# Chef Interview: Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue - Made In

We had a chance to catch up with pitmaster and Made In customer behind one of Austin's Michelin-starred barbecue joints, Chef Evan LeRoy of LeRoy & Lewis BBQ.

We caught up with Evan LeRoy, pitmaster and chef behind Michelin-starred Leroy and Lewis BBQ and Bar, about his Food Network obsession, his grandmother's chori-papas and the idea of adding house made pasta to the menu.

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## What’s a dish that tastes like home?

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Chori-papas. Its a side dish that's made from chorizo and potatoes and its inspired by a dish my grandmother used to make when I was growing up.



## If you could open a novel restaurant concept that was guaranteed to be a success, what would it be?

Pork smash burgers with fries cooked in lard.



## When did you know you wanted to cook for the rest of your life?

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Early in my life when I became obsessed with the Food Network. I went from watching cartoons in to cooking shows.



## What’s the best meal you’ve had recently?

I participated in an oyster event with some chef friends in Palacios, TX, some of the best chefs in Texas all preparing the best Texas oysters. It was like a dream come true/bucket list moment.



## What chefs inspire you?

Jesse Griffiths from Dai Due is one of the chefs I look up to the most. I think his restaurant is the truest expression of locality in central Texas.



## If you could add one thing to your menu that doesn’t make sense but you love making, what would it be?

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House made bread or pasta, but never say never.



## Which piece of Made In cookware do you reach for the most?

Honestly, the [Griddle Press](/products/grill-press/grill-press) and [Carbon Steel Frying Pan](/products/carbon-steel-frying-pan/) both live on my range at home. I use them all the time.



## What do you expect out of your cookware? 

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I expect durability and great performance, Made In delivers.



## How important is having good kitchen tools?

It makes cooking so much more pleasurable, it's extremely important.



## What’s one way you use Made In cookware to finish a favorite dish on the menu?

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We use the [Stainless Clad Frying Pans](/collections/stainless-clad) to finish our new [Smoky Beef Bourguignon](/recipes/smoky-beef-bourguignon) dish.

---
URL: https://madeincookware.com/blogs/chef-interview-evan-leroy