(Seguin) — One of the nation’s most respected barbecue pitmasters — and one of Seguin’s own — is making his way back tonight on national television.
Ernest Servantes, co-owner and pitmaster at Burnt Bean Co., will make his return to the Food Network as one of four judges on the new competition series Pitmasters. The appearance marks Servantes’ first television role in six years after stepping away from the spotlight to focus on building Burnt Bean into one of the most celebrated barbecue restaurants not only in Texas but in the nation.
Servantes confirms to the Seguin Daily News that this wasn’t just another television invitation.
“The opportunity came out around February of this year. They asked me… they always… the Food Network always asks me if I want to be on their shows. And lately, I’ve just been focused at the restaurant. But then, the director and the producer called me… they said, ‘Listen, we have this idea.’ I was like, ‘Listen, if you’re really serious, if that’s how it’s gonna go, count me in.’ It was something that no one’s ever done before. No one’s ever seen it, and having the opportunity to be a judge on something that special… I was really excited. I was like, ‘I’m in,’” said Servantes.
Servantes is no stranger to television, having appeared on shows including Chopped, BBQ Pitmasters and Smoked more than a decade ago. But he says he intentionally put television aside while building Burnt Bean into a destination and Michelin rated barbecue restaurant.
“I haven’t been in TV in 6 years because I’ve been so focused at the restaurant. I kind of put TV… my celebrity status… on hold to focus on the Burnt Bean,” said Servantes.
Meanwhile, that focus seems to have paid off as Burnt Bean has earned recognition as one of Texas’ top barbecue destinations in the country.
Now that the restaurant has reached that level, Servantes says he’s ready to once again represent both his business and his hometown on a national stage.
“It felt good. You sacrifice for what you believe in. And I believed in this restaurant and I wanted to make it special for Seguin. But now I know since we got number one… I can go and market my brand and bring back the celebrity Ernest,” said Servantes.
Unlike many televised cooking competitions, Servantes says Pitmasters focuses on authentic barbecue without unrealistic time limits or gimmicks.
He explains the competitors were given the time needed to properly cook barbecue and were challenged to adapt to real-world conditions rather than television drama.
“The one thing was… they said, ‘We’re making a barbecue show that anything goes. There’s no handcuffs.’ … This one’s like, ‘Look, dude, when it’s done is done.’ You got 13 hours. You got 15 hours,” said Servantes.
He says the production itself pushed competitors to their limits. Filmed in a remote area outside St. George, Utah, contestants dealt with rapidly changing weather, high altitude, snakes and wildlife and primitive cooking conditions.
“There wasn’t… everybody had the same fancy grills. No, you had cinderblocks, grates, and you got to make your own offset. You had to make your own grills. You had to make everything from scratch,” said Servantes.
As a judge, Servantes admits it wasn’t always easy watching others compete.
Laughing about the experience, he says, “You get FOMO (fear of missing out) times 10… I was dying to go in there. I was like, ‘Put me in, coach. I want to play.’ But it was an honor to see the next generation of pitmasters and to see their creativity,” said Servantes.
He says viewers — even those who don’t consider themselves barbecue experts — will find something to enjoy when watching the show.
That’s because Servantes says the recipes and techniques featured throughout the series are practical enough for backyard cooks.
“Everything they cook, you can do in your backyard. You’re like, ‘Ha, I can do that.’ It’s nothing complicated… you can get it at H-E-B or Arlan’s. That’s what makes it special. You can relate to everything,” said Servantes.
Alongside Servantes, the show also features an all-star judging panel that includes Andrew Zimmern, Jess Pryles and Moe Cason — a group he says brings “genuine barbecue knowledge and credibility to the competition.”
While Servantes is one of Seguin’s faces on camera, another local bbq enthusiast will also play an equally important role behind the scenes.
Joey Machado of Seguin serves as the barbecue and fire expert whose work helps make many Food Network barbecue productions possible.
Servantes says Machado, owner of Guadalupe BBQ Co/Texas Original Charcoal Company, deserves recognition for work viewers rarely see.
“Joey is the backbone that no one will see on that show. Joey Machado is the man. A lot of people don’t know this… Barbecue Brawl, all those behind-the-scenes shows — Joey Machado from Seguin, Texas, runs all that,” said Servantes.
He says Seguin definitely has plenty to support with the start of tonight’s first episode.
“You got two guys from Seguin there. So you better watch out because we’re coming up in the world,” said Servantes.
Pitmasters premieres tonight at 8 p.m. Central on Food Network. Viewers can also stream the series on HBO Max beginning Tuesday.