Michael McCrary

Founder/Pitmaster

Twisted Oak Barbecue

Seeking Mentorship

Offering Mentorship

10 Years of Experience

About Me

I’m Michael McCrary, founder and pitmaster of Twisted Oak Barbecue in Charlottesville, Virginia. My passion has always been building experiences that bring people together through great food, authentic hospitality, and community. What started as a love for traditional barbecue and live-fire cooking has grown into a craft barbecue and catering company focused on weddings, events, and elevated casual dining throughout Central Virginia. My background is rooted in hands-on entrepreneurship, operations, branding, and hospitality. I enjoy building businesses from the ground up, creating efficient systems, developing menus, and finding ways to scale while still maintaining quality and authenticity. My specialty is wood-fired barbecue — blending Texas-inspired techniques with Tennessee roots and a Virginia-crafted approach — while creating a relaxed and memorable guest experience. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, smoking meats, live music, outdoor gatherings, motorcycles, and exploring Virginia’s wineries, breweries, and mountain communities. I’m passionate about supporting local businesses and building long-term relationships within the Charlottesville wedding and event industry. Professionally, my long-term goal is to continue growing Twisted Oak into a leading regional hospitality and event brand while eventually creating a destination property that combines barbecue, weddings, live music, and community experiences in one space. I’m especially interested in networking with wedding planners, venues, photographers, florists, rental companies, and other creative professionals who value authentic experiences and collaboration. I believe the best partnerships are built through trust, consistency, and shared passion, and I’m always looking to connect with people who care deeply about hospitality, quality, and creating unforgettable experiences for clients and guests alike.

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Twisted Oak Barbecue

Founded by pitmaster Michael McCrary, Twisted Oak Barbecue is a Charlottesville-based craft barbecue company specializing in relaxed wedding and rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, and laid-back wedding weekend gatherings throughout Central Virginia. Built around authentic hospitality and real wood-fired cooking, Twisted Oak creates memorable experiences that feel warm, approachable, and genuinely personal — the kind of meals where guests slow down, connect, and enjoy great food together. Twisted Oak blends Texas-inspired barbecue with Tennessee roots and a Virginia-crafted style. Every brisket, pork shoulder, smoked turkey breast, and house-made side is cooked low and slow over real wood with an emphasis on quality, consistency, and flavor. The menu is designed to feel elevated without being overly formal — perfect for couples who want their rehearsal dinner to feel comfortable, welcoming, and memorable rather than traditional or overly structured. Known for its relaxed catering style, Twisted Oak is especially popular for vineyard gatherings, backyard celebrations, brewery and farm weddings, mountain venues, and casual rehearsal dinners where guests can mix, mingle, and enjoy authentic barbecue in a beautiful setting. Their catering menus feature crowd favorites like smoked brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey, smoked salmon house-made mac and cheese, pit beans, sweet slaw, and scratch-made sauces, all served with genuine hospitality and attention to detail. Operating from Charlottesville’s Beacon Kitchen, Twisted Oak has quickly become a growing name in the local food and wedding community through partnerships with wineries, orchards, breweries, and event venues across the region. The team works closely with couples and planners to create an easy, seamless catering experience that removes stress and allows everyone to simply enjoy the weekend. At its core, Twisted Oak is about bringing people together over honest food, real smoke, and relaxed hospitality. Whether it’s an intimate rehearsal dinner or a full wedding weekend welcome event, the goal is always the same: create a meal and atmosphere guests will still be talking about long after the celebration ends. BBQ that’s Texas Inspired, Tennessee Rooted, Crafted in Virginia.

Charlottesville

Virginia

Award Winning

Team Members:

Michael McCrary

Founder/Pitmaster

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We are thrilled to welcome the newest members to the Charlottesville Wedding Society community! Make sure to connect with them, greet them at our upcoming event, or explore new opportunities together!

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