“The Legend” – Mike Mills

In the world of barbecue, champion pitmaster Mike Mills is affectionately known as “The Legend”. He presides over the pits at his seven nationally acclaimed barbecue restaurants – four 17 Street Bar & Grill restaurants  in Southern Illinois and three Memphis Championship Barbecue  restaurants in Las Vegas. Mike is also the barbecue guru at and partner in Blue Smoke restaurant  in New York City.

In the early 1990’s, Mike was co-captain of the Apple City Barbecue Team, one of the most celebrated teams ever on the circuit. Many honors and titles have been bestowed to Mike over the years including:

• Four-time World Champion and three-time Grand World Champion at Memphis in May, otherwise known as the Super Bowl of Swine.
• 1992 Grand Champion of the Jack Daniel’s World Invitational Barbecue Cooking Contest
• 1992 Winner of Jack Daniel’s Sauce Contest
• Mike’s Book, Peace, Love and Barbecue, was nominated for a 2006 James Beard Foundation Award and received the 2006 National Barbecue Association Award of Excellence.
• In October, 2008 Mike was honored with the Pioneer of Barbecue award at the Jack Daniel’s World Invitational Barbecue Cooking Contest.