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Dave Jackley
Hi, Dave Jackley here with another edition of ExactlyAtHome North of Pittsburgh. And today I get to talk to Mitch founder and owner of mitches barbecue, and his son Justin, the chief cook. So let’s see what they have to say. So you started out with ice cream?
Mitch Evanitsky
Yeah. So we moved to Hampton, we purchased a little ice cream shop. And we tried to do some barbecue retail, but it wasn’t designed for it. And we had established some catering. Within four years catering just dominated the entire business. So after about 2005 or so I didn’t do ice cream, itwas all catering. And it stayed that way for a long time. Also, during this period of time, we purchased a building a run it was in very poor shape and needed a lot of modeling. So as time went on, we started remodeling and then the housing prices came and erupted that got disgusted for a while and I was working all the time. catering became so crazy, just multiple jobs running around all the time. But it was good, it was good for business, and allowed us to go ahead and renovate the place. So it kind of died in 2008 as far as renovation. Then we started again in 2012. With the guy who was working on it, it got over his head, so he walked away. And so now it’s gonna be piecemeal. Some stuff I got to do, and other things I’m gonna rely upon other people. And then after a while, we finally finished it, and I was just gonna do the catering business, but my son wanted to open up a restaurant. So in April of 2018, we opened a restaurant. And it’s this place here right here at 16070 Perry highway Warrendale. And so became quite popular here in the last 18 months despite the pandemic, and some days becomes overwhelming to be honest with you. And yes, my son’s taking it to a different level. He does some Asian specialties that I never imagined. I always liked Chinese Japanese food, some Korean food, but he wanted to do some things in the marriage between barbecue and those while those foods worked very well.
Justin Evanitsky
Fantastic. Well, we’re glad you’re here. Well, thank you. So great that it’s become quite popular. There’s not much specialty barbecue in Pittsburgh. This is the places to come to get it.
Mitch Evanitsky
Yeah, well, we missed a rib cook off and I long time ago actually did before COVID in 1994 which got best sauce at the time. I run away from those events now. Just you have enough going on here to to have to deal with the magnitude of an event like that.
Dave Jackley
So I guess your are the recipe and meat man.
Justin Evanitsky
There are things on the menu that go back to when we first started, believe it or not, but the newer things like pork belly buns, and ramen and some other dishes overall like tacos?
Dave Jackley
That’s fantastic. Well, I appreciate you talking to me. And I think we’ll step inside with Justin and take a look at your kitchen. Sounds good. So, I’m in the kitchen with Justin. He’s the man behind a lot of the recipes and he’s gonna show us back here where the magic happens.
Justin Evanitsky
Alright, so we have chicken stuff cooking in our oven. I am taking out this brisket as it is ready. Oh, that is looking fine. You have to cook that brisket for 10 hours or so.
Wow. Fantastic. Okay, people you gotta see this. Look at the joy that this one’s about. Perfect. Well, this is really great. So a lot happens back here I can see a lot of equipment and active and spices and everything else.
There’s a nice rack of ribs.
Dave Jackley
Whoa. Well, that’s one of my favorites. I can tell you. Those look gorgeous. So you cover all the bases, man, you got the taco thing going on over here.
Justin Evanitsky
We add a special jalapeno crema.
Wow. So I gotta tell you my mouth is salivating right now.
Sausage buns here. So we have little meatball sausage encased in pastry, then steamed and served with sauce .
Dave Jackley
Never heard of that before. That’s cool. Well, Justin, thank you very much for the tour of the kitchen and showing us some of your new recipes. You have made me hungry. Oh, my goodness. This is all happening right here. This rib is absolutely delicious. Well, Well, Justin, thank you so much for the tour of the kitchen and the delicious food. Look at that brisket. I can tell you from firsthand experience. This is a great place to come.
