The Houston culinary community is showing its true spirit of camaraderie as it steps up to support John Brotherton, the critically ill pitmaster of Brotherton's Black Iron BBQ in Pflugerville, currently hospitalized in a medically induced coma; a GoFundMe campaign spearheaded by fellow pitmaster Russell Roegels of Roegels Barbecue has already garnered over $80,000 in donations, a nod to Brotherton's revered status among local barbecue aficionados, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Roegels, who has been close to Brotherton for over a decade, launched the GoFundMe after Brotherton suffered an unspecified medical event on January 4th; describing Brotherton as someone who "gave everything he had to the barbecue community and the world," with funds intended to alleviate the financial pressure his family and business will face during his hospitalization and subsequent recovery, the brief period for which the GoFundMe's initial $75,000 goal was surpassed demonstrates the high esteem in which John Brotherton is held, Roegels told the Chronicle.
John Brotherton's induction into the esteemed Texas Monthly's "50 Best BBQ Joints List" was a testament to his commitment and excellence in the craft of barbecue, a dream realized four years after opening his Pflugerville spot, placing him amongst the ranks of barbecue elites and marking his establishment as a top contender in the Austin area, the Austin Business Journal noted.
While the Brotherton family has appealed for privacy during this difficult time, they have expressed their gratitude through social media for the outpouring of community support; Braeden Brotherton, John's son, emphasized the dedication of the staff, keeping Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue running amidst the adversity, and urged patrons to continue showing their support by visiting the restaurant which offers a slice of normalcy and the savory flavors patrons have come to love even as it adjusts its hours in light of the situation, the company further highlighted on its Facebook page, according to the Austin Business Journal.
Adding to the show of community strength, a raffle fundraiser featuring coveted barbecue equipment prizes, including a Moberg 500-gallon smoker, a Cen-Tex whole hog cooker, and a Backline live-fire grill, has been initiated to bolster the financial campaign for Brotherton's cause, further illustrating the deep ties and the spirit of mutual aid characteristic of Houston's culinary circles, as per the Houston Chronicle's coverage.
