Meet Leo Morales | PitMaster and Culinary Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leo Morales and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leo, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I feel that making time to be present with my kids needed to be the forefront in order to have a successful balance of work and home life. We forget to slow down and settle into a consistent schedule so that our children can also learn to appreciate the value of time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It’s funny how over time it takes others to help us see what is directly in front of us. It took someone asking me about what I feel my strengths are to only find that my self projection was completely opposite of what i thought. I have been in this industry since I was 11 years old and continue to be surprised that I have newly developing passions in the same field. I’ve continued to grow by working alongside some of the most amazing people in the BBQ community to help others in times of need and to help each other as we all develop. I started my career in the back as a dishwasher and worked my way up through the years into a culinary apprenticeship with Disney. I’ve worked with some extremely talented chefs and have even been knocked down trying to impress them. Ive alway been able to see something and go for it, without fear of the unknown.
Time has become my craft and slow and low my motto. The quality always come with patience and it’s taken years to identify that. Ironic.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you’re coming to Texas you’re Im taking you to get BBQ.

Day 1 we would spend with the normal walk around Downtown and Clyde Warren Park, naturally I’m taking them to Deep Ellum to have Q at Terry Blacks
Day 2 I would make the drive to Arlington and go to cowboys Stadium to take the tour and stand at the Star… IYKYK and then we would make it over to my boys place Hurtado BBQ for some Mexicue
Day 3 We are Chilling and doing some brewery tours.. Oak Highlands Brewery in Lake Highlands and Hemisphere Brewing in Rockwall followed by a trip to Smoke Sessions in Royse City for some high quality Ribs
Day 4 is a day of couch surfing because of all of the previous food comas we had the previous days, however, we will go to Bishop Arts for Happy Hour and hope that its a Sunday to get crazy at Revellers Hall and finish off with dinner at Lucia for an amazing dinner with a phenomenal wine list to match.
Day 5 Another day of walking and drinks around the Lowest Greenville Area. Alamo Club has just the cocktail list to make us stay for hours
Day 6 And I say this because the only reason that I go to Ft Worth is for my guys at Panther City BBQ but since we’re there then maybe we will take in the stockyards.. On the way back we’ll stop in Argyle and see Bryan over at 407 BBQ
Day 7 we’re at my spot Barrel and Bones because its close to the airport and we have over 260 whiskeys and if they’re my good friends then they should be treated to some amazing Porkbelly Burnt ends..

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our life has been a cliche’ since the moment that we met and continues to this day. My wife, Cheyenne, has had my back when it came to my career and choices. I have never had the support to keep my motivation for success like i have with her. I’m driven to accomplish all of my goals knowing that she will support my decisions.

Website: barrelandbones.com

Instagram: @iamleomoralesbbq

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