Bob Trudnak Becomes the First Competition Pitmaster to Win ‘BBQ Brawl’

In an emotional wrap-up to a nine-week competition, the winner of the “Great BBQ Gauntlet” and Season 7 of BBQ Brawl is Bob Trudnak.

It has been a season of firsts on this series, which has become a summer tradition on Food Network. Not only did Bob become the first-ever barbecue competition circuit champion to become the Master of 'Cue, but he did so while being coached by first-ever BBQ Brawl judge-turned-captain, chef Brooke Williamson. This season, Brooke shifted from the judging table to a captain slot (alongside reigning champ Maneet Chauhan and competition veteran chef Bobby Flay) and helped mentor and cheer Bob onto victory. (“The cherry on top is that I just Beat Bobby Flay,” Brooke smiled proudly, as the episode and season wrapped up in sweet style.)

Before entering the first challenge, Bob told us, “People call me BBQ Bob, Bobby T, but I've never been called Master of 'Cue, and I'm so ready to change that." On the Season 7 finale of BBQ Brawl, he did just that.

The Final Battle

Since Maneet’s team members were eliminated prior to the episode, the last supper pitted the final two members of Team Brooke (Bob and Morgan Bolling) against the last man standing from Team Bobby (Tung Nguyen). For the final face-off, the top three Brawlers were challenged to dream up a feast featuring brisket, pork shoulder, fresh tomatoes and stone fruit.

“Any one of these three Brawlers has what it takes to win. It’s a matter of who put it all on the plate today,” Brooke explained.

Unlike in past seasons, where the early-season judges (Carson Kressley, Adrienne Cheatham and Rashad Jones) or a panel of barbecue industry experts cast the deciding vote, this season, the winner was selected by a jury of their peers. That’s right: The nine other Season 7 Brawlers were the ones tasting and rating the recipes.

To ensure that the judges could score them without bias, the menus were delivered by the show crew and presented by Maneet.

Bob Trudnak's Menu

• Competition BBQ Brisket
• Slow-Cooked BBQ Beans With Pico de Gallo
• Pulled Pork Sliders With Peach and Pepper Slaw
• Bacon Tri-Colored Potato Salad

“It feels like 100 percent me,” Bob said as he finished plating his feast, “and now it’s just up to the judges. I’m using my competition tricks to make the flavors really pop. I’ve turned most of these plates in for competition … I’m so proud of what I did.”

The judges applauded the seasoning on the brisket, the fresh kick of the pico atop the beans and the smoky-sweetness of the sliders, although one wished for more dill in the potato salad. Declaring it “elevated tradition” and “a play on a classic,” the reviews were nearly unanimously positive.

Morgan Bolling’s Menu

• North Carolina-Style BBQ Pork With Biscuits and Pickled Green Tomato Slaw
• Smoked Brisket With Ancho Chile Sauce
• Grilled Sweet Potato Salad
• Banana Pudding With Smoked Caramel and Mango

“The overall inspiration for this feast is women who have helped shape me into who I am,” Morgan explained, with tears welling up in her eyes. This is a very apt angle for the America’s Test Kitchen executive food editor, recipe developer and TV host, as she co-wrote the 2024 cookbook When Southern Women Cook with Toni Tipton Martin.

The judges relished the chance to build their own pork sliders on the flaky, smoky biscuits, and praised the way the slaw cut through the richness. The fried onion topping (think: green bean casserole) showered over the grilled sweet potatoes was a hit, as was the mango in the banana pudding. Its tropical essence really shined. (Chef T admitted that she could easily polish off 10 plates of the dessert alone.) But was the menu as a whole cohesive, the Brawlers wondered?

Tung Nguyen's Menu

• Bayou Lemongrass Brisket Burnt Ends
• BBQ Pork Bao With Mango Hoisin Sauce
• Charred Kimchi Cabbage
• Smoked Brisket Fried Rice

“This feast … showcases everything that I personally enjoy. It hits all my passions and all my flavor profiles, from the Asian side to the Cajun side to the cowboy side,” the Vietnamese-American pitmaster said.

Celebrating the smoke ring and perfect cook on the brisket (“it just melts,” the judges agreed), the main course was a standout. The fish sauce in the tomato relish topping tended to overpower, though. The pork in the bao was a highlight, yet the fried steam bun itself erred on the greasy side. Luckily, the charred cabbage came in with plenty of heat and acidity to cut through it. The highlight of the meal for many was the fried rice, which Vinny Mangual described as a “home run.”

And the Winner Is…

After a day full of fiery action and a flurry of emotions — all three finalists shed tears at least once along the way — the top three seemed genuinely surprised and delighted when they learned the identity of their judges.

“It’s like seeing old friends,” Bob said, as bottles of sparkling wine started being poured to celebrate the winner — and all the cooks and captains who made this season less of a brawl and more of a budding “framily.” “They’re the best of the best. If anybody knows great barbecue, these people do.”

Maneet jumped in to tie a bow on the season: “After trying all of your feasts and totaling up all the scores, our next Master of 'Cue is … Bob!”

Shock rushed across Bob’s face just before he dumped his glass of champagne on his head, just like players might do to their coach with a bucket of Gatorade after winning a championship. After an embrace from Brooke, Bobby and his fellow Brawlers, Bob was in disbelief.

Prior to filming, Bob had racked up more than 300 wins, including top prizes at the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue, The American Royal World Series of Barbecue and the World Food Championships. We hope he can clear out enough space in his trophy case, because he just earned another big one to add to that impressive winner’s cup collection.

“Bob, you’re the first true competition pitmaster to ever win this competition,” Brooke flagged. (Past winners, including Season 6 champ Kyle Bryner, certainly had put in the reps as pitmasters and restaurant owners. But he — and no other BBQ Brawl MVP — had conquered the barbecue competition circuit before taking home the title of Master of 'Cue.)

“I feel like I accomplished something I never thought I would. It means a lot to me, my business, my family,” Bob said, with his voice cracking as the accomplishment settled in.

To his son, Mitch, his daughter, Maddie, and any future pitmasters out there, Bob shared some hard-earned advice: “Work hard. Be persistent. Believe in yourself. Nothing is unachievable.”

Craving more guidance from Bob? You can take a virtual or in-person class with Bob and Pitmasters judge “Big Moe” Cason. Or if you’d like to make Bob’s secret sauce yours, he sells those — along with his signature spice blends — through his brand Bobby T's BBQ and Gourmet Foods.