Behind the Smoke: Pitmaster Profile – Charlie McKenna (Lillie's Q)

Chicago is known for our food scene, and that extends to our festivals. The annual Windy City Smokeout brings some of the world’s best pitmasters to Chicago along with some of country music’s hottest stars for three days of live bands, beer, and top-notch barbecue.

We caught up with some of the acclaimed pitmasters you’ll find at Windy City Smokeout this summer to learn more about their craft and a few tricks of the trade.

Charlie McKenna, owner and chef of Lillie’s Q, brings southern hospitality to Chicago. His award-winning barbecue joint is named for his grandmother, who taught him the art of cooking back home in South Carolina. He opened Lillie’s Q in 2010 and it quickly became a Chicago staple thanks to McKenna’s detail-oriented approach to barbecue.