Pullman Market's Smoke & Fire BBQ celebration is coming back to the Pearl, with the mini meat festival set to gather roughly 15 pitmasters from across Texas and beyond at 221 Newell Ave. General admission runs 5 to 8 p.m., with VIP guests getting early access starting at 4 p.m.
According to Pullman Market, the Smoke & Fire BBQ Fest is back for another year after launching in 2025. Founder Kevin Fink said in a release reported by CultureMap San Antonio that the event is returning to Pullman Market after an exciting first year and brings together pitmasters and chefs for food, live music and community. Fink added that the goal is to build Smoke & Fire into an annual tradition, per the same report.
A Celebration, Not a Competition
Organizers have been clear that Smoke & Fire is meant as a gathering rather than a cook-off. As San Antonio Report noted of the event's debut, “The event is not a competition but a celebration.” That outlet also reported the gathering was expected to bring together roughly 15 pitmasters representing 10 barbecue joints serving 10 dishes.
One of the organizers told San Antonio Report, “We want to do this every year. So we wanted to start with the best (chefs) to share ideas and see how we can continue to improve.” Pullman Market describes the event as an annual celebration.
Who's Firing Up the Pits
The lineup leans heavily on San Antonio and Texas talent. Per CultureMap San Antonio, the roster includes Sean Wen of Curry Boys BBQ, Ian Corral and Max Muñoz of Mezquite, Jason Dady of Two Bros BBQ, Alex Sarmiento and Brenda Sarmiento of El Pastor Es My Señor, Ian Lanphear of Isidore, Cooper Abercrombie of Bar-A-BBQ in Montgomery, George Watts of GW BBQ in San Juan, Robert Celestino of Schulze's Pit Room in Seguin, and Roy Servan of Taqueria de Diez and Joel Garcia of Teddy's BBQ, both out of the Austin and Weslaco areas respectively.
Kareem El-Ghayesh of KG BBQ in Austin is also on the bill, the same report notes. San Antonio Report separately detailed a broader pitmaster group that has included John Bates of InterStellar BBQ, Ernest Servantes of Burnt Bean Co., Grant Pinkerton of Pinkerton's Barbecue and Shuai Wang of Jackrabbit Filly. CultureMap San Antonio reports that the out-of-town pitmasters collectively carry two James Beard Award semifinalist nods, four Texas Monthly Top 50 Barbecue list spots and a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Beyond the Barbecue Pits
Smoke & Fire isn't purely about brisket and ribs. CultureMap San Antonio reports that Larkin Kuny, executive chef of Rosso, will present a first taste of the upcoming Italian steakhouse, while Gabe Erales, a restaurant partner and Top Chef winner, is also expected to take part. The outlet adds that popular YouTube personality and cookbook author ArnieTex, also known as Arnie Segovia, rounds out the roster of names tied to the event.
Attendees will sample signature bites from each pitmaster and enjoy curated beverages, live music and entertainment, according to Pullman Market's event announcement. The VIP package includes Pullman Market swag and access to an exclusive patio lounge, per CultureMap San Antonio, on top of the earlier 4 p.m. entry.
Ticket Prices Still Unsettled
Ticket pricing is where the available information diverges. Pullman Market's own event page lists general admission at $65, with unlimited food sampling and free entry for children 12 and under, and VIP admission at $125 covering early entry, unlimited food sampling, Pullman swag and an event poster. CultureMap San Antonio, however, lists the general-admission ticket at $105.96 and the VIP ticket at $175.26, describing tickets as offering all-inclusive access with a discounted rate for kids 12 and under. Given the gap between those figures, anyone planning to attend should confirm current pricing directly before buying.
The pricing mismatch isn't new. When the inaugural Smoke & Fire debuted in 2025, the San Antonio Express-News reported general admission at $95 with VIP at $125, even as another announcement at the time listed general admission at $65 with VIP also at $125. That first event, held on Oct. 18, 2025, featured hometown names including Esaul Ramos of 2M Smokehouse alongside the Curry Boys BBQ trio and Two Bros BBQ Market's Jason Dady and Laura Loomis, with out-of-town pitmasters like Kareem El-Ghayesh, John Bates and Shuai Wang rounding out the bill, the Express-News reported.
