About Ray "Dr. BBQ" Lampe :

Executive Chef of Southern Hospitality, Cookbook Author, TV Personality and Award-Winning BBQ Champion

Ray Lampe, also known as Dr. BBQ, is the Executive Chef at Southern Hospitality in New York City. Open by Justin Timberlake and Eytan Sugarman, Ray came to New York City to see the restaurant he immediately fell in love with the warm atmosphere. Ray was later offered the position of executive head chef for Southern Hospitality and the rest is history!

Ray grew up in Chicago and after high school spent 25 years in the family trucking business. In 2000 the trucking business had run it's course, and it was time for Ray to do something different. He had been participating in BBQ cook-offs as a hobby since 1982, so he decided to take a leap and try to turn his hobby into a career. In 2000 Ray moved to Lakeland, Florida and began his career as a BBQ “pitmaster”.

Since then Ray has become a legend in the BBQ community, dominating the BBQ competition circuit by winning dozens of competitions all across the country. He is one of the country’s leading authorities on BBQ, grilling and tailgating. Ray isn’t just about the BBQ though, he’s also an excellent chef and cooks many different types of cuisine.

Ray has written four BBQ cookbooks and is currently working on a fifth.

•    "The NFL Game Day Cookbook"

•    "Dr. BBQ's Big-Time Barbecue Cook"
•    "Dr. BBQ's Barbecue All Year Long"
•    "Dr. BBQ's Big Time Barbecue Road Trip"
 

Ray has appeared on The Food Network, most recently as a judge and expert on “Tailgate Warriors w/ Guy Fieri”, HGTV, CNN, Discovery, OLN, and is a regular guest on Sirius/XM radio. He has been featured in several publications including; Life Magazine, Maxim, Food & Wine, Men's Journal, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. Ray has been dominating BBQ championships for the last 20+ years earning him the moniker “Dr. BBQ”.

His countless championships include:

• 2004 Seattle P.I. Low and Slow 1st Place Brisket and Grand Champion
• 2004 Hew Hampshire State Championship 1st Place Brisket & Reserve Grand Champion
• 2004 New Mexico State Championship 1st Place Brisket
• 2003 Kentucky State Championship 1st place Brisket & Grand Champion
• 2003 Rockford Illinois State Championship 1st place Chicken and Grand Champion
•  2003 Liberty Bell BBQ 1st place "180" Beans
•  2003 Mount Vernon Illinois State Championship 1st place Pork
•  2003 Farm Fest Grand Champion
•  2002 Pennsylvania State Championship 1st Place Brisket "180", Sausage and Peoples Choice
•  2002 Wilson County, Tennessee State Championship 1st Place Ribs
•  2002 Michigan State Championship 1st Place Sausage
•  2002 Huntsville, Alabama State Championship "180" Brisket, 1st Place Pork and Reserve Grand Champion
•  2002 Orlando Bike Week 1st Place Chicken, Ribs, Brisket and Grand Champion
•  2001 Virginia State Championship 1st Place Brisket
•  2000 Lynch Livestock BBQ Reserve Grand Champion and 1st Place Brisket
•  2000 Michigan state Grand Champion
•  1999 Illinois State Championship "180" first place Pork
•  1998 Ohio State Grand Champion and 1st Place Pork
•  1998 Wilson County Tennessee Grand Champion and "180" 1st Place Brisket
•  1995 Michigan State Grand Champion
•  1994 Illinois state Championship 1st Place Pork