Barbecue Catering Smarts
Barbecue Catering Smarts is your go-to podcast for mastering the business of BBQ catering. Hosted by Michael Attias—founder of CaterZen Catering Software and longtime catering strategist—this show dives deep into the systems, stories, and smarts behind the most successful BBQ catering operations in the country. Each episode features conversations with pitmasters, smokehouse owners, and catering pros who share their proven tactics for scaling revenue, streamlining operations, building loyal fans, and turning smoky deliciousness into serious profit. Whether you run a food truck, a full-service BBQ restaurant, or a booming catering department, you'll walk away with actionable ideas to elevate your BBQ catering game. Tune in to Barbecue Catering Smarts—where smoke, strategy, and success come together.
Episodes
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Kendal Handy, Co-Owner of Hambone's BBQ Smokehouse, for a fresh look at what the next generation can bring to a family-owned barbecue business.
At just 19 years old, Kendal is already getting hands-on experience across the operation—from learning the pits and family recipes to marketing, social media, catering sales, networ...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Kersten Grigg, Owner of Big Daddy's BBQ in Boise, Idaho. What started with Kersten's parents smoking prime rib and ribs out of the back of a bar eventually grew into a food truck, full-service catering, and a...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Chef Jack Holt, Owner of Smokin' Jack's BBQ.
Jack shares the remarkable journey of building Smokin' Jack's from a ghost kitchen during the pandemic into a growing multi-concept barbecue business with food trucks, restaurant locations, stad...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Stuart McClean, Founder of BaQ-Bone BBQ & Catering, to discuss how a passion for authentic Texas barbecue evolved into a catering-focused business built for long-term growth.
Stuart shares how selling smoked Thanksgiving turkey...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Phillip Livingston, Owner of Baby-Boyz BBQ. Phillip shares how he went from getting laid off and watching a barbecue show on Food Network to building a 22-year barbecue business with a restaurant, catering operation...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Tracy Carter, owner of JAC's Craft Smokehouse in West Monroe, Louisiana.
What started as a passion for barbecue, competition cooking, and a food truck eventually grew into one of the area's busiest barbecue operations—with catering now accounting for roughly 42% of the business.
Tracy shares the remarkable story behind launching a restaura...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Phil and Johanna Hennenfent, owners of Henn House BBQ.
What started with Phil winning a smoker in a local radio contest eventually grew into an award-winning barbecue catering business serving weddings, corporate events, and special occasions throughout the Midwest. Together, Phil ...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Tim Halls, co-founder of Burnt BBQ N' Tacos.
Tim shares the unconventional journey that led him from working in the ambulance industry and attending culinary school to building one of the most uniqu...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Mark Avalos, founder of Stack City BBQ.
What started as backyard cookouts and weekend catering jobs has evolved into one of the most recognizable barbecue brands in Texas. Mark shares how he combined barbecue, hip-hop culture, hospitality, and relentl...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Chris Bennett, VP of Catering at Maurice's Piggie Park—a multi-generational barbecue brand with nearly 70 years of history.
<...In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Bridget Ryan, Director of Sales & Marketing at Fat Bob's Smokehouse.
From a former Spanish teacher to helping lead a $1M+ catering operation, Bridget shares how Fat Bob...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Dale Lockwood, Owner and Pit Master of Hickory BBQ & Grill.
Dale shares his journey from starting a barbecue catering business during the 2008 downturn to scaling into high-volume operations—including se...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Julie Reinhardt, Co-Owner of Smokin' Pete's BBQ in Seattle, to break down how they transformed their operation into a focused, profitable catering business.
After 10 years running both a restaurant and catering, Julie and her husband made a strategic decision: shut down the restaurant and go all-in on caterin...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Dan Bosworth, Owner & Pitmaster of Big Dan's BBQ in Catawissa, Pennsylvania.
Dan didn't grow up in restaurants—he came from manufacturing and supply chain management. That operational background became his unfair advantage. Instead of running barbecue on instin...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Jim Lenzen, Owner of Jimmy L's, a barbecue operator who built a multi-state catering business from a small-town base in western Nebraska—without cutting corners or competing on price.
Jim shares his unconventional path into ...
In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Linda Bogach, Catering Director at Central BBQ—one of the most iconic barbecue brands to ever come out of Memphis.
Linda brings a true operator's perspective to catering. Her path wasn't linear—restaurant management, ba...
In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Erin Childs, restaurant consultant, coach, and long-time catering operator who cut her teeth in Boston's fast casual scene.
From pounding the pavement with samples in hand to building systems for national brands like Beloco and Fresh City, Erin sha...
In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Phillip Scotton, President & COO of Primo Partners—one of the most successful multi-unit, multi-brand franchise operators in the Ben & Jerry's system, and a rapidly growing partner within the Starbucks licensed store network.
Phillip s...
In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Amanda Quinn, Director of Catering at Viva Chicken—one of the fastest-growing Peruvian rotisserie brands in the U.S.
Amanda brings years of experience building off-premise programs across hotels, franchise concepts, and now a multi-unit rest...
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