The Pearl district is gearing up for a culinary preview that promises to excite San Antonio’s food‑loving community. On Saturday, Pullman Market will host the Smoke & Fire BBQ Celebration, a five‑hour event beginning at 4 p.m. that showcases the upcoming Italian steakhouse Rosso before its doors officially open in early 2027.
Rosso’s debut dishes
Rosso’s signature offering, ribeye al fuoco, will be the centerpiece of the tasting. The steak is grilled over an open flame, served atop creamy polenta, and finished with San Marzano tomato sauce and a caper salsa verde. Chef Rico Torres, co‑founder of the Michelin‑starred Mixtli, will handle the grill, while executive chef Larkin Kuny‑Romero will plate the dish.
“We chose this because it represents what you would be served at Rosso,” Kuny‑Romero explained. “I am excited to serve this because I think it is different from what everyone else is providing.”
Local pitmasters and surprise offerings
The celebration will feature a lineup of San Antonio’s top pitmasters, each bringing a unique twist to traditional barbecue. Ian Corral and Max Muñoz of Mezquite will serve grilled barbacoa burritos smothered in salsa Colorado and queso fresco. Enoch Montoya and Laura Loomis from Two Bros BBQ Market will present a coffee‑rubbed smoked beef cheek tostada with avocado mousse, pickled white onion, and salsa macha. Kareem El‑Ghayesh of KG BBQ will smoke lamb chops with chimichurri sauce.
Michelin‑starred Isidore’s sous chef Cameron Hawk and partner Ian Lanphear will prepare barbecued oysters in a buttermilk chowder, topped with onion, bacon jam, and thyme oil. Hawk noted, “A lot of times barbecue is meats and chicken and beef but we thought, ‘Why don’t we change the narrative and put a little bit of seafood on the menu.’ It’s a fan favorite on our Isidore menu.”
Additional live‑fire participants include Alex and Brenda Sarmiento of El Pastor es mi Señor, Sean Wen of Curry Boys BBQ, and YouTube barbecue personality Arnie Segovia.
Tickets, family pricing, and entertainment
General admission is $105.96, with children 12 and under admitted for $25.09. A VIP experience is available for $175.26. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite. As in the inaugural 2025 celebration, the event will feature craft beverages and live music, creating a festive atmosphere for families and food enthusiasts alike.
Chef Kuny‑Romero’s full‑circle moment
Larkin Kuny‑Romero’s involvement with Rosso is a full‑circle moment in her career. She spent eight years at Cured, the Pearl landmark that previously occupied the space now being renovated for Rosso, rising from line cook to chef de cuisine under six‑time James Beard nominee Steven McHugh. After Cured closed in January, Kuny‑Romero led Hot Joy, a restaurant operated by local hospitality group Empty Stomach, before reconnecting with Torres to launch Rosso alongside Austin chef Gabe Erales, Top Chef season 18 winner, and podcast founder André Natera.
“I feel super fortunate to work with all three chefs,” Kuny‑Romero said. “They bring so much to the table, so much knowledge, so much experience. It’s kind of like a dream.”
What’s next for Rosso?
Rosso’s renovated Pearl location, once home to Cured, is slated to open its doors in early 2027. The Smoke & Fire event offers the community a rare glimpse of the restaurant’s concept, menu philosophy, and the collaborative spirit of San Antonio’s culinary talent.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
