Restaurant Catering Smarts

About Restaurant Catering Smarts

Barbecue Catering Smarts is your go-to podcast for mastering the business of BBQ catering. Hosted by Michael Attias—founder of CaterZen Catering Software and longtime catering strategist—this show dives deep into the systems, stories, and smarts behind the most successful BBQ catering operations in the country. Each episode features conversations with pitmasters, smokehouse owners, and catering pros who share their proven tactics for scaling revenue, streamlining operations, building loyal fans, and turning smoky deliciousness into serious profit. Whether you run a food truck, a full-service BBQ restaurant, or a booming catering department, you'll walk away with actionable ideas to elevate your BBQ catering game. Tune in to Barbecue Catering Smarts—where smoke, strategy, and success come together.

Publisher

CaterZen

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Jan 2025

Latest episode

2 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

42 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Episode 42: Next-Gen BBQ Growth — Turning Relationships, Social Media & Hustle Into Catering Sales with Kendal Handy

   In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Kendal Handy, Co-Owner of Hambone's BBQ Smokehouse, for a fresh look at what the next generation can bring to a family-owned barbecue business. At just 19 years old, Kendal is already getting hands-on experience across the operation—from learning the pits and family recipes to marketing, social media, catering sales, networking, and business development. He shares how growing up around the restaurant sparked his interest in helping Hambone's grow, and why his goal is to help build the family business into something that can continue for generations. Kendal dives into how he's using TikTok and social media trends to reach new audiences, including how one piece of content generated thousands of views and helped bring new faces into the restaurant. He also shares how he's creating catering opportunities through college athletics, corporate relationships, churches, referrals, and good old-fashioned networking. Michael and Kendal also discuss the importance of creating a distinctive brand, including Hambone's vision for "California Barbecue" and its signature California sauce, as well as why building genuine relationships with catering customers can lead to referrals and long-term growth. Plus, they explore how younger team members can bring valuable new skills and perspectives into an established restaurant—from social media and technology to AI, data, sales, and automation. Whether you're looking to grow catering sales, reach a younger audience, or bring the next generation into your family business, this episode is a reminder that sometimes your next great growth idea may already be inside your restaurant. Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software, helping BBQ restaurants save time, streamline catering operations, and increase catering sales.

2. 

   19 Aug 2026

   Episode 41: Built to Pivot — How Big Daddy's BBQ Keeps Growing After 20 Years

   In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Kersten Grigg, Owner of Big Daddy's BBQ in Boise, Idaho. What started with Kersten's parents smoking prime rib and ribs out of the back of a bar eventually grew into a food truck, full-service catering, and a barbecue business now celebrating 20 years. Kersten shares how Big Daddy's catering operation evolved from almost entirely word-of-mouth growth into a more intentional sales and marketing effort across two restaurant locations. She explains why responsiveness is critical to winning catering business, how her team handles incoming leads, and why making the booking process as easy as possible can be the difference between securing an event and losing it to a competitor. Michael and Kersten also dig into pricing, perceived value, and knowing which customers are the right fit. They discuss the importance of understanding what makes your catering experience worth the price—and why operators sometimes need to be willing to say no rather than compromise the quality and service their brand represents. The conversation also explores technology and AI in catering, balancing automation with the personal touch customers expect, and the importance of continually adapting as the restaurant industry changes. For Kersten, that willingness to pivot has been one of Big Daddy's biggest keys to longevity. Her message to fellow operators is simple: be responsive, embrace the tools available to you, make things easier for your customers, and never stop adapting. Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software.

3. 

   5 Aug 2026

   Episode 40: Building Systems That Scale — How Smokin' Jack's Turned BBQ Into a Multi-Concept Business

   In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Chef Jack Holt, Owner of Smokin' Jack's BBQ (https://smokinjackbbq.com/). Jack shares the remarkable journey of building Smokin' Jack's from a ghost kitchen during the pandemic into a growing multi-concept barbecue business with food trucks, restaurant locations, stadium partnerships, and a thriving catering operation. Throughout the conversation, Jack explains why great barbecue is only the beginning. Long-term success comes from building repeatable systems, developing operational discipline, and creating memorable hospitality experiences that customers trust for life's biggest celebrations. Michael and Jack also discuss how AI is changing restaurant operations, the importance of documenting processes before scaling, lessons learned from rapid expansion, and why catering continues to be one of the strongest growth opportunities for barbecue operators. Whether you're running your first food truck or managing multiple locations, this episode is packed with practical insights on building systems, improving execution, growing catering revenue, and scaling without sacrificing quality. Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software.

Who has been a guest on Restaurant Catering Smarts

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Erin Childs
• Phillip Scotton
• Amanda Quinn
• Lauren Laurent
• Christin Marvin

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

74

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32