{"id":237395,"date":"2026-04-06T17:22:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/237395\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T17:22:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:22:07","slug":"san-antonio-chef-braunda-smith-to-compete-on-bbq-brawl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/237395\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio chef Braunda Smith to compete on BBQ Brawl"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bobby Flay is bringing beef to Texas, and he\u2019ll have some San Antonio starpower in his crew. Braunda Smith of Lucy Coopers Ice House<\/a> will be on the famed chef\u2019s team when Food Network’s BBQ Brawl<\/a> returns on May 11.<\/p>\n

Now entering its seventh season, the Texas barbecue series follows a format similar to The Voice, pairing 12 battling chefs with team captains Flay, Maneet Chauhan, and Brooke Williamson. Each week brings a new live fire challenge, starting with creating the perfect barbecue bowl. Judges Adrienne Cheatham, Rashad Jones, and Carson Kressley will axe one competitor each week of the series, filmed at Star Hill Ranch near Austin.<\/p>\n

Smith will have some stiff competition. The roster includes pitmasters from Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, and beyond, each bringing their own regional traditions to the pit. She\u2019ll be joined on Team Bobby by another Texan \u2014 Tim McLaughlin of Crossbuck BBQ<\/a> in Dallas.<\/p>\n

Still, Smith has an advantage over many members of the cast. She\u2019s no stranger to reality competitions<\/a>, sparring on Guy\u2019s Grocery Games and Chopped in 2023. Although neither resulted in a win, her versatile cooking style impressed both shows\u2019 panels.<\/p>\n

“My BBQ reflects all the places I’ve lived in life: Southern, Cajun, Korean, Hawaiian, and it’s got some Texas flair in there,\u201d says Smith in the show\u2019s promos<\/a>. \u201cYou know, we kind of get overlooked a lot in San Antonio. Taking home Master of ‘Cue to Lucy Cooper’s would just set everything ablaze.”<\/p>\n

Via Instagram<\/a>, Smith said Lucy Cooper\u2019s will be hosting a watch party during the nine-episode run. Local fans can also watch the show on Food Network at 8 pm on Mondays or stream episodes the following day on HBO Max.