Three years ago local pitmaster Guy Cummins had a desire to get back to his first love and that was making smoked BBQ meats. He was going to take a trip to Texas to buy his first smoker, but his wife Mandy who also is a pitmaster would have nothing of spending a chunk of their retirement money on a smoker.
Provided photos
Mandy knew her husband could build anything and challenged him to build a smoker with a budget of only $40. He reluctantly accepted the challenge and headed to the junk yard. Thus, his first smoker creation, Eileen, was born.
That challenge ultimately led to the opening of the Smokin’ This and That BBQ restaurant in Florence, which was recently named 2017 Best of NKY – BBQ, by NKY Magazine.
As the business has grown and additional capacity was needed, Guy has made two more smokers, Brick & Mortar and The Levitator, all named by Mandy. A fourth smoker is under construction to handle the additional capacity needed to smoke the over 5,000 pounds of meat which Smokin’ This and That BBQ goes through on a weekly basis.
Guy attributes the couple’s success to three things – the BBQ and food, creating a welcoming environment and most importantly, the community.
Mandy endearingly refers to her husband as the “mad scientist” Pitmaster because he doesn’t think like a traditional pitmaster. Mandy also has a creative side and is the master behind the secret to Smokin’s success, the rub. To this day, only Guy and Mandy know the ingredients which go into the over 10 gallons of rub made each week. The rub and wood-fired slow smoking for 16-20 hours results in a meat which relaxes by itself into the tender pile of meat. This holds true for all of the meats (beef, pork and chicken).
The only bone you will find when you eat at Smokin’ This and That BBQ, is the one in the ribs which is clinging for its life.
Once Guy smokes the meat to perfection, control is handed back over to Mandy for her to create playful combinations such as a BBQ taco which includes a choice of pork or brisket, a small squeeze of BBQ sauce, Miss Mandy’s house-made coleslaw and a drizzle of a special recipe avocado sauce.
Another one of Smokin’ This and That’s signature items is the BBQ parfait which is a “a blend of melt-in-your-mouth layers of BBQ’d meats and beans topped with Miss Mandy’s house-made slaw and BBQ sauce.”
The house-made coleslaw and special recipe avocado sauce are both made fresh at least once daily, sometimes more often. Menu item are affordable and offer serving sizes in which you will not walk away hungry.
Smoked meat is not the only item to surface from the smokers. If you would like
an unusual side, try smoked tater tots, smoked bacon infused green beans or even a smoked egg. Upon special request Guy will smoke water for free which one can bring in their own jug to take home to freeze into frozen smoked ice. How does one get smoked flavored ice? Just another one of the best kept secrets of the owners. With Kentucky and especially Northern Kentucky having a prominence on the Bourbon Trail, smoked ice is a nice complement to serve guests.
The voting process for Best of NKY started back in March.
The public nominated businesses and the top three were then invited to the Best of NKY event at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. At the event, attendees then vote for the top places.
Smokin’ This and That BBQ, took on some heavy hitters to take top honors — the other finalists were Eddie’s Southern Style BBQ & Catering on Dixie Highway in Florence and City BBQ.
When one visits Smokin This and That BBQ, the big smoker, Brick & Mortar, announces with its large presence that you have found the right spot. An inviting front porch welcomes customers to Smokin’ This and That BBQ. Often you will find Guy sitting in one of the chairs greeting customers and inviting them inside.
He can almost immediately spot a “newbie” and tells them to “follow the arrows, tell them you are a newbie and they will give you a sample of pork, brisket and a chicken wing.” This will help you decide what to order. It is Guy’s warm hospitality, smile and story swapping skills with the customers that keeps people coming back.
Once inside, you will wonder if you are still outside. There are picnic tables with umbrellas, the trays are lined with red and white checkered placemats and numerous comfortable patio chairs and tables are grouped in intimate groups for casual conversations. Straight ahead and to the left, you will see flags of all five branches of the military along with one honoring law enforcement on display. A special one is on display in a case on the wall, which is a story for Guy to tell you.
In the corner you will find a stage where live bluegrass and country music is performed most weekends. At most restaurants, managers are praised on the times a tabled is turned over and how many customers can be cycled through the restaurant. Not at Smokin’ This and That, Guy and Mandy encourages customers to sit back, relax and make themselves feel at home.
The last secret to Guy and Mandy Cummin’s success is community and giving back to it without expectation of anything in return. Smokin’ This and That BBQ opens its doors for community fundraisers which in the past has raised thousands of dollars for organizations or individuals. Being a military veteran himself, Guy is vigilant in making sure the troops and law enforcement have what they need when preparing to serve our country, while on duty or sadly, when one passes away. He believes they are all his brothers and sisters and does what he can to honor their sacrifices.
This giving heart is what drew owners Guy and Mandy Cummins together. They met during Operation BBQ Relief which helped the countless victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York. Guy immediately fell in love with Mandy because she was always giving of herself to others. Their journey started with temporary permits to sell BBQ from their backyard and shop. With the support of the community, they found themselves in a small space at a local market, a short time later, they moved into a space 10 times their original space. In just under a year, they took a huge leap to design their own space to call “home.”
The current space is home to Guy and Mandy along with all their guests who visit. And hence their motto…serving Kentucky through food and philanthropy, lives.
Smokin’ This and That BBQ is located on 10020 Demia Way, off of Mt. Zion Road, in Florence.
If you go today, mention Best of NKY and get one free BBQ sandwich with the purchase of one. And join them from 6-9 p.m. for the music of Amy Sailor.
Smokin’ This and That BBQ
It’s sad that they’ve gone from pit-masters to pitiful.
The 2017 NFL boycotts have allowed Gus to finally articulate the kind of demographic he wishes to cater to.
…and it’s not a demographic that favors Kaepernick jerseys. lol