Blue Dave's Barbeque
Over the past few years, Southeast Texas food trucks gradually have built a loyal customer base.
Much better than your average fast food chain, food trucks have become a favorite for customers on the run. For their part, local residents have become hip to the idea of eating quality food truck cuisine.
Although Lunch at the Lake didn’t last, we still have several food trucks throughout Beaumont that offer everything from updated mac and cheese variations to late night bar tacos.
Beaumonters can visit food trucks almost any day of the week. With the success of a few has come the emergence of more — which is no problem in my book. This town has plenty of room for more food trucks. We just need customers to keep them in business while also frequenting brick and mortar restaurants.
Lately, the streets have buzzed with talk of a new barbecue food truck that’s slowly been emerging at community events, often receiving wild praises from local carnivores.
Named after its owners, Blue Daves Barbecue food truck is the first business venture for local residents James “Blue” Broussard III and David Thompson.
Although these guys are in their 30s, they have spent the majority of their lives keeping up with family traditions and running local enterprises.
During the daytime, Broussard assists his family and others at Broussard’s Mortuary. Thompson can be found managing inventory at one of many Market Basket grocery stores throughout Southeast Texas.
“All my life I wanted to have a business of my own,” said Blue Broussard, who met Thompson five years ago. “David and I often found ourselves barbecuing for friends, who in turn loved our food. Eventually we decided to make a go at selling our flavorful smoked meats.”
Currently operating at charity events and festivals, this duo first got our attention at Dogtoberfest last year and Rocktoberfest on Halloween. Both times, Blue Daves’ menu included chopped brisket served on a tortilla with a tangy homemade sauce.
At Taste of the Triangle this year, Blue Daves Barbecue received one of the judges’ highest rankings. I personally recall giving them five stars. This is definitely high-quality barbecue worth seeking out.
You might have tried their food before. Recently these talented pitmasters won a trophy at the 2016 Jefferson County’s Go Texan’s BBQ contest. They also smoked pork ribs using a live fire all day long for Gift of Life’s annual Champagne & Ribs event at Ford Park last month and fed partygoers at the Cattle Baron’s Ball kickoff at Bauer Ranch.
If you were at the South Texas State Fair last month and didn’t try Blue Daves Barbecue, you missed out on smoked beef ribs, smoked Jamaican pickapeppa pork spare ribs, smoked jalapeno and cheese sausage and homemade sides of sweet and sour cole slaw and maple barbecue pinto beans.
The meats come fresh from Market Basket, including the store’s branded smoked jalapeno and cheese sausage.
The guys behind Blue Daves Barbecue are live fire cooks who include beef ribs on the menu — local barbecue lovers know how hard a find that is in an area where most folks only smoke pork ribs.
On Saturday, Blue Daves Barbecue will be at the Brentwood Barkin’ Bash fundraiser at Brentwood Country Club on Major drive in Beaumont. Starting at 10 a.m., they will be serving sensational smoked brisket, beef ribs, pulled pork and sausage at this dog-friendly event benefitting Pups-in-Peril.
Broussard said they “hope to announce a permanent location within the next few months.”
To find out where they will be next, follow “Blue Daves Barbecue” on Facebook.
Blue Daves Barbecue
Where: Beaumont
Info: (409) 790-2354
Credit cards: All major
Website: “Blue Dave’s Barbecue” on Facebook
