Des Moines sends two barbecue gurus to the BBQ Pitmasters finale on TLC

TLC's new season of BBQ Pitmasters is is heating up, and Des Moines, Iowa will be well represented.  Shad Kirton and Marlando "Moe" Cason each won their episodes of the show to make it to the finals.

Moe Cason won episode one on August 12th to open Pitmasters' new season.  Cason has been barbecuing for more than 30 years, but just started competing professionally about 4 years ago.  Cason's "Ponderosa BBQ" team had to make catfish fillets, pork butt, and sweet vinegar slaw to win their spot in the finals.  Links to Cason's winning recipes can be found on here.

Shad Kirton's "A Boy and His BBQ" team won the season's fifth episode, which aired Thursday, September 16th.  Kirton is the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Smokey D's BBQ and Absolute Flavors Catering, which has multiple locations in Des Moines.  Kirton has over 23 years in the restaurant industry and has competed successfully on the barbecue circuit for years, winning numerous grand championships and reserve grand championships.  Kirton's team had to make Turducken (a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey), frog legs, and collard greens on their path to the finals.  TLC has not posted Shad's episode-winning recipes on their website yet, but you can find links to some of his other grilling recipes in an Examiner interview with Shad conducted last July, as well as a link to a review of Smokey D's.

Both Cason and Kirton won $5000 for their wins and are competing for a $100,000 grand prize and the Kingsford Cup trophy.  Holding the two teams' fates in their hands are BBQ Pitmasters' team of judges: celebrity chef Art Smith, ex-NFL defensive lineman Warren Sapp, and barbecue champion Myron Mixon.  The show is hosted by chef Kevin Roberts. 

Tune in to TLC Thursday, September 26 for the BBQ Pitmasters finale (airing at 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm CST) to cheer on Des Moines' own barbecue kings, Moe Cason and Shad Kirton.  For more info, check out TLC's website for the show.