| Kevin Bludso | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 (age 59–60) Compton, California, U.S. |
| Culinary career | |
| Cooking style | American |
Current restaurant(s)
| |
Previous restaurant(s)
| |
| Television show(s) | |
Kevin Bludso (born 1965) is an American chef, restaurateur, and television personality.
Early life
Bludso was born in 1965 in Compton, California. His father was a police officer at the Los Angeles Police Department; his mother was a postal service worker. While on summer vacation, Bludso lived with his aunt, Willie Mae Fields, in Corsicana, Texas. Fields introduced him to Texas-style barbecue; at the age of 9 or 10, Bludso was allowed to help with the cooking. He studied business at the Dallas-based Bishop College.
Career
Prior to entering the food industry, Bludso worked as a correctional officer for thirteen years. He opened Bludso's BBQ in 2008, serving as its pitmaster. Based in Compton, the restaurant shut down in September 2016, following a dispute with the landlord. Bludso also owns restaurants in Hollywood and Melbourne, Australia. Since 2020, Bludso serves as a judge on the Netflix series The American Barbecue Showdown.
Personal life
As of September 2020, Bludso resides in Texas. He is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
Restaurants owned by Bludso
United States
| Restaurant | Location | Date opened | Date closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bludso's BBQ | Compton, California | 2008 | September 2016 |
| Bludso's Bar & Que | Hollywood, California | 2013 | |
| Bludso's Bar-B-Que | The Proud Bird Food Bazaar, California | 2017 | |
| Bludso's BBQ | Banc of California Stadium, California | 2018 |
Australia
| Restaurant | Location | Date opened | Date closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antone | Crown Melbourne, Southbank, Victoria | November 10, 2015 | June 25, 2023 |
Television appearances
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. Find sources: "Kevin Bludso" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
- Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (2013, 2023)
- Bar Rescue (2015 - present)
- Fire Masters (2019)
- BBQ Brawl (2019)
- The American Barbecue Showdown (2020-Present)
References
- Reames, Kristen (February 25, 2020). "Celebrating Diversity: Kevin Bludso of Bludso's Bar & Que". Tableside Mag.
- Vaughn, Daniel (August 5, 2015). "Interview: Kevin Bludso of Bludso's BBQ". Texas Monthly.
- ^ Carman, Tim (September 19, 2020). "Black pitmasters deserve their rightful place in history, says barbecue elder statesman Kevin Bludso". The Washington Post.
- ^ Jacobs, Janet (June 16, 2013). "Corsicana lessons translate to Hollywood dining success". Corsicana Daily Sun.
- Kronsberg, Matthew (July 25, 2020). "BBQ: The Ultimate Guide". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Scatterwood, Amy (November 16, 2016). "Bludso's BBQ in Compton closes, to reopen in a new location". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Bludso's Bar & Que". Bludso's Bar & Que. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Reid, J. C. (March 17, 2012). "It's Not Texas, but the Barbecue Can Fool You". The New York Times.
- "Food Bazaar". The Proud Bird. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Washicko, Cynthia (June 29, 2017). "Iconic Proud Bird restaurant reopens as food bazaar near LAX". Daily Breeze.
- Harris, Jenn (April 27, 2018). "Your LAFC stadium food guide: Bludso's, Beer Belly and Seoul Sausage". Los Angeles Times.
- "Banc Of California Stadium Opens With Culinary Collection Of Los Angeles Favorites". Los Angeles Football Club. April 16, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Elliott, Farley (March 15, 2018). "Bludso's Brings Barbecue Credentials to LA's New Soccer Stadium".
- "San Antone by Bludso's BBQ". Crown Melbourne. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- Grundy, Roslyn (November 5, 2015). "Texas pit master to open San Antone by Bludso's BBQ in Melbourne's Crown". goodfood.
External links
- Kevin Bludso at IMDb