Melissa Cookston

Melissa Cookston is a two-time Memphis in May Grand Champion (2010, 2012) and four-time World Hog Champion (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014), something no one else, especially female, has accomplished. The "winningest woman in barbecue," she is generally regarded as one of the best barbecue cooks in the country. She co-owns and is the pitmaster at Memphis Barbecue Company restaurants (2 locations across the Southeast), headquartered in Horn Lake, Mississippi. She is currently a judge on the Netflix show, American Barbecue Showdown, and was previously a judge on season four of Destination America's BBQ Pitmasters. She also has appeared on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, as well as Chopped, Last Call Food Brawl, the Today show, The Chew, Fox News, and on many other shows and in a variety of periodicals.