From Puerto Rican Roots to Renowned Pitmaster: Hector Garate's Palmira Barbecue Journeyfrom Pop-ups to a Growing BBQ Empire (Charleston, SC)

Pitmaster Hector Garate has become a rocketship in the barbecue world since opening Palmira Barbecue in Charleston, SC.    Palmira has been named "Best New Barbecue Joint in the South" by Southern Living, earned the top spot on Texas Monthly's "Best Texas-Style BBQ Joints in the USA" list, and saw its signature beef cheeks recognized as one of the New York Times' "Best Dishes of 2025." The restaurant has also been featured in Esquire, StarChefs, and Condé Nast Traveler, and this year, Hector was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Emerging Chef award. Hector most recently competed on Food Network's "Pitmasters" and is a YETI ambassador. This conversation with the pitmaster emphasizes the importance of craftsmanship, team building, and storytelling in creating a successful culinary business.  To keep up with Stephanie's work beyond the show, subscribe to  The Southern Fork on Substack. And for consistent visual peeks into the world of The Southern Fork, follow along on Instagram.