Plot Synopsis

Brooklyn pit master Shannon Ambrosio and his boys, including his brother Big Rich, travel through the South to learn about local customs, flavors and ingredients for traditional southern BBQ, and then they compete in a head-to-head cooking contest against one of that city's iconic restaurants, as Shannon uses recipes he created specifically for that challenge. In each 30-minute episode, Shannon travels to a different southern city. On Sunday, May 31, 2015 from 8-9pm ET, Cooking Channel premiered back-to-back episodes of this series with the title BIG BAD BBQ BATTLE, as Shannon visited: Ft. Worth, where he takes on family BBQ dynasty Cousins Bar-B-Que in a smoked brisket cook off, but only after learning from local legend Jack Perkins that espresso is his secret ingredient for award-winning brisket, inspiring Shannon to create an Irish Coffee brisket marinade; and Shreveport, LA, where he battles local BBQ legend Hickory Stick in a pulled pork sandwich cook off, using an Italian-inspired twist on Louisiana-style 'cue and a sweet and savory crawfish zeppole side dish to win over the judges' tastebuds. More than a year later -- on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 from 10-11pm ET/7-8pm PT -- Cooking Channel presented the official series premiere of the series, using the new title BIG BAD BBQ BRAWL, as it broadcast back-to-back new episodes. In the series premiere (10pm/7pm), "Sweet and Savory Brawl," Shannon heads to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi to challenge the guys from BBQ spot Murky Waters to a sandwich showdown. He may be the BBQ king up North, but if this city slicker wants to reign triumphant against these Southern aficionados he'll need to find some inspiration from local flavors. Then, in the night's second new episode (10:30pm/7:30pm), "BBQ Chicken on the Fly Brawl," Shannon crosses Alabama state lines for a BBQ chicken showdown against Mobile eatery Meat Boss. Owners Benny and Dara started the business just three years ago, but their BBQ dishes are already local legend. Season 2 of BIG BAD BBQ BRAWL premiered on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 10pm ET/7pm PT on Cooking Channel. Over eight episodes, Shannon sets out to prove his skills on the grill as he visits some of the best BBQ scenes around, including Phoenix, Arizona; Little Rock, Arkansas; Long Beach, California; Kansas City, Missouri; Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Memphis, Tennessee. In the season opener, "Big, Bad Sandwich Slam," Shannon turns up the heat as he heads to Albuquerque, New Mexico to challenge local barbecue favorite Pepper's BBQ to a sandwich slam. Both teams decide to use peppers in their dishes -- will Shannon's northern take on southern barbecue be enough to set the judges' taste buds on fire? Season 3 of BIG BAD BBQ BRAWL premiered on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 10pm ET/7pm PT on Cooking Channel. In the season opener, "Chicago Italian Beef BBQ Brawl," Shannon is in Chicago, where he challenges husband and wife pitmasters, Greg and Kristina of Chicago Culinary Kitchen. The two teams will put their own barbecue twist on one of the oldest traditional dishes in Chicago, the Italian Beef Sandwich. With Chicago native, Saralynn Pablo by his side, Shannon "Brooklyn-izes" a 100-year-old classic. But will the judges enjoy Shannon's new-school twist on this old-school sandwich?
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On Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 10pm ET/7pm PT, Cooking Channel premiered the Season 3 finale of BIG BAD BBQ BRAWL. In the season ender, "Double Dog Dare-ya Brawl," Shannon is heading to the Windy City, where he'll face off against Rusty Findlay and his team at Demon Dawgs. Shannon challenges them to make not one, but two different barbecue hot dogs because this is the Double Dog Dare-Ya Brawl! If Shannon is going to come out the top dog in this fight he'll need some help, and Chicago's barbecue expert Duce Raymond of Sweet Baby Ray's is just the man for the task. Will Shannon's new york twist on BBQ hot dogs have the bite the judges are looking for, or will he be sent back to the doghouse?