Join us for VNA’s Celebrity Chef Event, April 4, 2024
Location: VNA Haggerty Kitchen, 1440 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas TX
Time: 11:30 am Lunch or 7:00 pm Dinner
Aaron Franklin
Barbecue Pit Boss – Owner of Franklin BBQ
In Celebration of VNA’s 90th Anniversary, we are excited to announce that our 2024 Celebrity Chef is Austin-based barbecue cook, grilling guy, restaurant owner, educator, and MasterClass instructor, Aaron Franklin. Aaron is a self-taught barbecue expert, who has quickly risen to be one of the most well-known pit bosses in the barbecue world. He never cuts corners on choosing quality meats and spending the time it really takes to make the best Barbecue in the country. Aaron’s first book, Franklin Barbecue: A Meat Smoking Manifesto has quickly become a cult classic since it was published in 2015, teaching countless budding pit-masters how to cook Central Texas style barbecue. Aaron’s second book, Franklin Steak, showcases his deep love for steak by exploring dry aging, reverse searing, and other cooking methods. Franklin Smoke, Aaron’s third and most recent book, addresses the mysterious area where smoker and grill intersect, describing when and how to best combine the two. Aaron is the recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef and has also been inducted into the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame. Aaron also launched his backyard barbecue pit company, Franklin Barbecue Pits, in 2020.