By Melanie Posey | Fox 6 WBRC
MyFoxAL.com – FOX6 WBRC Birmingham, AL
ODENVILLE, AL (WBRC) – Many Americans will fire up the grill as part of their Independence Day celebration on Saturday, but how many can say they have some of the best barbecue in the nation? Colt Reese of Odenville can.
Reese owns “Little Bit of R&R Barbecue.” He has a food kitchen based in Odenville where he sells food on Fridays and Saturdays. His more popular spot is a mobile food truck based in Leeds off 144A, just behind the Raceway gas station.
Reese says he’s always been a pretty good cook and nine years ago while watching a competition on Food Network, he said to himself, “Hey, I can do that.” And so he did. It was the beginning of his competition days.
He did so well that six years later he decided to open a business. He worked two jobs until he could purchase his own trailer. And now, he sells BBQ full time.
A few months ago, Reese’s customers entered him into a contest sponsored by Mobile-Cuisine.com. The site was trying to find the best barbecue food truck in the nation.
There were 1,500 entries, including some from Texas, Kansas, and North Carolina – states well-known for their barbecue. But Reese beat them all.
Reese learned of his accomplishment Monday. Business was already booming before that. But now, Reese says it’s unbelievable.
“This has been our biggest day we’ve ever done,” Reese said Friday afternoon. “That would include 50 port butts, by the time we’re done, 50 to 60 slabs of ribs and chicken. We’ve gone through a ton of chicken – I don’t even know how much chicken. No matter how much food we cook, it’s not enough for them,” said Reese.
The customers back up his claims.
“The sauce is great, really. A little spicy, but sweet at the same time. It does the job,” says Wadrekus Woodall.
But it’s not like he can eat a lot of that. He’s in training right now and eats two pounds of chicken a day. He buys it from R&R.
“Their chicken is real lean and real moist and real good. Their ribs fall off the bone, which – I can’t have ribs, but the meat is good. Real good,” said Woodall.
Amber says she likes the smoked macaroni and cheese best. “I think it’s the best barbecue I’ve had in my whole entire life, to be honest with you. It’s that good. It’s awesome,” she says.
Reese says there are three keys to his success.
Number one: It’s how he cooks his meat.
Number two: It’s his sauce, which took over two years to develop and perfect.
But most of all, he says, it’s about good customer service.
“It’s very humbling to realize I took a trailer from nothing three years ago and we can’t keep up. It’s been unreal,” said Reese.
He will be open July 4 starting at 11:00 am. He’ll prepare at least 70 Boston Butts along with slabs, chicken, pork sandwiches, and all the fixings. But if you go, he suggests you come early.
“Those Butts will likely be gone by 1:00,” Reese said with a smile.
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/29472384/best-bbq-food-truck-in-the-us
