Travel Texas and Firedoor are bringing a landmark Texas pitmaster series to Sydney this May, uniting Firedoor's Lennox Hastie and Austin-based pitmaster Kareem "KG" El-Ghayesh of KG BBQ for four events across a long weekend of smoke, brisket, honky tonk and fire-forward dining. Two of the world's great live fire cooks, together in Sydney for the first time.

Taking place across Sydney Brewery Rozelle and Firedoor restaurant from 1 to 4 May, the series spans four unmissable events: a honky tonk feast complete with live country music and two-step, a brisket 101 masterclass, a public Texas-style cookout, and an intimate five-course collaboration dinner at Firedoor. This marks KG's first-ever visit to Australia, and Sydney's first real taste of what's been turning heads in Texas.

From Cairo to Central Texas, Kareem's story is as layered as his cooking, born and raised in Egypt's capital, KG found his way to the smokehouses of Austin and never looked back, eventually founding KG BBQ and becoming one of the states most celebrated pitmasters. His style sits at a genuinely unique crossroads, the low-and-slow discipline of Central Texas barbecue meeting the bold spices and flavours of Egyptian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Think brisket cooked low and slow, with sumac onions, pomegranate and za'atar glazed pork ribs, and smoked lamb chops - food that is unmistakably Texan in technique and unmistakably KG in soul.

The inception of this idea traces back to 2024, when Lennox Hastie, chef-owner of Firedoor, Australia's only fully wood-fired restaurant travelled to the Lone Star State to immerse himself in its barbecue culture firsthand - the smokehouses, the pitmasters, and the decades long traditions. It was on that trip that he first crossed paths with KG and a culinary connection was sparked. 

Over the weekend of 1-4 May, guests will be transported to Texas through backyard feasts, smoke driven dishes, live fire theatre and the flavours that define America's most celebrated barbecue culture. The series also celebrates Texas' rising international culinary profile, elevated by the continued presence of the Michelin Guide.

Firedoor and Gildas Owner and Chef, Lennox Hastie said the Texas barbecue tradition has deepened his connection to cooking with fire, and collaborating with KG will help shape an authentic, distinctive expression of it.

“Fire has always been at the heart of what I do, but Texas barbecue speaks a different dialect of that same language — patience, smoke, time, and an almost reverential respect for the flame, the animal, and the land it comes from. To explore the tradition of fire cooking with a barbecue lens here in Australia, with our extraordinary producers and landscape, is incredibly energising. To be able to do it with KG gives us the insight and the ambition to do it properly —as something honest, rooted, and entirely our own,” said Hastie.

Travel Texas' Economic Development and Tourism Marketing Specialist Tommy Woods said the series captures something essential about why Texas resonates with visitors from around the world.

"Texas barbecue isn't something you just eat, it's something you experience; there's a reason people plan entire road trips around smokehouses,” said Woods.

“When Lennox went to Texas in 2024 and met KG, that moment captured exactly what we love about the state: it draws people in, sparks real connections, and leaves them hungry for more. That's what we're hoping Sydneysiders feel after this series, we'd love for it to be the beginning of their Texas story and inspire them to travel and visit the state for themselves."

For Sydneysiders who have ever wanted to know what all the fuss is about the smoke rings, the rubs, the low-and-slow techniques of barbecue, this is the weekend to find out. Seats are limited and going fast.

Event schedule

Friday 1 May: Honky Tonk 

• Sydney Brewery Rozelle, from 6pm.
• A share style BBQ feast, complete with Swamp Dawkins country band and two-step line dancing, featuring classic Central Texas-style smoked brisket alongside KG's signature fusion. 
• Expect sizzling pits, crowd pleasing plates and honky tonk energy deep into the night.
• Tickets include a special Firedoor x Sydney Brewery collab beer or Tito's Handmade Vodka cocktail on arrival. Strictly 18+.

Saturday 2 May: Brisket 101 Masterclass 

• Sydney Brewery Rozelle, 9am.
• Guests step behind the smoker for an intimate live demo masterclass with Lennox and KG, hosted by food writer Myffy Rigby.
• Learn the art of smoking a legendary brisket, from choosing and trimming the cut to wrapping, resting and slicing, followed by a Q&A covering technique, wood, timing and regional BBQ styles. 
• Includes tasting and a Firedoor x Sydney Brewery collab beer.

Saturday 2 May: Saturday Social 

• Sydney Brewery Rozelle, from 2pm until sold out.
• The Saturday Social is free entry, with the option to register for a free ticket to go into the draw to win a BBQ meat tray to take home on the day (valued at $250). We recommend arriving early - once the meat's gone, it's gone. Competition T&Cs here.
• Watch Lennox and KG at the smoker and sink your teeth into Texas style barbecue with an Egyptian twist, with a Messina gelato pop-up, live music and cold beers rounding out the afternoon. 

Monday 4 May: KG Meats Firedoor

• Firedoor restaurant, from 6pm.
• The Firedoor team welcomes KG into their fire fuelled kitchen for an intimate collaboration dinner. A curated five course experience bringing together the duo's backgrounds, storytelling, and artistry in fire forward cuisine.

Tickets for all public events are on sale now via the Firedoor website here.

Limited seats are available across all sessions.

Getting to Texas has never been easier, event partner American Airlines offers direct flights to Dallas-Fort Worth from Brisbane (October – March), as well as Sydney and Melbourne (codeshare with Qantas). Visit aa.com for more information. 

High-resolution images of the above mentioned talent and brands are available here. 

High-resolution hero images of Texas are available here. 

Media contact:

GTI on behalf of Travel Texas

Annabel Staines

annabel.staines@gtitourism.com.au

+61 478 130 001

On behalf of Lennox Hastie / Firedoor 

Kate Witenden 

kate@katewitenden.com 

+61 434 678 423

About Travel Texas:

Travel Texas' mission is to enhance and extend the local economic development efforts by marketing Texas as a tourist destination in out-of-state domestic and international markets, thereby generating non-Texan travel to the state and ultimately creating revenue and jobs. In order to best reach this goal, Travel Texas provides a truly integrated marketing effort with the functions and services of each of the three interrelated program areas – advertising, public relations and travel research/development – to support Travel Texas' overall mission. Visit TravelTexas.com to plan your next adventure.

From Austin to Dallas, Fort Worth to Fredericksburg, and Houston to San Antonio there are endless adventures and experiences to be had in Texas. Whether visiting a cowboy ranch, tasting the Lone Star State's famous mouthwatering BBQ, relaxing on a beautiful Gulf Coast beach, hiking a tree-lined state park trail, taking in a historical attraction or gazing at awe-inspiring architecture and art, travellers can experience it all in Texas. It's time to Let's Texas! www.traveltexas.com

About Lennox Hastie: 

Lennox Hastie is fascinated by fire. He spent his early career working at Michelin Star restaurants in the UK, France, and Spain. Whilst he honed his skills in these kitchens, he began to lose sight of what he loved most about cooking, the ingredients. After seeking out Etxebarri, a small asador with a strong tradition of wood-fired grilling, Lennox worked with Victor Arguinzoniz, pushing the limits of what could be cooked over a wood fire. He was exposed to a form of cooking that was so completely different, beautifully complex, yet simple, one that highlighted ingredients in their most natural state. It was a turning point. What began as one year at Asador Etxebarri soon grew into five before returning to Australia in 2011. 

In April 2015, Lennox opened Firedoor, and in 2022, he opened Gildas, a Basque-inspired wine bar. Lennox released his first book, Finding Fire in November 2017. 

About Firedoor and Gildas: 

Fascinated by fire, chef and owner Lennox Hastie opened Firedoor over ten years ago in 2015 after returning to Australia following an international career culminating in five years of tending the coals at the Michelin-starred Etxebarri in the Basque foothills of Spain.  A first of its kind in Australia, Firedoor works instinctively with seasonal ingredients and fire in all its forms. Our kitchen uses no gas or electricity and is powered entirely by two wood-fired ovens, three grills, and a wood burning hearth. Our open kitchen allows guests a clear view of the action that unfolds in the kitchen.

Gildas is the little sister of Firedoor, inspired by Lennox Hastie's time in the foothills of Basque Country. Only an olive stone's throw away from Firedoor, Gildas is a homage to the original pintxo created in San Sebastian with three simple ingredients; a guindilla pepper, an olive, and an anchovy – a creation which coincided with the screening of the eponymous film starring the stunning Rita Hayworth, Gilda, at the San Sebastian Film Festival in 1946.

Firedoor is open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday, and lunch Friday and Saturday. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance. 

23 – 33 Mary Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 

www.firedoor.com.au  

Gildas is open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday, and lunch Friday and Saturday. 

46-48 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

www.gildas.com.au