San Antonio’s beloved barbecue spot, 2M Smokehouse, earned a spot in the finale of Food Network’s competitive series Pitmasters. Owners Esaul and Grecia Ramos, who have built the restaurant into an award‑winning destination on the city’s Southeast Side, said the experience pushed them to their physical and creative limits.
Grueling Competition Highlights
The season featured nine teams tackling eight challenges over an 11‑day period. Contestants prepared surf‑and‑turf plates, a classic backyard barbecue, a whole hog, and even cooked entire dishes inside underground chambers filled with hot coals. Some challenges required cooks to stand at the pit for up to 12 hours, testing stamina as much as skill.
“It’s very mental, it’s very physical, it tests your creativity to the max,” Esaul explained after a particularly demanding round. The couple’s years of working side‑by‑side in their restaurant helped them stay focused and enjoy the pressure.
Creative Twists From a Pastry Background
Grecia, a trained pastry chef, brought a sweet‑savory edge to the competition. She baked a baklava cheesecake inside a smoker, prepared an ube pudding underground, and crafted a sweet tamal over an open fire. Those inventive dishes, she says, were key to their success.
“We actually got to just enjoy it,” Grecia added, noting that the competition allowed them to explore new techniques while still honoring the flavors that make Texas barbecue beloved.
Final Challenge and Future Menu Plans
The finale required a five‑course meal cooked over the course of a full day. Esaul described it as his personal favorite challenge, praising the opportunity to dig deeper into their “wheelhouse” and work with ingredients already on hand.
While the couple declined to reveal the outcome, they hinted that the experience will influence 2M Smokehouse’s menu moving forward. “You’re probably going to see a change at 2M in terms of what we’re bringing to our menu coming up,” Grecia said, promising more specials and unique dishes inspired by the show.
Watch Party for the Community
To share the excitement with fellow San Antonians, the Ramos family is hosting a watch party for the finale at 8 p.m. Monday at McIntyre’s in Southtown. Fans of the restaurant and barbecue enthusiasts are invited to gather, enjoy food, and cheer on the local team as they compete on national television.
The appearance of a San Antonio business on a national culinary stage underscores the city’s growing reputation for quality food and entrepreneurial spirit. As the finale airs, the community looks forward to seeing how the Ramos couple will translate their newfound creativity into the everyday dining experience at 2M Smokehouse.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
