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Raleigh chef swaps brick-and-mortar for live open-fire pop-up concept.
Marc Russell has been cooking with fire for years—and he isn’t afraid to get burned. It’s what got him into the barbecue world, ultimately leading him to open Longleaf Swine in 2022 with partner Adam Cunningham. Now, having stepped away from that DTR flame earlier this year, Russell is stoking his love of the technique with his new open-fire pop-up concept Buccan.
SHUCK, YEAH: Buccan chef/owner Marc Russell shucking oysters at a summer pop-up.
Officially firing up at Wolfe & Porter’s Tiki Fest this spring, Buccan—dubbed for an indigenous Puerto Rican-style grill traditionally made from tree branches (fun fact: it’s also the root of the word “buccaneer”)—blazed on the scene with chicken/steak/squash skewers and roasted oysters hot off a versatile live-fire grill modeled after the one used by Aussie culinary legend Charly Pretet of Terra Firma Dining.
“It’s more than just a kettle-style grill,” maintains Russell. “It’s gonna be super-intimate and immersive for the guest—like a showpiece at the event.” The multifunctional grill stand will allow him to flex his culinary muscles to do everything from casual “roysters” a la Tiki Fest to hanging low-and-slow smoked proteins—with plenty of room to play with flavor-packed veggie, tofu and tempeh takes.
“Cooking with fire is the most satisfying form of cooking for me,” he muses. “It’s not just turning a range on and putting your pan down and building a sauce. It’s something you have to constantly manage and tend to for hours and hours and hours—and that’s something I really enjoy doing.”
Over the summer, the sizzling new concept also popped up at The Artist Lounge’s Rosé All Day soiree. And, come fall, he’s turning up the heat on a possible dinner series via the likes of a farm dinner at a friend’s Saxapahaw farm.
“I’m just looking forward to being back outdoors and cooking with a live open fire again,” Russell enthuses. “And I’m excited to have this vessel to be able to do so many different things on.” Get fired up! @buccan_co
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