The Best Barbecue in the World: Secrets, Sauces and Smokers

The BBQ program was great from many perspectives: Learning about the history and methods of BBQ; staying in the relaxing, marsh-side cottages of Lifetides; learning about the low country of South Carolina; and meeting interesting people.

Great relaxing atmosphere and location to participate in fun activity with master pitmaster. Program encourages comradery and "family" atmosphere. The blend of food preparation and cultural roots of this type of meal preparation, especially in the South, was most interesting and supplemented by Gullah craftsmen and stories. Free time allowed for travel in nearby cities to expand on understanding this interesting cultural and natural area.

This is an excellent program in large part due to the superb teaching of Pit Master Seth Watari. He provided advance organizing materials, demonstrated techniques, and then had us get to work on the smoked food and BBQ (which was delicious). I only wish I had taken a picture of my husband spatchcocking a chicken!

Jan and Andy of Life Tides are passionate about this amazing center which seeks to elevate our understanding and care of the environment. Our cottage fronted on the marsh engulfed with birds, live oaks, tidal waters was the ultimate in a peaceful coexistence with nature. The LifeTiders were always available to share their passions of this delicate corner of the earth. Since my consumption of barbecue meats is “only on special occasions” Jan ensured that every meal had fresh, organic, and expertly prepared whole foods, fruits, and vegetables. And Andy continued to bake show stopping cuisine such as his grandmother’s biscuits made with butter, 24” cast iron fresh pineapple upside-down cake, and delicate, real maple syrup pecan pie which disappeared in record time. Having a small number of participants is an important component of this program’s success. Everyone had hands-on cooking and everyone could sit together at one large table for every feast and FEAST we did. We loved the celebration of South Carolina lowcountry culture, people, and cuisine! We are most anxious to return. Life Tides Institute is a gem and also has marvelous kayaking, birding, and photography trips. We are so fortunate to gave discovered this gem.

One of the best aspects of this program is the small group of no more than 13. This is because the location cannot accommodate a large group. However, I have been looking for all of the roadscholar mini groups, and I think this would certainly be part of this group. I would like to see more. The location is amazing, the people are very interesting and I would recommend this. The low activity level should not detract if you have the energy to drive a small way to see many surrounding fascinating museums, and historic sites.

Our BBQ trip exceeded expectations. The lodging was perfect, our view of the marsh and the sunrises and sunsets were the most beautiful I have ever seen. The staff saw to our every need. They provided delicious breakfast and lunch and desserts. And then there was the food! I learned so much that even though I don't have a grill I can still adapt the recipes to the oven or of course use our friends grill. The instructor covered history, food prep, how to do competition style grilling, educated us on all the various grills and smokers available and gave us ample opportunity to do hands on work with the chicken, ribs, pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, crack cheese bread and several low country sides. We started with a low country boil and finished with an oyster roast. We got to know the other participants because the group was small and they just all added to the fun. This is a unique botique adventure that would be hard to find anywhere else. Just the right combination of learning, cooking, eating, friendship and still downtime to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

We learned a lot about BBQ and plan to use our new knowledge. Seth Watari is a wonderful instructor and Life Tides is a beautiful site.

This program was a lot of fun. I learned a great deal about low country barbecue. I had the best spare ribs I’ve ever eaten. I came straight home and smoked some on my own to make sure I could do it by myself. They turned out just as good as the others. Seth was a great instructor. The group size was perfect. It was small enough that everyone was able to have significant hands on experiences with all aspects of meal preparation. The accommodations were very nice. They were clean quiet and beautiful. Andy and Jan were great hosts. Almost immediately I felt like I had known them for years. I would recommend this program to anyone regardless of what they think they know about smoking and barbecuing.

The Best Barbecue in the World: Secrets, Sauces and Smokers April 2023 was a whole lot of fun. The Instructor was fabulous and generous with his equipment, knowledge, and recipes. We spent the most time on actual food preparation, both barbecued meat and a variety of sides and appetizers. The hands-on part of the course was especially useful and helped us get to know the other participants, some of whom were new to barbecue and some were very experienced. All of us left with knowledge of how barbecue is done and the various techniques and ingredients that make it a unique cuisine. The accommodations were delightful and offered a beautiful view of the surrounding marsh from your porch. The location between Charleston and Savannah permitted an exploration of the SC coastal communities when we had a few hours off. The hosts were delightful and even capped off the week with an oyster roast. All in all a delightful and educational experience. I recommend it for anybody who wants to learn more about barbecue in a small class among friendly helpful people.

The Lowlands BBQ Program was excellent! Seth, the presenter, was knowledgeable and generous with his time and information. The hosts at the LifeTides Institute, Jan and Andy, were gracious and friendly. The accommodations were perfect. I am very satisfied and would rate my experience as: 5 star +.

Everything about this program was fantastic. If you miss this opportunity to learn about the world of BBQ, you are missing one of the most fun experiences you can imagine. I signed up for this program only because my friends convinced me; it was truly one of, if not the best, Road Scholar programs that I’ve ever been on. I’m SO glad I went!!!

FIVE STARS! The Best Barbecue program offered much more than I anticipated. I thought I already knew right much about Barbecue but it was minimal compared to what I learned. Champion Pitmaster JT Handy shared his deep love for all things barbecue through history, tastes, grilling, and smoking. I returned home with a more thorough understanding of what Barbecue truly is and how it came to be. And it’s NOT what you do on the grill to hotdogs and hamburgers! I was pleased that there was a good deal of hands on preparation for our dinner meals but it was completely optional. We could choose whether to get the pork butts, chicken, ribs, brisket, potatoes, vegetables, salad, beans, bread, etc. ready for our nightly dinners or simply sit on the screened porch enjoying an iced tea, a cup of coffee, or a self-provided adult beverage. Andy Hooten and Jan Schatz were most gracious, friendly hosts. They treated us like a loving family. The meals they prepared for breakfast and lunch were beyond amazing! On the first and last night Andy and Jan cooked some of their specialties and no fine dining establishment could have done it better! Local oyster season was winding down and they had an oyster roast for us before dinner one evening. Our accommodations were in a cluster of well appointed, comfortable cottages overlooking the marshlands of LifeTides Institute. We gathered for meals and camaraderie in a main cottage just steps away from our various shared cottages. LifeTides Institute is a learning center with the mission of teaching adults and local school students about the Biological Diversity of the SC Lowcountry Environment. In addition to being a fabulous cook, our host Andy is a biologist focusing on coastal and marine resource management and the sustainability of those environments. When the program was over we all commented that we would like Road Scholar to offer a Barbecue 201 program to further our knowledge and give us a chance to return to this lovely place.

If you enjoy barbeque, the outdoors and a great experience this is the program for you. The Instructor, JT, was great and the Program Providers were awesome. They all made for an incredible experience.