Stusquatch's Rockstar BBQ

Let me just say, for the record, it smells really good in here.

I am at Stew Squatch's Rockstar Barbecue with Stew.

Stew Aldridge and Betsy Walker, who is the general manager.

And this place, man, I'll tell you what, it's a weekday, mid-morning.

And I think some great things are cooking back here.

Stu, I want to start with you.

Tell me a little bit about the restaurant and your history and how this place got started.

Oh, this was an accident.

Nobody wants to get into waking up at odd hours and going and light a fire.

But it's really a blessing.

It's one of my favorite things to do.

You say it's an accident.

You knew how to do this stuff.

You knew barbecue, right?

Sure, sure.

But some really good friends of mine just asked me to do a catering gig for them.

And I had to find a commercial kitchen space.

And so that's how I ended up here.

Okay, by the way, and we are at Metro Eats on West Sunshine, which, by the way, West Sunshine is nice and open and clear, and it has been.

There was construction for a while, but it's all good, solid road to get here.

What got you into doing barbecue to begin with, and where did you do it before you looked for a commercial kitchen?

Well, I was very fortunate to be a judge in some barbecue competitions that... local establishment and from there I thought I'd give it up my hand to try at it and after I quit drinking I was looking for something to do with all my time and so I ended up here.

So when you judge these competitions did you think to yourself I can do that better?

You know I didn't think I could do it better I just thought I could try it and everybody wants to do a little bit of put their own touch on things you know being creative is is part of being human is it not?

I would agree.