Atlanta Native Brian Baumgartner Has A Lifelong Passion For Barbecue

About Brian Baumgartner

Brian Baumgartner may be best known to many people, across at least a couple of generations, as Kevin from The Office, but there’s much more to the actor than his famous onscreen persona. Born and raised in Atlanta, Brian has a deep love for the South, a wicked sense of humor, an obsession with sports, and a successful podcast called Off the Beat. He also has a lifelong passion for barbecue – both the style of cooking and the communal gathering that defines it—and now he’s come out with the Seriously Good Barbecue Cookbook: Over 100 of the Best Recipes in the World.

What Brian Baumgartner Talks About In This Episode

• His new book, Seriously Good Barbecue Cookbook: Over 100 of the Best Recipes in the World
• The connection he sees between acting and cooking
• Why he drove hundreds of miles for a meal at Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog Barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina
• The real story behind that infamous “chili scene” from The Office
• On whether Texas really is a part of the South
• The best way to cook grilled chicken
  

Quotes From Brian Baumgartner

"Growing up in the South, barbecue and SEC football was a part of my upbringing for sure, in terms of building community, family, and by family, I mean, not just your immediate family, but your sort of extended friends and family. So, yeah, that's what I remember, like everybody cooking, being together, trying different things, way too much food, leftovers for days." -Brian Baumgartner

About Biscuits & Jam

In the South, talking about food is personal. It's a way of sharing your history, your family, your culture, and yourself. Each week Sid Evans, editor in chief of Southern Living, sits down with celebrity musicians to hear stories of how they grew up, what inspired them, and how they've been shaped by Southern culture. Sid takes us back to some of their most cherished memories and traditions, the family meals they still think about, and their favorite places to eat on the road.Download and listen to this episode of Biscuits & Jam with Craig Melvin on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or everywhere podcasts are available.

Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors.