By Ryan Yuenger
ryany@wsjm.com
From watching his dad cook a whole hog as a child to cooking for NFL teams and starring on Netflix, one Dowagiac native is a rising star in the barbecue world.
Now, he is returning to where it all started for a pitmaster pitstop on his wild BBQ ride across America.
James “Big J” Boatright, Sr. is set to host “Smoke In The Jack” Friday afternoon at the Harding’s Market downtown Dowagiac. Boatright, owner of the St. Louis-based “Boatright’s BBQ” will be serving up some of his increasingly-famous food, as well as promoting his line of spice rubs which are now for sale at Harding’s.
“It feels good,” said Boatright, of returning to Dowagiac. “I tell everybody ‘I’m home.’ This is probably my most comfortable cooking environment, coming back home. I love it, man.”
Boatright’s first memories of BBQ are from when he was three or four years old watching his dad cook a whole hog from a hole in the ground.
“Since I was knee high to a grasshopper, I’ve been watching BBQ,” Boatright said. “I still remember that, and I’ve been fascinated by BBQ ever since – I’ve just been hooked. But what kid wouldn’t? You got meat, something good to eat and you get to play in fire.”
With more than 26 years of experience, Big J has been making a name for himself in the BBQ world. He’s taken his mobile kitchen to BBQ festivals and NFL stadiums across the country.
In his travels, Boatright has developed his own style that combines elements from Texas to Memphis to Kansas City and even the Midwest to form his own unique style.
“I’ve just combined the different things I’ve learned along the way,” Boatright said. “I wanted to do something a little outside the box, and it’s been working for me.”
He was able to get his foot in the door to bigger things after meeting celebrity pitmaster Moe Cason, and eventually earned enough recognition to star in Netflix’s “American BBQ Showdown,” as well as be featured on Food Network’s “Fire Masters.”
“I just started working really hard and making some noise that I was here and I know the game,” Boatright said. “I think [the show] reached out to me because they was starting to see me making a name for myself. … We had to compete like crazy just to be on the show. We were the top eight in the nation.”
Boatright said there’s another show he is involved in that he can’t mention the name of yet, but it will be released in April 2023. He said he also is developing his own show, with both regional and national networks interested.
“I’d be telling a lie if I told you my journey has been easy,” said Boatright, in a Facebook post. “The book called my life is far from finished, however the chapters thus far hasn’t been without fear, doubt, blood, sweat and tears! But it’s balanced out with joy, success, tears of joy and accomplishments.”
Starting at about noon Friday, Boatright will begin serving food, including ribs, pork rib tips, chicken, grilled corn on the cob and butter bourbon baked beans. There will also be a demonstration showing people various grilling techniques, as well as a raffle of a Green Mountain grill.
“Come get your grill bone and get happy right quick,” Boatright said. “Make your taste buds happy.”
(Photos courtesy James Boatright)
