Intro
Meet the face behind the brisket, bringing Texas-style BBQ to Southern California. Daniel Castillo is a chef, pitmaster, and the owner behind Heritage Barbecue, Le Hut Dinette, Smokehouse by Heritage Barbecue, and the Castillo Family Ranch. What started as a pure love for food turned into a life built around fire, smoke, and feeding people well. Daniel's craft has earned Michelin Bib Gourmand honors and a James Beard Award finalist nod.
When he’s not running restaurants or tending the pits, you’ll find him out at the ranch or spending time with family, usually with something cooking and music playing in the background. At the end of the day, Daniel's world comes down to good food, good people, and doing things with intention.
Q&A
What is your profession? And did you always know this is what you would end up doing, or was it something you stumbled into?
I'm a chef and owner of Heritage Barbecue, Le Hut Dinette, Smokehouse by Heritage Barbecue & Castillo Family Ranch. Becoming a chef, restaurant owner, and pitmaster was something I never saw coming early on. I only knew I was good in the kitchen and loved to cook.
When you’re not doing your core pursuit, what else do you enjoy doing?
I enjoy working at our family ranch and spending time with my family making memories. I also have an obsession with working on old classic Ford trucks.
How do you incorporate music into your life?
Music is very important to me, and a soundtrack is just as important in a restaurant as the food you are serving. I believe that food comes from the heart and that music has to match that and should be very soulful.
What does “Live Free” mean to you?
Live free to me means being yourself and taking chances.
Any guilty pleasures?
Definitely eating and a good cigar.
What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you in the wild/on tour?
Traveling through Texas for a barbecue festival and having to pick up 800 pounds of pork ribs in the back of a rented vehicle to do an overnight cook.
Who is your favorite musical artist? Or what are you listening to right now?
Right now, I am listening to a lot of Charlie Crockett, Zach Bryan, Sturgill Simpson, and Sierra Ferrell, but I also enjoy listening to Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and David Allan Coe on the regular.
Favorite Turtlebox speaker and why? How do you use it?
I get the most use out of my Ranger. It’s easy to take along with me. I use the magnet to stick it on the side of any vehicle or smoker.