ST. GEORGE —From smoking out the competition at the St. George Downtown Farmers Market to igniting a sizzling new venture, barbecue maestro Joe Solomon is turning up the heat.

“People love barbeque,” Solomon said. “I think that’s the end of it, right? People love it. And I love cooking for people.”

When St. George News last caught up with pitmaster Solomon he was smoking everything from ribs to cornbread at the popular weekly farmers market. Now, he’s grilling up a mobile business with a 24-foot trailer and a “big boy” 7-foot smoker.

Solomon said he started his business – BBQ By Joe – in April 2022 when the universe “kicked him off a cliff,” forcing him to choose between full-time barbequing and his 9-to-5 job. Initially, he started vending his culinary creations in the back of Modern Farm and Artisan Co-op during their “Foodie Roundup” events and later extended to weekly showcases at the St. George Downtown Farmers Market.

Three weeks after launching his business, he made a down payment on a food trailer. However, recognizing the challenges of managing rapid growth single-handedly at the time, he opted to scale back and concentrate on weekend markets and intimate event catering. 

In September 2023, after nearly two years of running his business at the market and catering events, he decided it was time to expand by opening a food truck. He worked with a company in Arizona to customize a trailer, but unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.

“It’s been a trailer saga and a half,” he said. “We are currently in a legal battle with that company — me and 46 other people for fraud.”

But Solomon wasn’t about to throw in the towel. He discovered the perfect trailer in Oklahoma, and by January, it was delivered and ready to roll. Equipped with a spacious smoker, the cooking unfolds in the open air, offering versatility to whip up traditional barbecue, sizzle on a flat top, master a griddle and then some. Thanks to the open-air design, maneuvering items on and off the smoker is a breeze.

Crafted by East Georgia Metals, the colossal smoker spans just over 7 feet. This exclusive smoker is one of just three of its kind in the entire nation and the only one mounted on a trailer.

In a fitting circle, he debuted his food truck at the downtown market on March 2. The grand debut came as a happy surprise to his loyal customers and attracted around 70% of new customers who were unaware of his existence until the truck rolled in. Solomon is stoked to expand his menu offerings. Previously limited to two or three protein options at his market booth, he now has the freedom to cook up as much variety as he wants.

Two signature items, his brisket and pulled pork, will continue to be the cornerstone of the menu, and hand-made sausages will be available. Adding a unique twist to the lineup is pork steak, which Solomon said is the same cut as pork butt but sliced into steaks rather than pulled apart, resulting in a tender and unique meat. Pork belly burnt ends are now a permanent feature on the menu, which features a brand new miso Asian glaze.

“It’s a really savory, tangy, sweet spice,” he said about the pork belly burnt ends. “It kind of hits all the notes together, but it’s not so over the top that it’s too much. It cuts it very nicely.”

Customers can expect a rotating weekly special with items like Italian sausage with peppers and pork belly tacos. Sides include his traditional mac and cheese, cornbread and gluten-free or vegan coleslaw, which is also included on their pulled pork sandwiches. His “infamous” potato salad, often requested by customers, is back on the menu after being unavailable at the market due to refrigeration limitations.

He’s revolutionizing the barbecue scene in more ways than one. Alongside the traditional offerings, he’s introducing a full vegan barbecue menu. This includes items like smoked and pulled jackfruit, seasoned with gluten-free and soy-free spices and sauces, all without MSGs.

“It opens up a whole other level and access to people,” he said. “And even carnivores love it.”

BBQ By Joe offers catering services for a wide range of events, from business meetings to weddings and everything in between. With his expanded capacity, he can now serve up to 400 people.

Solomon intends to gradually incorporate a diverse range of cuisines into his menu, including Cuban dishes, which hold special significance as they reflect his wife’s family heritage. He credits his wife’s unwavering support to his success and appreciates how this career path enables him to be present for all the important moments with his family.

“As far as future stuff, I have no plans of opening a restaurant, but I wouldn’t say no to the universe,” Solomon said.

Find BBQ By Joe on Fridays at the Whammer’s Sinclair gas station at 1970 S Washington Fields Road in Washington City, and on Saturdays at the St. George Downtown Farmers Market at Vernon Worthen Park. His barbeque will be available at the Professional Pickleball Association Tournament in Little Valley from April 24-28.

Click here for updates on the location of this mobile eatery, or follow @byjoe.solomon on Instagram.

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