Pitmaster IndexDesiree Robinson
Owner & Pitmaster
Desiree Robinson
Cozy Corner25+ years activeMemphis, TN
Signature:BBQ Cornish Hen — whole bird slow-smoked with the family's dry rub
Desiree Robinson took over Cozy Corner after the 2001 death of her husband, Raymond Robinson, who founded the restaurant in 1977. Under Desiree's stewardship, Cozy Corner has maintained its reputation as one of the most authentic and soulful BBQ joints in Memphis. She is the keeper of the family's BBQ Cornish hen recipe, and in 2020 she became the first African-American woman inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame.
Technique
Whole Cornish hens are rubbed with a proprietary dry seasoning blend and slow-smoked over hickory wood until the skin crackles and the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. The bologna is smoked whole and sliced to order.
Recognition
- Barbecue Hall of Fame (2020)
Influences
Raymond Robinson (father)North Memphis BBQ traditionSoul food heritage