Home Business From Northside FEED to feeding the Northside: Beef Butter BBQ to open in early November

From Northside FEED to feeding the Northside: Beef Butter BBQ to open in early November

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From Northside FEED to feeding the Northside: Beef Butter BBQ to open in early November
Beef Butter BBQ ribs are smoked until they are fall-off-the-bone tender. Photo by Pit Master Patrick Riha

By Lauri Lee
Northside Economic Development Coalition

The cows and pigs are coming back to the Bruns dairy farm (aka Northside TownCenter) when Beef Butter BBQ opens at 3001 N. Sherman Ave. The smoked, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of Texas-style beef brisket, pulled pork, chicken and sausages will be available at the Northside restaurant starting in early November.

The former Rocky Rococo / Habanero’s building has been transformed by Sherman Plaza, Inc. to a barbecue joint with a comfortable atmosphere. There is indoor seating for 75 and the outdoor patio will seat 20 people. “I’m very grateful to Dave Bruns and Don Bruns for believing in me,” said owner Patrick Riha. “After trying my brisket a couple of years ago, they invested a lot to make my dream a reality. They truly are stewards of the Bruns family farm legacy started in 1856.”

The kitchen equipment was purchased locally through Kessenich’s, Ltd., which provided Riha with the kitchen layout planning and expertise of Martee Mikalson. “Martee is a talented, hard worker whose skill and knowledge was invaluable to getting the kitchen done right.”

There is nothing harder nor more rewarding than to properly make Texas-style barbecue. It takes buying the highest quality meats available, trimming them to prepare for a perfect smoke, seasoning with special coarse salt and pepper, meticulous management of the fire for smoking to perfection, then properly cutting the meats in front of customers to enjoy. Beef Butter BBQ has special water smokers with the seasoned oak fire underneath, a large bath of water above the fire, then the rotisserie smoking racks above the water. Each smoker can smoke 40 briskets or 64 pork butts at once. At Beef Butter BBQ, the meats are smoked low and slow up to 12 hours so the meats are fork tender. A great smoked brisket doesn’t have fat, it has beef butter, which gives the meat its great flavor. The restaurant will also serve smoked pulled pork, baby back ribs, chicken and house-made sausages. Sides include smoked apple pie baked beans, white cheddar mac and cheese, potato salad, coleslaw, kettle chips, tap beer and soft drinks.

Northsiders will be happy to hear the meat cutter at Beef Butter BBQ is John Lehman, an owner of the former Jim’s Meat Market. “The meat cutter is the most important position because meat is fresh cut for every order,” said Riha. “I’m happy to bring his great sausages and knowledge of meat back to the neighborhood.”

Beef Butter BBQ started as a catering and vending business for company parties, graduation, weddings, corporate events and special events, in the summer of 2017. Riha operated out of a customized commercial kitchen trailer he designed and licensed at FEED Kitchens, a shared-use commercial kitchen at 1219 N. Sherman Ave.

There was such positive response  to Beef Butter BBQ, Riha decided to open a brick and mortar store — which will also help to expand his catering operation. “Operating out of FEED made this business expansion possible,” said Riha. “This time, it was Martee Mikalson’s business expertise wearing her FEED Kitchens manager hat that made it possible. I learned so much from her.” The goal at FEED Kitchens is to help businesses grow and be successful when ready to expand to a brick and mortar restaurant.

For convenience, Beef Butter BBQ will also offer their fresh smoked meats vacuum packed so you can take them home, heat the bag in warm water, and it will taste like it just came off the smoker. The meats will keep in the refrigerator for two weeks or in the freezer for six months. Riha shipped vacuum-packed smoked meats to his son in college at Alabama and his friends went crazy.

Beef Butter BBQ, 3001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, is owned by Patrick Riha. See www.beefbutterbbq.com, email patrickriha@beefbutterbbq.com or call 515-4656.