Chef, Author, Media Personality

North Carolina native Elizabeth Karmel was raised on barbecue—at roadside stands, neighborhood cookouts and county fairs—but it wasn't until she moved away from home that the barbecue love affair began. When it wasn't at her fingertips, she had to learn how to smoke it herself and a pit-mistress was born.

Karmel, a.k.a. Grill Girl and often referred to as Queen of the Grill, is a nationally respected authority on grilling, barbecue and Southern food. She is the Executive Chef of Hill Country Barbecue Market in NYC and Washington, DC, and NYC's Hill Country Chicken. She developed the award-winning concept, menu and flavor profiles from the meats to the sides and desserts for all three restaurants.

As a sought after media personality, Karmel (link to longer bio) writes for, and is frequently featured in an array of national magazines from Saveur to Better Homes & Gardens, and appears regularly on all three network morning shows. She writes a bi-monthly column for the Associated Press called American Table. She is also the author of three acclaimed cookbooks (link to cookbook corner), the designer of an innovative line of outdoor cooking and kitchen tools, and the founder of the gender-breaking GirlsattheGrill.com. Follow her @GrillGirl and like her fan page on Facebook