Texas may dominate the barbecue conversation nationally, but one Lansdale pitmaster is about to show the country what southeastern Pennsylvania can bring to the smoker.
Bob Trudnak, a longtime Montgomery County barbecue competitor and caterer, is appearing on the newest season of BBQ Brawl, which premiered Monday on Food Network.
Trudnak competes against 11 other pitmasters for the show’s “Master of ’Cue” title while being mentored by celebrity chefs Bobby Flay, Brooke Williamson, and Maneet Chauhan.
Trudnak’s barbecue style blends traditional Southern techniques with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences inspired by his Lebanese and Italian family roots. His journey into the barbecue world began after attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Later, he worked with Texas pitmaster and inventor “Shotgun Fred” Pirkle at Warminster-based ThermOmegaTech.
Over the years, Trudnak has built a national reputation through competition barbecue, award-winning sauces, and his Montgomery County catering company, Hav’n a BBQ. He also sells seasonings and sauces under his Bobby T’s Gourmet Foods brand.
For Trudnak, the national spotlight is also a chance to represent the Philadelphia region on one of barbecue’s biggest stages.
To learn more about Lansdale’s Bob Trudnak and BBQ Brawl, visit The PhillyVoice.
