Watched a pitmaster in Memphis use a broom on the grate, wildest thing I've seen

I drove through Memphis last month and stopped at a little roadside spot off Lamar Ave, nothing fancy, just a cinder block building with smoke rolling out the back. The pitmaster came out to flip a rack of ribs and straight up grabbed a push broom to scrape the cooking grate between batches. I thought he was messing with me, but he just laughed and said the old school guys all do it because the wire brushes shed bristles into the meat. He charged me $18 for a half rack that was honestly the best I've had in years, smoky and tender with that dark bark you can't fake. I get the logic, but a broom that's been on the floor of a parking lot touching my food is still sticking in my head. Has anyone else seen a pro use something that surprised you more than the food itself?

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eric_carr6d ago

You ever seen a guy use a garden hose to spray down a flattop that's still sizzling? Same energy, I guess. That broom thing would freak me out too, but I bet that dust and crud adds flavor somehow. Old school pits just hit different, man.