ABOUT US

My name is Ryan Westphal, Owner & Pitmaster. We are a family owned and operated business in Powhatan, Virginia. I was born in Virginia, and my wife was born in Texas. I started making barbecue in the back yard in 2015.It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows when I stared... let's just say there was a massive learning curve going forward. I started cooking for my family and making some of the worst tasting, carcinogen filled, black meats (sorry). Back when I first started cooking, I had no clue what I was doing, but I really knew I enjoyed building fires and smoking meats. Even though I didn't know what I was doing back then I was driven to learn and do better.

A couple years later a friend of mine Chris Carden (who owns "Taste of Grace BBQ") catered my wedding. He later asked me to help judge a local BBQ event in Hopewell, VA that he had won multiple times and was the honorary director of it. While there Chris invited me to take a couple of his classes to learn competition style BBQ cooking. I took the knowledge I gained from the classes and went running full steam. 

After about a cooks I decided I wanted to learn more about "the art of BBQ". During this time, I sought out to know the history, learn the different regions flavors, and how the people in those regions cooked and prepared their BBQ. I determined to be more well-rounded and capable of cooking all kinds of food no matter what the styles. After experimenting with cook the different styles from all over the US it began to help make me be more well rounded and and more knowledgeable about what liked.  

The day I started experimenting with Central Texas Style BBQ I knew that was it! Not only did it catch my attention, but my taste buds too. I was able to taste the meat in a whole new way (which is the intent)! In Texas the meat is the center of attention not a rub or a sauce. This truly inspired me to read more, learn more, take classes, and watch people who are masters of the craft almost daily to understand the Central Texas Craft Style cooking style better. 

2020 was my unofficially start to my barbecue business. That fall I entered in my first competition held by Three Crosses Distillery in Powhatan, VA. Things didn't go well for me that night or day. My offset smoker that night tried to say "good bye", because the fire box almost broke off minus one little weld at the bottom. I had to limp it through just to finish cooking that day, and I was not happy with the end results. I ended up having to toss the smoker in a scrap metal pile at the dump the next day. 

To say I had some problems, and issues that lead to some personal disappointments was true. Thankfully that didn't stop others from seriously enjoying my meats I prepared. in the end I really had fun and loved serving the public that day. After lot more cooking and practicing I entered my third competition in 2021 that was organized by "Chesterfield Gives Back" ( https://chesterfieldgivesback.org/ ). That day I really had fun and felt so relaxed. The event benefited the local first responders of Chesterfield County, VA. This is the county I used to be a volunteer fire fighter and EMT. So, lets just say I had some pride being able to serve food for those I used to work right next to. After the voting was over the people of the community chose me... I won 1st place in Brisket! That moment was when I truly opened my eyes to see that it wasn't just my friends and family who enjoyed my cooking, but there are so many more people in my community who enjoy it too. After that Event I have had a slow movement to become a real business to serve those in my community.

I will work hard for you and show you that level of pride and love in my work every time as I always look to better myself for you. I will always continue to grow and work on my craft. I feel like there will never be "the perfect cook", but I will always try.

Thank you to all who have supported me and continue to support me on my BBQ journey. I feel truly blessed to be where I am today with God and you by my side.