Some collaborations just make sense.
For Opinel, our collaboration with LeRoy and Lewis is one of them.
As someone who lives in Austin, I’ve had the chance to experience just how much the city’s food scene has to offer. LeRoy and Lewis has become one of those places that keeps bringing me back. The food, the approach to barbecue, and the people behind it all feel very Austin.
At Opinel, we’ve always had a strong connection to food. We love the ingredients, the cooking, the people who make it, and the tools that become part of those everyday moments. LeRoy and Lewis shares that same appreciation for food and craftsmanship, so bringing the two together felt pretty natural.
And if you’re in Austin and haven’t been yet, make the trip. The L&L Burger is my personal choice: it’s the kind of burger that makes you understand why people keep talking about this place.
The No.08 Black Oak x LeRoy and Lewis
For this collaboration, we chose the No.08 Black Oak.
The No.08 has been part of the Opinel story for generations. It’s simple, dependable, and made to be carried and used every day. The Black Oak version gives the classic design a darker, more distinctive look, with its black oak handle and black anodized blade.
The dark finish felt especially fitting for LeRoy and Lewis. There’s something about the black blade that brings to mind the smoke, char, and deep color of meat coming off the pit.
We finished the knife with a custom engraving of the LeRoy and Lewis logo on the handle.
It’s a small detail, but an important one. We wanted to keep what makes the No.08 an Opinel while giving it a clear connection to a restaurant and a community we genuinely admire.
About LeRoy and Lewis
Founded by Evan LeRoy and Sawyer Lewis, LeRoy and Lewis has become one of Austin’s standout names in modern barbecue, earning a Michelin Star for its innovative take on Texas barbecue.
Their approach is rooted in Texas barbecue, but they aren’t afraid to move beyond tradition. They work with great ingredients, live fire, and plenty of creativity, creating food that feels familiar while still keeping things interesting.
That approach extends beyond the restaurant. Their brand new cookbook, New School Barbecue Cookbook gives readers a closer look at the recipes, techniques, and ideas behind their style of cooking. It’s a chance to bring some of the LeRoy and Lewis approach home: understand the fundamentals, respect the craft, and have some fun with it.
That’s a big part of what we like about LeRoy and Lewis. They have a real respect for barbecue and where it comes from, but they’re not afraid to make it their own.
A Little Bit of Austin, A Little Bit of France
There’s a natural connection between Opinel and LeRoy and Lewis.
Opinel comes from a long tradition of French knife-making, with more than 130 years of history behind the brand. LeRoy and Lewis is part of a new generation of Texas barbecue, bringing its own perspective to a tradition that has been around for generations.
The two may come from very different places, but there’s a shared appreciation for making things well.
That’s what we wanted this collaboration to be about.
The No.08 Black Oak x LeRoy and Lewis brings together French knife-making and Austin barbecue in a way that feels simple and genuine. It’s a knife made in the French Alps, with a little piece of Austin engraved into the handle.
For me, as an Austin local and an Opinel fan, that makes this collaboration especially meaningful.
It started with a love of food and a genuine appreciation for LeRoy and Lewis. The result is a knife that we hope gets used, carried, and eventually becomes part of someone’s own food story.
