about blue smoke blaire

Erica Roby is one of the country’s leading female pitmasters, an award-winning artist in the field of barbecue. However, being an acclaimed pitmaster is only one of her many accomplishments: Erica is also an attorney, a level-2 Certified Sommelier, United States Navy wife, and a mother. Yet with all the paths that Erica has walked on her journey so far, food has always been the through-line uniting them all. 

In 2020, Erica became a contestant on Food Network’s “BBQ Brawl,” becoming the Season 2 winner and earning the mantle “Master of ‘Cue.” After “BBQ Brawl,” Erica decided to document the world of barbecue in her award-winning digital series, "The Pit Stop with Blue Smoke Blaire." Traveling the country in her RV, Erica interviews notable food personalities and highlights the passion, struggles, and dreams of pitmasters around America. In May 2022, Erica also competed at the world-famous Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest. Though it was only her second time as a competitor at this prestigious event, remarkably, she tied for 1st place in brisket and 4th in the rib division, a journey that was filmed for Food Network’s “BBQ USA”.

Erica's commitment to spreading love through barbecue has seen her travel with Operation BBQ Relief  to provide meals to those in need. She is also a guest lecturer inspiring young people to pick up tongs and find joy through food and culinary passion. 

In October 2023, Blue Smoke Blaire's Barbecue Academy will open it's doors to support at risk youth in Houston, Texas.