wood selection and smoke flavor pairing
- Fire management and temperature control
- Award-winning rubs, injections, spritzes, and sauces
- Building perfect bark
- Wrapping and foiling techniques
- Knowing exactly when your meat is perfectly done
- Resting, slicing, and presentation techniques
Throughout the class, students will cook using DESPERADO custom smokers, including the Recteq RT-1200 pellet smoker "The Beast", a customized Weber Smokey Mountain 22-inch (WSM), and my one-of-a-kind BBQ FrankenCube smoker and learning professional fire management and wood-burning techniques that produce authentic Texas barbecue every time.
Class Information
Our classes are held in Lavon, Texas, just northeast of Dallas. During this immersive 7 1/2 hour experience, you'll work alongside Pitmaster Steve Botkin while preparing and smoking multiple meats from start to finish.
On the Menu
Your day begins with fresh coffee and breakfast pastries, followed by an all-you-can-eat championship BBQ lunch featuring everything prepared during class.
What's Included
- 7 1/2 Hours of Hands-On BBQ Instruction
- Live Cooking Demonstrations
- Morning Coffee & Pastries
- All-You-Can-Eat Championship BBQ Lunch
- DESPERADO BBQ Pitmaster Training Manual
- Official Certificate of Completion
- Membership in the Official Desperado Posse
- Lifetime BBQ Knowledge You Can Use Forever
Become a Desperado Pitmaster
Leave with the confidence, skills, and proven techniques used by championship pitmasters. Whether your goal is winning BBQ competitions or becoming the neighborhood legend, this class will give you the knowledge to cook authentic Texas barbecue with consistency and pride.
Steve,
"Wanted to drop you a note and say thank you for the class.
I know we are probably not your "standard" participant but we had a blast and learned some stuff."Steve,
"I just wanted to say thank you in behalf of my friend and myself for the great class today!
We had a lot of fun, learned a lot and will bring Desperado Style BBQ to Germany"
Steve,
I learned so much! Thank you for a great day. So much fun. It goes without saying that the food was "to die for" good!
Steve,
Steve you're a genius! Thank you for sharing your love of BBQ! Was a fun day and a great group of people.
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