Praised as one of the most influential pitmasters in the U.S., self-taught barbecue legend Aaron Franklin has come a long way from the backyard cookouts where he started. Now he has fans across the country, including Jimmy Kimmel and President Barack Obama. In 2015, he won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southwest. His Austin, Texas, restaurant Franklin Barbecue was named Bon Appétit Magazine’s Best Barbecue Joint in America, and people stand in line for hours each day to enjoy his mouth-watering smoked brisket.