PIEDMONT, S.C. — Barbecue champion Chris Marks returns to Piedmont on Saturday, Aug. 8, to share his expert tips and smoking techniques at a free, reservation-only cooking class. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at General Shale, located at 425 Oak Road.
General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG and a leading manufacturer of brick, one of the world’s oldest green building materials.
Making his third appearance in the Upstate region, Marks has partnered with General Shale to host an annual barbecue smoking class each year since 2013. For amateur smokers and barbecue enthusiasts, the class presents an opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade from a barbecue grand champion.
Marks is a nationally recognized elite competition barbecue chef and has won more than 43 national barbecue championships. He has also amassed more than 600 individual barbecue awards, including the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Barbecue Sauce Championship, and is an eight-time winner of the prestigious American Royal Grand Championship in Kansas City. He has been featured on The Food Channel’s “Taste of America” and Travel Channel’s “BBQ Battle,” in addition to numerous local and regional barbecue shows.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with grill master Chris Marks and provide this opportunity for him to offer his culinary expertise to our Upstate customers,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “Chris is renowned for his award-winning techniques, and we’re pleased to have him back in Piedmont, sharing his passion for preparing world-class barbecue.”
Although there is no charge for the class, pre-registration is required as class size is limited. Participants will be accepted on a first-call, first-serve basis. To pre-register, call the General Shale office at 864-801-1775 by Aug. 1.
ABOUT GENERAL SHALE
General Shale is one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers, supplying a wide variety of masonry materials for residential, commercial and specialty architectural projects. These materials include brick, thin veneers, stone, outdoor living kits, concrete block and various building materials, which include Arriscraft® Stone Products. The company offers an endless array of sizes, colors and textures to complete any building project. With a life cycle of more than 100 years, the sustainability of brick is the company’s commitment to responsible stewardship.
Throughout the U.S. and Canada, General Shale operates manufacturing facilities in nine states and provinces, in addition to a network of more than 40 retail showrooms and over 300 affiliated distributors across North America. In 1999, General Shale grew even stronger when it joined Wienerberger AG of Vienna, Austria, the world’s largest brick manufacturer.
General Shale was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.
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