Patrick Feges, perhaps best known in Houston’s culinary community as the “Whole Hog Guy,” is a self-taught pitmaster and Purple Heart recipient from injuries sustained during a tour in Iraq. In fact, it was during his recovery that he was hit with the barbecue bug. Armed with an old, worn-out Brinkmann smoker and plenty of tenacity, Patrick experimented through trial and error before deciding to attend culinary school at The Texas Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, in Austin. There, surrounded by some of the best barbecue spots in Texas and learning classical basics in class, he began honing his approach to barbecue. In 2012, Patrick purchased a large smoking rig and launched Feges BBQ, catering events and executing pop-ups with non-traditional smoked cuts. In the ensuing years, he continued to train in some of the city’s most acclaimed kitchens including Underbelly, Brennan’s, Killen’s Barbecue, and Southern Goods, all while building his business on the side. In 2018, Patrick opened Feges BBQ with his wife Erin Smith. Feges BBQ was named one of the best BBQ joints in America by Thrillist in 2018, 2019, and 2021, and Texas Monthly recognized it on its coveted lists of the 25 Best New BBQ Joints in 2019 and 50 Best BBQ Joints in 2021.