The Pit’s Ed Mitchell Rocks Rockefeller Center and NBC's TODAY Show on June 23

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Craig Spitzer
Director of Hospitality, Empire Eats
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Local pitmaster to cook whole hog barbecue on national morning program

RALEIGH, N.C., June 20, 2008 - The mouthwatering aroma of Eastern North Carolina pork barbecue will waft through the streets of New York City during the early morning hours of Monday, June 23, 2008, thanks to the expert skills of legendary pitmaster Ed Mitchell, head chef and part owner of The Pit restaurant in downtown Raleigh. The nationally lauded food icon Mitchell will prepare a whole hog, pit-cooked barbecue for the program and will appear during live segments that begin at 7:00 a.m. EDT. 

“This is a great chance for Ed and for North Carolina to show the country what is meant by authentic Eastern North Carolina barbecue,” said Greg Hatem, managing partner of Empire Properties, who also operates a about a half-dozen restaurants in the city. Hatem teamed up with Mitchell a couple of years ago to start the restaurant venture that became The Pit. “We’ve been joking that maybe we’ll bring a bit of civilization to the big city after they smell and taste the goodness of barbecue like they’ve never had before.” 

Mitchell was invited by The Today Show to participate in its week-long barbecue showcase, which will feature practitioners of the barbecue craft from around the country. During Monday’s program, Mitchell will cook alongside a South Carolina chef who will prepare his region’s take on the preferred way to prepare excellent barbecue. The Today Show’s Al Roker along with New York City barbecue icons Ken Callaghan and Big Lou Elrose will taste the succulent results of the chefs’ handiwork all week, including Mitchell’s, sharing their opinions on the delectable attributes of each. 

For years, Mitchell has participated in Snapple’s Big Apple Barbecue Block Party held in Madison Square Park in New York City. The weekend-long event takes place every June and brings together the country’s top pitmasters who cook up their award-winning food for over a hundred thousand barbecue enthusiasts. Held just two weeks ago, the event dubbed Ed Mitchell the winner of the Fan’s Choice Award, for which Mitchell and The Pit will be able to name a donation to the charity of their choice.