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Salt, Time, Smoke and a Little Bit of Luck – The Winning Strategy of Tank Jackson

Pig Farmer Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs near Charleston, South Carolina has been a standout competitor at Pig Island for many years and a true friend to Food Karma projects for just as long. Not only was he the top heritage breed pig farmer at the past two Pig Island events, but also he won best pig with his team both years. During the pandemic, he has begun processing more of his pigs, which are normally sold directly to restaurants, into bacon and hams. We chatted with him about how business is going, what he’s looking forward to and how you can get your hands on one of his hams (hint: by being the fastest fingers on Instagram). As told to Sarah Strong, this interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Photo by Stacie Joy

Food Karma: How has your focus changed during the pandemic?
Tank Jackson: You know, we’ve just had to contract because a lot of our restaurants were either closed or on pause. That means we thinned our herd and processed some of our breeding sows to eliminate the reproductive cycle, that’s how you make more pigs, so we just tried to cut back on our production. Just trying to ride it out and figure out creative ways to remarket and rebrand a little bit with retail consumers. It’s really time consuming getting into retail. I’ve been chef driven the whole time, so I kind of just contracted and made different cutting the fat kind of moves and here I am still, we’re hanging out.

FK: How did you start making hams and bacon?
TJ: I’ve been making them for about five years now. Allan Benton and I met at an event where we were put up in the same bungalow and he and I got to be buddies. I learned so much about the process from him, and at some point he told me they custom cured. Ever since then he’s been curing hams and pork bellies for me, and I recently started doing some cured pork shoulders as well. I think that Allan is an American treasure and probably one of the greatest american heroes there is.

FK: How has the response been to the hams?
TJ: As fast as we can make them, we can sell them. It’s kind of like wine: you can only grow so many grapes, and after you grow the grapes then you have to see which ones are the best, and then you take those and try to turn those into wine and then you just hurry up and wait. Salt, time and smoke, and a little bit of luck.

Photo by Patricia Brown

FK: How immediately did you realize you needed to pivot?
TJ: Pretty quickly. When restaurants called in orders, they were slowing down. It wasn’t that hard to figure out we were in for a pretty hard downturn. You’ve just got to move and shake, you either evolve and adapt or you die. We’re trying to hang in there, just coming up with creative ways to sell our pork. We also do a lot of cooking and catering now.

FK: Did you do any catering before?
TJ: We did, but now we’re doing a lot more private dinners for people because they don’t want to go out to restaurants but they still want to eat some really high quality food and do cool stuff. We’ve been going to some people’s houses and doing some cooking for them, too.

FK: How have these changes impacted your customer relationships?
TJ: You know, a lot of the already pretty big time clients just want to continue to support us and this is how they chose to do it. We’re not really seeing a huge uptick from anywhere, it’s just kind of helping us not sink. It’s bailing the water out of the boat but I wouldn’t say it’s paddling the boat.

FK: What have you learned about your business during the pandemic?
TJ: Stay lean, be on top of your shit or you’re going to not be in business tomorrow.

Photo by Stacie Joy

FK: Do you have things that you’re looking forward to?
TJ: Yeah, I’m looking forward to events, I’m looking forward to gatherings, I’m looking forward to celebrations, I’m looking forward to funerals, I’m looking forward to life again as normal or life as it used to be pre-covid, a more normal lifestyle.

FK: Do you think your business will go back to pretty much how it was before or will you take some of the changes you’ve made into the future?
TJ: You go with what you know, and when that don’t work you do what you can to hang in there. I’m sure some of these adaptations will stick. We’ll take every day one by one, one day at a time.

FK: Do you have anything else going on?
TJ: Just continuing to work with Dwight Muse at Dakota Hams and Allan Benton at Benton’s Bacon to get high quality hams out to consumers. I’ll ship cured meats anywhere in the country. We sell out every time. I post on Instagram at @holycityhogs when I have hams and I typically sell out in two to three days. I think in about two months we’re going to have 20 hams that we’ll be ready to release to the public, maybe 25.

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May 28. @ribkingnyc at @snugharborccbg Kick off s May 28. @ribkingnyc at @snugharborccbg 
Kick off summer with us! Ferry ride to flavor!

First-timer at a @foodkarmanyc event, @zabbputawn, impressed the crowds with their crying tiger brisket at this year's @brisketkingnyc and will bring their unique twist on traditional ribs to @ribkingnyc later this month!

@zabbputawn is an authentic Northern and Northeastern Thai restaurant on the Upper West Side from Michelin-starred chef, Therdtus Tony Rittaprom. Chef Tony learned to cook from his parents in Isan, and Zabb PuTawn is a nod to his Jackson Heights restaurant, Zabb Elee, where he earned the Michelin star for his unapologetic Isan fare in 2015.

The ribs they'll be serving up will be like nothing you've ever had before! Link in bio to get your tickets!

Prime Ribs - @prairiefresh ● Charcoal - @prime6charcoal ● Chef Prizes - @kikuichi.cutlery ● Vegetables sourced from @farmer.ezra of @heritagefarmnyc (onsite)

Community Partner - @friendsoffirefighters
Off the heels of a win at @brisketkingnyc for "Bes Off the heels of a win at @brisketkingnyc for "Best Traditional Brisket," @bret_lunsford of @ushgnyc's @bluesmokenyc is back to compete at this year's @ribkingnyc! May 28!

@bret_lunsford was born in Atlanta, GA and grew up in Texas and Mississippi, giving him a taste of flavors from the south. Between grilling with his father, cooking with his grandma, and watching icons like Julia Child & Emeril Lagasse on TV, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in food. He worked at Outback Steakhouse while in college, where he was able to experiment in the kitchen, and later enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America to obtain formal training. 

Post-graduation, @bret_lunsford joined @ushgnyc, initially as a line cook at Gramcery Tavern, then Untitled, then onto Blue Smoke and Jazz Standard, and nine years later, he's currently the Executive Chef at @bluesmokenyc where you can taste the southern influences in his food. 

Will @bret_lunsford bring home another win? Come to @ribkingnyc on Saturday, May 28th from 12-4 pm to find out! 

Prime Ribs - @prairiefresh ● Charcoal - @prime6charcoal ● Chef Prizes - @kikuichi.cutlery ● Vegetables sourced from @farmer.ezra of @heritagefarmnyc (onsite)

Community Partner - @friendsoffirefighters
The money shot from last year's @ribkingnyc aka 5 The money shot from last year's  @ribkingnyc aka 5 Boro PicNYC. @seaislandforge grill in action!

Tank Jackson cooked @holycityhogs pork sliders @lowlandfarms @edistogoldhoney on a Sea Island Forge grill. Photo by Seal Ludwig/ nycbbq.com
______

@holycityhog Tank Jackson will be back this year at Rib King NYC 2022, May 28 at @snugharborccbg #statenislandnyc cooking 2 stations, Taste of the South.
1. HOLY CITY HOGS  pork sliders, 2. Shrimp and grits @marshhenmill @misspaulashrimp 

All-inclusive, food and drink, walk around tasting event.
Tickets at Ribkingnyc.com 

Community partner @friendsoffirefighters festuring 2 firefighter chefs , John and Vinnie #redhookraiders

Vegetables from the farm on site @heritagefarmnyc @farmer.ezra will be cooked on the Sea Island Forge. 

"Jamon", echoes of Spain station. @dakotahams 24 month aged country ham, sliced by @masterhamnyc ; @tierracallada olive oil and conservas; and Basque inspired ciders by @brooklynciderhouse @twinstarorchards 

10 chefs competing in the 4th Rib King NYC , co-hosted by @nycbbq , featuring @prairiefresh Prime Ribs and  @boomboombbq @bark_barbecue @bluesmokenyc @smoke_sweats @zabbputawn  @chef_jes1 @chefraymondzmohan @lolosseafoodshack @badtz281 @jasebbq more

Hot sauces @bayougotham
@coneyislandsaucery
@bhutguy , pickles @rickspicksnyc 

Hard Cider Alley @romillycidre @avalcider @originalsincider @eastciders , Brooklyn Ciderhouse
Craft beer @flagshipbrewery @killsboro @ramsteinbeer @unionbeerdist @niche.brands.nyc 
Wine from North Fork @rgnywine 
Spirits, welcome cocktails more

#ribkingnyc #5boropicnyc #nycbbq #ferryridetoflavor
Hard Cider Alley , May 28 at @ribkingnyc @herita Hard Cider Alley , May 28 at @ribkingnyc 

@heritagefarmnyc on site at @snugharborccbg 

Photo 2021 of @romillycidre by @pecheney 

Come taste the world of cider with you you ribs.

Kick.off summer with us May 28.
All inclusive food and drink taste events. Tickets at Ribkingnyc.com 

Community partner @friendsoffirefighters 

Ferry ride to flavor

Hard ciders may include Romilly. @brooklynciderhouse @avalcider
@eastciders

#ribkingnyc #hardcideralley #5boropicnyc
Hard cider x brisket! @brisketkingnyc 2022 recap. Hard cider x brisket! 
@brisketkingnyc 2022 recap.

@brooklynciderhouse brought the hard cider to our annual bbq  party in Brooklyn.
2 chefs cooked with their cider...
And "Cooking with Cider" won 2 top awards!
1. @bluesmokenyc @bret_lunsford won " Best Traditional Brisket"
2. @official_sandsjerkhut Darlene Lawrence won " Brought the Sauce" jerk brisket.

Thanks for upping our cider game, Peter Yi and crew at Brooklyn Cider House.

Cider makers join us for several upcoming events ;

@ribkingnyc May 28 featuring Hard Cider Alley @avalcider @eastciders @romillycidre @breweryommegang @originalsincider

CiderFeast New England. June 23. #North of Boston

@pigislandnyc September 10 
@snugharborccbg

And more! 

#cookingwithcider #pickcider #hardcider #ciderbraised #Brisketkingnyc #brisketking #nycbbq #lookslikespain
@brisketkingnyc 10th edition Is next week April 20 @brisketkingnyc 10th edition Is next week April 20. Wednesday . #brooklyn

Featured: Leeland Avellino (@cheflee17), Owner and Pit Boss of @avellinofamilybbq, is coming in from Norwalk, CT to compete at this year's @brisketkingnyc on April 20th!

Leeland was first introduced to barbecue when his friend became an Executive Chef at a BBQ spot in Westport. After spending some time poking around the kitchen, he knew he was meant to pursue a career in barbecue. Over the span of 20+ years, he's developed a few restaurant concepts, traveled around the U.S. to explore some of the top places for barbecue, worked for many years at @dinosaur_bbq in Stamford, CT as the Executive Chef/Partner, among other roles, and started his own family business - initially from his driveaway and now from a commercial kitchen due to its success. 

We can't wait to see what Leeland brings to @pigbeachnyc on April 20th! Link in bio for tickets!

Community Partner: @friendsoffirefighters

A portion of the net proceeds will be donated to the Jeff Michner Foundation

Chef Prizes: @kikuichi.cutlery and @porterroad

Drinks: @laphroaig @makersmark @jimbeamofficial, @michterswhiskey, @avalcider, @ramsteinbeer, @eastciders, @boulevard_beer, @brooklynciderhouse, and @romillycidre

📷: @jaharoni • Chef Leeland Avellino at Brisket King NYC in 2021
POW! Chef Jesse Jones (@chef_jes1) has been partic POW! Chef Jesse Jones (@chef_jes1) has been participating in Food Karma events for YEARS and always wins over the crowd with his personality, energy, and, of course, his food. Known for his modern approach to southern cuisine using French techniques, Jesse is a renowned chef and author, has a successful catering company, and comes with a long list of accolades. 

What does he have in store for us this year? You'll have to come by the event to find out! At @brisketkingnyc 2021, he won the Unsung Hero award for his brisket served with his mother's biscuits, so expect nothing less this time around. 

Community Partner: @friendsoffirefighters

A portion of the net proceeds will be donated to the Jeff Michner Foundation

Chef Prizes: @kikuichi.cutlery and @porterroad

Drinks: @laphroaig @makersmark @jimbeamofficial, @michterswhiskey, @avalcider, @ramsteinbeer, @eastciders, @boulevard_beer, @brooklynciderhouse, and @romillycidre

📸: @pattyybrown • Chef Jesse Jones at Brisket King NYC in 2021
@brisketkingnyc chefs, April 20, Brooklyn.. Featur @brisketkingnyc chefs, April 20, Brooklyn..
Featuring- Cenobio Canalizo (@cenobiocanalizo), Executive Chef at Morgan's Brooklyn Barbecue (@morgansbrooklynbbq), started as a dishwasher and worked his way up through NYC's most iconic steakhouses. For the past 22 years, he's worked for GlazierWorks, from @striphouseofficial to @mjsteakhousenyc to his current position at Morgan's. 

Come check out what Cenobio will be preparing for this year's Brisket King NYC on April 20th! Link in bio to get your tickets!

Community Partner: @friendsoffirefighters

A portion of the net proceeds will be donated to the Jeff Michner Foundation

Chef Prizes: @kikuichi.cutlery and @porterroad

Drinks: @michterswhiskey, @avalcider, @ramsteinbeer, @eastciders, @boulevard_beer, @brooklynciderhouse, @romillycidre, and more

#brisketking #brisketking #brooklynfest #nycbbq
We're back at @pigbeachnyc #brooklyn yn. Outdoors We're back at @pigbeachnyc #brooklyn yn.
Outdoors April 20.

10th @brisketkingnyc
15+ chefs, all inclusive food and drink tasting event.
VIP early 5pm admit, and general 6pm admit, tickets at brisketking.com 

Presented by @foodkarmanyc

Community partner @friendsoffirefighters

Chef prizes @kikuichi.cutlery
@porterroad 

Photo 2021 by @jaharoni

Drinks include @michterswhiskey @avalcider @ramsteinbeer @eastciders @boulevard_beer and more

#brisketkingnyc #brisketking #nycbbq #brooklynfest
As we prep for April 20, Brisket King NYC 2022 in As we prep for April 20, Brisket King NYC 2022 in #brooklyn , we interviewed chef and livestock / butchering instructor Mike Lapi 
of SUNY Cobleskill in a recent Food Karma Projects newsletter.
@brisketkingnyc
@mostlywildnfree
@sunycobleskill
@foodkarmanyc

Intro 
"Meat and More with Mike Lapi:
Mike Lapi is officially the Visiting Instructor of Animal Science for SUNY Cobleskill where he teaches all the meat processing courses through the federal inspection facility on campus. He went from accidental busboy to owning his own restaurant to building furniture and then teaching culinary classes before he took the helm of the meat processing program. We talked with Mike about his journey, his goals for the program and how he gets to keep cooking through events like @pigislandnyc where he won an award for his homemade sausage served with charred slaw with house made fish sauce and pickled chanterelles." - edited by Sarah Strong @feedsstrong 

Tickets for Brisket King NYC,  April 20, #brooklyn at brisketking.com 

Community partner @friendsoffirefighters

Sign up for our weekly Food Karma newsletter on one of our sites like pigisland.com or jimmysno43.com

#smallfarms #regionalfood #knowyourbutcher #farmtotable #nosetotail
#pickledchantarelles
Ready for Brisket? Great preview of our upcoming e Ready for Brisket? Great preview of our upcoming event by @nycbbq newsletter , nycbbq.com 

_______

@bluesmokenyc chef @bret_lunsford will be back April 20 at @brisketkingnyc 2022.

Tickets at brisketking.com 
All inclusive food and drink tasting event. 

Outdoor location in Brooklyn. 
@pigbeachnyc #gowanusbrooklyn 

Community partner @friendsoffirefighters 

Photo by @nycbbq at 2021 Brisket King( R) NYC.

#brisketkingnyc #brisketking #nycbbq
Bowl of Zole Boston , April 6. And the countdown Bowl of Zole Boston , April 6. 

And the countdown begins! We're officially one month away from The 1st Annual @bowlofzole in Boston, taking place at South Boston Lithuanian Citizens’ Association. 

You’re not going to want to miss the lineup of chefs creating their unique take on pozole, including @jakerojas of the popular @tallulahstacos, coming in from Providence, RI (pictured here). 

The El Paso, TX native spent time working in top restaurants like L’Atelier De Joël Robuchon and Alain Ducasse’s Mix before moving to Newport, RI in 2010. His journey there started with opening Tallulah on Thames, a fine dining restaurant in a casual setting that he opened with his wife, Kelly Ann (whose nickname is Tallulah!), but eventually moved towards more fast-casual concepts. Together, they opened Tallulah’s Taco Truck, followed by @tallulahstacos in Providence, which has since grown to three locations (the third one opening up soon!). The three locations serve Chicano street food with a heaping side of hospitality. 

If you haven't already purchased your tickets, head to the link in our bio to get one step closer to sampling some of the best pozole, mezcal, and agave spirits on Wednesday, April 6th from 6-9 pm! 
Vip early access 5pm!

📸: @angeltuckerphoto
Highlights @brisketkingnyc 2018 Judges' winner, Highlights @brisketkingnyc 

2018 Judges' winner, 1st place, the Brisket King(R) NYC !
@cherrystbbq x @lawrence_bbq team from Toronto CA
( the Billy Durney school, via @hometownbarbque )

Photo @thebeertrekker 

We are back April 20, 2022 at @pigbeachnyc #gowanusbrooklyn 

Chefs lineup with be announced this week!

Tickets at brisketking.com 

Community partner @friendsoffirefighters 

Support #jeffmichner fund , too

#brisketkingnyc #brisketking #nycbbq #brooklynfest
Highlights. 2021 @brisketkingnyc @texashuntress Highlights.
2021 @brisketkingnyc 
@texashuntress 
@boomboombbq 
@handsomedevilllc 

We will be back April 20, 2022
Brisket King NYC
Outdoors at @pigbeachnyc #gowanusbrooklyn 

Tickets at Www.brisketking.com 

Community partner @friendsoffirefighters 

#brisketking #nycbbq #brisketkingnyc
Pozole. Tequila. @sipdonfulano @bowlofzole #brook Pozole. Tequila.
@sipdonfulano

@bowlofzole #brooklyn 2021.
Photo by @thebeertrekker
____
Join us in Boston. APRIL 6.

All inclusive. Walk around. Sampling.  Food and Drink tasting event.

Mezcal. Sotol. Tequila.  Raicilla. Authentic agave spirits.100 expressions.

10 chefs' pozole.
@locosouthbos @lonestar_camb @lolitateqbars
@chefdevangelous @dolorespvd @jakerojas
@lenoramaine @pearlandlime
@felipesboston @tlaxcalkitchen

Early bird and VIP tickets at bowlofzole.com 

Community via @_projectpaulie_

#pozole #bowlofzoleboston #bostonfest #bostoneats #mezcal #sotol #agave #raicilla #tequila
The judges' table, @brisketkingnyc 2017. @bbqsnob The judges' table, @brisketkingnyc 2017.

@bbqsnob @peterkaminsky1 @franklinbbq @nicksolares @chefjohntesar @jakedell wrangled by @hometownbarbque 's Billy Durney.

Photo by @thebeertrekker

Join us April 20, 2022
Brisket King (R)NYC 
Outdoors at @pigbeachnyc
#gowanusbrooklyn

Early bird and VIP tickets at bowlofzole.com 

Community partner @friendsoffirefighters 

Top prizes by @kikuichi.cutlery @porterroad 

20 chefs.
All inclusive,  food and drink,  walk around tasting event. 
10th annual event.

#brisketkingnyc #brisketking #nycbbq
Oyster pozole, By chef @ugorozco , at 2020 @bowlo Oyster pozole, 
By chef @ugorozco , at 2020 @bowlofzole #brooklyn 

Get ready for Bowl of Zole Boston, pozole and mezcal fest. April 6.

What's cooking , Boston chefs?
@lonestar_camb vegetarain "elote" street corn pozole 
@lenoramaine , Maine seafood pozole
10 chefs
100 expressions of authentic mezcal and agave spirits

Stay tuned for the chefs' pozole line up

Tickets at bowlofzole.com 

Photo by @jaharoni

Community @_projectpaulie_

Veladoras @cocktailkingdom

#bowlofzoleboston #mezcal #sotol #pozole #bostoneats #madeinmexico #hominy #raicilla #mexicansoulfood
Joe Musngi of SmoKING of Meats is a Self Taught Ba Joe Musngi of SmoKING of Meats is a Self Taught Barbecue Beast!
Read all about the man who wants to be the next Brisket King(R) NYC.

In our weekly @foodkarmanyc newsletter by @feedsstrong 

@smokingofmeats 
@smorgasburg #jerseycity 

Stay tuned for chefs line up next week.
@brisketkingnyc is April 20, outdoors at @pigbeachnyc in #gowanusbrooklyn 

Early bird and VIP tickets at brisketking.com 

Community partner @friendsoffirefighters , celebrate 20 years of service 2/02/2022

#brisketking #brisketkingnyc #nycbbq
Super Bowl winning recipe? @bbq_buddha dry rubbed Super Bowl winning recipe?
@bbq_buddha dry rubbed hot wings.

Pre order his latest cookbook for the recipe , Big Green Egg Basics... by @pagestreetpublishing

Ray Sheehan was our 2020 @saucekingnyc Grand Champion judge's award winner, with his Memphis Mop sauce.
His grand prize? A @biggreenegg grill via @gumbohq

In 2021, he won 2 top awards as well .

Keep up the good work,  Ray!

#saucekingnyc #biggreenegg #bbqsauce #hotsauce
Congrats @bbq_buddha ! Pre order Ray Sheehan's new Congrats @bbq_buddha !
Pre order Ray Sheehan's new book, Big Green Egg Basics from a Master Barbecuer. @pagestreetpublishing @kengoodmanphoto 

Ray was our 2020 @saucekingnyc Grand Champion! His prize? A full size @biggreenegg grill via @gumbohq .
Ray is a great chef , sauce maker,  and cookbook / recipe author. Of course, he applied himself to his new grill and "Voila!" , another GREAT cookbook!
Pre order now. 

#saucekingnyc #bbqsauce #barbecuesauce #biggreenegg
#bbqcookbook
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