Chris Lilly emerged on the barbecue scene in 1992 when he began working for the world-famous Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q restaurant in Decatur, Alabama. He’s since been recognized by The Wall Street Journal as having the best pork barbecue in the country.

Lilly is also the winner of 17 World BBQ Championships in several barbecue categories and a record five Memphis in May Grand Championships (2000, 2003, 2011, 2014, and 2017), as well as winning the American Royal International Invitational Cookoff. Lilly was able to display his culinary talents abroad by capturing the Grand Championship at the International Jamaican Barbeque Cook-off. In 2012, he won the title of “King of the Smokers” at a national barbecue Invitational. 

Widely recognized as one of the top pitmaster/chefs in his field, Lilly is a 2016 inductee into the Barbecue Hall of Fame. Lilly is the current vice president, executive chef, and partner of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, among his many other titles.