BBQ Catering

The American Pit BBQ Co is a unique barbecue provider with recipes from the deep south of the USA and Mexico – offering authentic smoke pit taste across a wide and varied menu. Specialising in pork, beef and chicken cooked slowly over a wood fire pit, The American Pit BBQ adds a unique element to any wedding or event.

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

This may vary according to the nature of the event. For public events, for example, it’s important to identify: the number of visitors expected; the number of food vendors allowed; if there’s a site layout?; and whether you have your own agreement document. Timings, budget and an indication of your specific food requirements are also requested.

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

It’s important to check that vendors are safe. Do they have suitable insurance and food hygiene certificates? Can they 'move' from their main offering in so much as can they accommodate menu changes if needed? Many vendors may not be able to accommodate such changes.

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

The American Pit BBQ Co and it’s daughter company: The Themed Event Catering Co, was born out of requests for my cooking skills at a private level, initially. As a professional Chef I have worked the 'circuit' of restaurants, hotels, contract catering, banqueting and sport hospitality; I have been able to draw on these experiences to bring catering to private and public events. I was initially looking at Hog Roasts as an addition to private 'Chef at Home' services, but after visits to the USA I decided that we could do better than that and bring in Pit BBQ which was growing in the Street Food scene here in the UK. We started by looking at public events but since becoming more deeply involved with Add to Event, we have been introduced to more and more private event organisers for corporate and private events.

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

Add to Event has become the mainstay of our sales funnel. We have had a number of great bookings through Add to Event. One was for a team celebration in a private house for a major Accountancy firm’s branch here in the Midlands. We pitched for the work and on acceptance carried out a site survey. We pitched up to a beautiful 500 year old mansion house and met with the client to decide locations, power, waste etc. The location was stunning! On the day, we served nearly 200 meals and all went smoothly on our part. The client was really pleased with the offering as it met the expectations of the age group of guests. We are being considered for the party this year already. We would never have known about this event if it was not for Add to Event who put the opportunity in front of us. I always promote Add to Event to my colleagues in the eventing market; and the incentive for doing it by adding credits is welcomed.