Greg Gatlin was raised in Houston, graduating from St. Thomas High School and Rice University. The self-taught pitmaster left his office job after deciding he wanted to barbecue for a living. He and his family began catering circa 2008 and opened the first location for Gatlin’s BBQ in 2010, tucked into a tiny house on West 19th Street. Before long, demand for his brisket and St. Louis-cut ribs was so great, Gatlin closed shop and reopened in a giant new home on Ella Boulevard. His barbecue remains some of the best in the city, and the pulled pork with vinegar barbecue sauce is bringing a taste of the deep South to Oak Forest.