Keepin’ It Smokin’ Competition BBQ featured on Food Network

By Cierra Craft

Plant Citians who were tuned into the Food Network’s BBQ USA with Chef Michael Symon were in for a surprise when local BBQ team Keepin’ It Smokin’ was featured on Monday, July 31. The episode titled Smokin’ in the Sunshine State centered on five teams competing in Apalachicola’s Clucks and Butts Cook-Off on the Bay, a Florida BBQ Association-sanctioned event held in January 2023. Plant City brothers Justin and Jason Norris were approached by Food Network and began talking to producers and casting in November 2022 to be featured in the upcoming episode.

“We won Reserve Grand Champion at Clucks and Butts last year,” said Jason. “So, we had to submit videos to the show, and all of the teams approached by the show would text each other almost every day asking, ‘Did you hear anything?’”

The brothers said the show confirmed about a week before the contest that Keepin’ It Smokin’ was accepted to be featured on BBQ USA.

The show chronicled Cluck and Butts’ Mystery Box challenge as well as the team’s four main meat turn-ins: Pork, Chicken, Brisket, and Ribs. The BBQ competition scene can be stressful as is, but a camera crew added to the pressure of perfection.

“We didn’t know what to expect with the camera crew, but especially with the Mystery Box,” said Justin. The competitors were not told until the day of the competition what food items were inside the box and must be incorporated into their turn-in with only three hours to cook. The Mystery Box items were Gulf Shrimp and Oysters; Keepin’ It Smokin’ created a Shrimp Alfredo Pasta and Fried Oysters with a Balsamic and Spicy Honey Glaze, winning 10th of 26 entries.

“That was our first ancillary competition,” said Jason. “The next ancillary competition won’t be as nerve-wracking after creating this one on T.V. and local Apalachicola chefs as judges.”

Keepin’ It Smokin’ won 5th Overall, tied for 10th in Chicken, 18th in Ribs, 7th in Pork, and 6th in the Brisket competitions.

“This was an experience we will never forget, and it means so much to us to bring competition BBQ back to TV,” said Justin. “This is how we found this sport/hobby that we have grown to love and are excited and humbled to be able to have a part in it.”

Keepin’ It Smokin’ will be at Riverview’s Que for A Cure on September 15th and then begin gearing up for the 20th Annual Plant City Pig Jam on November 17th & 18th.