Evan LeRoy, pitmaster at the heart of Austin's burgeoning barbecue scene, has set his sights on the literary world with his upcoming cookbook project, "New School Barbecue," slated for a 2026 release by Abrams Books, as per Austin Eater. Known for his innovative take on traditional smoking methods at the LeRoy & Lewis restaurant and food truck, LeRoy is not content to merely dish out mouthwatering barbecue; he's now poised to share his arsenal of culinary techniques and globally influenced recipes with both greenhorn cooks and seasoned pitmasters.
LeRoy and Lewis, which started as a food truck and finally materialized into a full-fledged restaurant in February, stands as a testament to the perseverance and innovative spirit of its founders, having overcome the familiar trials of leases and the ever-competitive Austin market, detailed Texas Monthly; With the brick-and-mortar location, the team has ramped up their barbecue output and expanded their menu, including daily staple items alongside rotating specialties like the revered beef cheeks now reserved for Friday's brisket for Saturdays and smoked pork chops relegated to Sundays giving patrons a reason to keep coming back.
An important aspect of the LeRoy and Lewis ethos is their emphasis on local sourcing, mirroring the practices of historic Central Texas meat markets. The restaurant proudly obtains their beef from native Texas producers such as HeartBrand, Dean & Peeler, and 44 Farms until they can begin receiving whole beef quarters from Lorene Farms, as per Evan LeRoy's commentary in a Texas Monthly interview. This dedication to local ingredients is said to marry a reverence for the past with a progressive culinary approach, as stated by Sawyer Lewis.
While the smoke clears around the sizzling grills at LeRoy and Lewis, LeRoy's upcoming cookbook, co-written by Paula Forbes, a noted author and food writer, is eagerly anticipated amid a landscape where food lovers yearn to transform their own kitchens into smokehouses. "New School Barbecue" will attempt to demystify the smoke-infused wizardry behind LeRoy's acclaimed dishes, starting from the basics to the more complex, ensuring that even novices can aspire to barbecue greatness.
