Kevin Bludso | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 (age 57–58) Compton, California, U.S. |
| Culinary career | |
| Cooking style | American |
Current restaurant(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
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Television show(s) | |
Kevin Bludso (born 1965) is an American chef, restaurateur, and television personality.
Bludso was born in 1965 in Compton, California. [1] His father was a police officer at the Los Angeles Police Department; his mother was a postal service worker. [2] While on summer vacation, Bludso lived with his aunt, Willie Mae Fields, in Corsicana, Texas. [3] Fields introduced him to Texas-style barbecue; at the age of 9 or 10, Bludso was allowed to help with the cooking. He studied business at the Dallas-based Bishop College. [4]
Prior to entering the food industry, Bludso worked as a correctional officer for thirteen years. [4] He opened Bludso's BBQ in 2008, serving as its pitmaster. [5] Based in Compton, the restaurant shut down in September 2016, following a dispute with the landlord. Bludso also owns restaurants in Hollywood and Melbourne, Australia. [6] Since 2020, Bludso serves as a judge on the Netflix series The American Barbecue Showdown . [3]
As of September 2020, Bludso resides in Texas. He is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. [3]
| Restaurant | Location | Date opened | Date closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bludso's BBQ [7] | Compton, California | 2008 [8] | September 2016 [6] |
| Bludso's Bar & Que [7] | Hollywood, California | 2013 [8] | |
| Bludso's Bar-B-Que [9] | The Proud Bird Food Bazaar, California | 2017 [10] | |
| Bludso's BBQ [11] [12] | Banc of California Stadium, California | 2018 [13] | |
| Restaurant | Location | Date opened | Date closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antone [14] | Crown Melbourne, Southbank, Victoria | November 10, 2015 [15] | June 25, 2023 |
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources .(June 2022) |
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