Thursday, May 7, 2015

Now Open in DC: Pitmasters Back Alley BBQ


From our friends at Pitmasters Back Alley BBQ...

New Carry Out and Delivery Concept from Wagshal's Serves BBQ Hot Off the Smoker

Wagshal's Family of Fine Foods, best known for luxury-grade, dry aged beef, announces the opening of Pitmasters Back Alley BBQ located at 4818 (Alley) Yuma Street, NW, DC 20016. After sponsoring local BBQ competitors and scouring national BBQ competitions for several years in search of phenomenal barbecue recipes, Wagshal's has added BBQ to their repertoire.

"We are excited to offer quality BBQ to our customers!" says Wagshal's Family of Fine Foods Vice President of Operations Brian Fuchs. "From the competitions we attended, we learned all the competitors timed their BBQ prep down to the precise minute of judging.” Realizing that one common component being the judges were the only ones enjoying fresh barbecue, Fuchs reveals, “That’s when our new concept came together, which is to serve outstanding barbecue to our customers, just as it’s served to BBQ competition judges - fresh off the smoker.”


Another key component of the concept includes the use of coveted recipes provided by award-winning pitmasters across America. The menu will rotate, to feature these special recipes. He says, “It’s an honor and a privilege to work with pitmasters so passionate about their craft, who have entrusted us with their recipes - some handed down from generations - allowing us to share them with our local clientele.”


"Barbecue is all about the timing," explains Proprietor Fuchs. "There is a beginning and an end." He emphasizes, "Barbecue enthusiasts know if they want great barbecue, they have to be there in the end... right as it’s coming off the smoker!" He continues to say, "Essentially, we are providing our customers prepared-to-order barbecue.” To achieve this, Fuchs describes an innovative cooking method they have developed. It utilizes a different smoking process for each protein, one which is started, stopped at a certain point and then restarted to fill orders. Fuchs says this yields tremendous results.


Great tasting BBQ is the perfect flavor combination of smoke, meat, fat and spices. Fuchs, who has been smoking meats for years, says, "You can't rush BBQ done right, but you can break it into manageable parts." There is a lengthy time of preparation and smoking done in advance with this method. He states, "When meat is prepared with patience, and done in such a way that it does not need to be smothered with sauce, that's great BBQ."

As the name implies, Pitmasters Back Alley BBQ is located off the main drag. It boasts a real roadhouse charm, complete with hand drawn chalkboard menus, BBQ signage from around the country and an interior wrapped with reclaimed wood from a Virginia farm and rippled tin from a farm in Maryland.

The menu now highlights eight BBQ classics representing regional specialties such as Carolina pork shoulder, St. Louis rack of ribs, "Luckenbach" Texas prime brisket and Broasted chicken and perch. Side dishes consist of cheesy grits, Mason Dixon okra, and collard greens to name a few. Everything from the biscuits to the proteins are made-to-order from scratch, using Wagshal's well-sourced ingredients.

Carry out-only and delivery available to limited zip codes. Dinner, Monday - Saturday 5-9:30 PM, Sunday 2-7 PM. The menu is online, and orders may be placed in advance at pitmastersbackalleybbq.com or by calling (202) 350-9791. Lunch is slated to begin this spring.

About Pitmasters Back Alley BBQ:
For more information, visit pitmastersbackalleybbq.com and see facebook. Pitmasters Back Alley BBQ is part of Wagshal’s Family of Fine Foods.

About Wagshal’s Family of Fine Foods:
Serving the Washington, DC community since 1925, Wagshal’s celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. The growing brand continues garnering both local and national recognition for its uncompromising level of old-world, personalized service and top quality. Known for its array of prepared foods, sandwiches, boutique wines, butcher shop, and hard-to-find items, Wagshal's is a relied-upon source for food-industry media and a regular destination for local chefs, embassy chefs, and culinary icons. Wagshal's Imports brings to America the 'Sofi' award-winning IbĂ©rico de Bellota pork products from Spain. Visit Wagshal’s Family of Fine Foods for more information.