Introduction to Knives in Water
Knives in Water is a popular pop-up kitchen that has been serving delicious bar food to patrons of beloved dive bars like Two Headed Dog, Grand Prize Bar, and Lil’ Danny Speedo’s Go Fly a Kite Lounge. The brainchild of Baltimore native Ryan Grimes, Knives in Water specializes in mouth-watering smoked meats, including ribs, turkey legs, buffalo wings, and even whole turkeys on Thanksgiving.
The Art of Barbecue
Grimes has a unique perspective on barbecue, seeing himself as a culinary outlier. He believes that the art of barbecue is often gatekept by a select few, which he thinks is ridiculous. According to Grimes, barbecue is simple, requiring only three ingredients, much like punk rock, which only needs three chords to get it right.
Debut of Papercut Zine
On May 24, Grimes will celebrate his 42nd birthday at Midtown bar Two Headed Dog, where he’ll be serving up more than just food. He’ll also debut Papercut, a zine filled with essays, remembrances, and recipes. The zine features layout and artwork by bartender/artist Khrystah Luisa Gorham, who also designed Knives in Water’s logo and T-shirt merch.
Content of Papercut
Papercut includes many endearing entries, such as a 2015 post where Grimes recalls attending the Million Man March with his father when he was 12. Another piece has him cooking for his parents and maternal grandparents on Martin Luther King Day. He also pays tribute to his idol Anthony Bourdain and an old friend who inspired one of his wing sauces. The issue also runs down the various dishes Grimes experimented with during the pandemic, including ones he no longer serves or that didn’t sell well at dive bars.
Inspiration and Background
Grimes got the idea for Papercut when he did a pop-up at last year’s Zine Fest Houston, held at the Orange Show. Co-organizer Anastasia "Stacy" Kirages encouraged Grimes to put his thoughts and opinions down on paper. Grimes credits Kam Franklin, the frontwoman of The Suffers, with first suggesting he turn his passion for cooking into a professional venture. He recalls doing a dinner party for her, which sparked the idea of starting Knives in Water.
Creating Papercut
After some initial procrastination, Grimes found that creating a zine came easily to him. Once he came up with the name, the content flowed together quickly, taking only two months to complete. He started writing in February and was holding a copy by late March or early April.
Availability and Future Plans
Grimes has a limited number of copies of Papercut, which he’ll be selling at his pop-ups. Copies will also be available at CLASS Bookstore and Gulf Coast Cosmos Comicbook Co. He isn’t ruling out dropping another volume if demand calls for it. Grimes assures readers that he’ll have fun with it and not become another culinary clout-chaser.
Conclusion
Grimes’ story is a testament to the DIY ethic of the pop-up kitchen scene. He believes that anyone can start their own pop-up, and it doesn’t have to be about competition or seeking accolades. It’s about sharing delicious food and having fun. With Papercut, Grimes is sharing his passion and creativity with the world, inspiring others to do the same. As he says, "You and your friends can start a pop-up… That’s the beauty of it."
