Brandon Shepard

Shepard Barbecue

Chef and Pitmaster Brandon Shepard, a Carolina native, has over twenty years dedicated to the culinary industry. Growing up the money for culinary school was not accessible so Shepard was able to gain knowledge from on the job experience and many days of personal study. Like most he started in the dish pit and worked his way up the ranks...

After years of experience in multiple establishments specializing in many types of cuisine Shepard opened Urban Street Eats with his wife, a global street food truck that brought eclectic dishes from all over the world. There they traveled all throughout eastern North Carolina and eventually earned Mobile Cuisine’s Rookie Food Truck of the Year award. In time the duo able to open a second concept Nourish Juice Bar + Cafe, an organic juice bar serving Polynesian comfort foods. Jumping from a food truck into their first brick and mortar was already a daunting task that they took to very well until the world stopped. Covid 19 devastated many small businesses around the world and theirs was certainly no exception. After the pandemic hit they were forced to reevaluate their business strategy and pivot into a concept that could feed the masses. Brandon then turned to the food that brought him and his family the most joy, barbecue. Barbecue was a way that him and family members were able to reconnect and get back to the basics in life. This was often true for many African American families in the south. It’s a communal cuisine that brings people together of all walks in life. With the pandemic now coming to an end their barbecue journey is just starting. Since then Shepard Barbecue has been in several food write up such as Thrillist, Eater, and The News & Observer. They can also be seen on PBS and Food Networks Diners, Drive-ins & Dives with Guy Fieri also catering Guy’s 2022 Family Reunion and live fire cooking at Guy’s Smokehouse – Stagecoach 2023.