Mitch Benjamin is the founder of the Meat Mitch brand, known throughout the world in the barbecue community. He has created competition sauces, rubs, and meats that are consistently among the most award-winning and decorated in the country. In 2019 the Meat Mitch competition team won at the most prestigious American Royal BBQ Sauce World Championship Competition, The Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Sauce Competition, and finished with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the heralded National Barbecue and Grilling Competition for our sauces and rubs. His products can be found in stores and national chains throughout the U.S. and in 12 different countries throughout the world. These products have helped Mitch and his win on the Biggest Stages in the World including World Champion for Beef 2017 Memphis in May World Championships.
In Kansas City, Mitch was named the “Barbecue Ambassador” to the city (by none other than Legendary Hall-of-Fame baseball player, George Brett). He has cooked for both the Home and Visitor clubhouse’s during all of the Major League Baseball festivities – debuting on the actual field with a plate of ribs for the Home Run Derby Competition. (7 million fans and viewers watched as the players and commentators chowed down on ribs.)
In 2015, Mitch opened his first restaurant, Char Bar Smoked Meats and Amusements, in Kansas City. In a competitive BBQ environment, the restaurant won Best New Restaurant for 2015 in Kansas City – all restaurants included, not just barbecue. Mitch followed that up by flying to NYC and cooking for the Yankees, appearing Fox & Friends for a cooking segment, and visiting the stage of The Today Show with some of the baseball players. (Mitch ended up being asked to fly back for a command cooking performance for Yankee icon Derek Jeter’s retirement party after his last game. Michael Jordan, along with a bevy of personalities were all present. Reggie Jackson stood alongside Mitch with tongs and handed out ribs!)
Mitch has been a frequent media guest since then, especially with crossover appearances on sports segments, frequently on the Barstool Sports group. In 2019, Mitch briefly moved to Paris, France to lead a restaurant team in opening a brand-new American Style Barbecue restaurant in the heart of the city. After a successful opening, Mitch brought the head chef, Paul Patterson, back to the US for a quick tour of the competition circuit. It ended with Mitch and Paul on stage taking home two coveted awards! (Mitch will be traveling with Paul in February 2020 to New Zealand to compete in their highly publicized Meatstock BBQ Competition.)
In 2020, Meat Mitch is set to take an even larger stage, by opening the first Meat Mitch Barbecue restaurant!