Two barbecue food truck owners are moving up the food chain with the opening of brick-and-mortar stores.
Chuckwagon 719 was the first to change. On May 25, the Hammond family moved their smokehouse to the former home of The Sourdough Bakery at 6453 Omaha Blvd.
“Shawn (Saunders, owner of The Sourdough Bakery) moved his bakery into the space next door,” Jarad Hammond said. Hammond and his family opened their Texas-style barbecue truck in April 2023.
For Jarad Hammond, it was his first try in the food business, but it wasn’t the first time he’d struggled with a smoker.
“I started smoking ribs when I was about 16,” he said in a previous interview in 2023. At that time, he smoked meat in his food truck in the parking lot in front of The Sourdough Bakery.
At the new restaurant, Hammond, along with his wife, Deidre, and their sons, Jaden and Jaxon Hammond, continue to produce the same juicy, tender brisket and pulled pork that put them in the Springs culinary spotlight. And unsurprisingly, from the line out front the weekend the doors opened, the Hammond family business filled the new dining space with loyal customers. During their first days in the new space, they sold out of their inventory in record time.
To meet the demand for Hammond’s smoky goodness, Jarad expanded his kitchen equipment.
“We are greatly expanding our smoking capabilities and we now have three smokehouses, two 500-gallon offset smokehouses and one direct heat smokehouse, and we are now looking at a few larger 1,000-gallon smokehouses,” he said.
Chuckwagon 719 Restaurant hours are noon Thursday through Sunday until sold out, usually around 4 p.m. Details: 832-877-0549, facebook.com/chuckwagon719.
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Another barbecue pioneer is Stephen Davis Eshelman, owner of Otis’s BBQ and Fine Foods, who will soon open his table-service restaurant at 952 Manitou Ave. in Manitou Springs. “I’m waiting for City Hall to process my paperwork,” Eshelman said.
Based on comments left on Eshelman’s social media, his excited fans are ready to get Otis’ signal as soon as he lights up the open sign. The restaurant is named after Eshelman’s dog, Otis.
With the actual opening date imminent, Eshelman is unsure of its hours of operation.
“I watch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday,” he said. “I’m just organizing my staff and figuring out what will work for everyone.”
Details: 719-459-3840, tinyurl.com/52nb49k7.
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Sip and savor
Husband and wife Eric and Sheryl Medeiros opened My Cellar wine bar at 9258 Forrest Bluffs View. They share parking with Basil & Barley Pizzeria and Einstein Bros. Bagels. The space is comfortable and welcoming and promises to be a popular place to meet friends and enjoy the stunning views of the Front Range from the patio. The Medeiros are the proud parents of their son, who graduated from the Air Force Academy.
“We would come visit him when he was in school and fell in love with the Springs,” Sheryl Medeiros said. “We moved here when our son was older and opened our family wine store.”
The food and wine list is small, offering a rotating selection of wines, beers, and select cocktails, as well as appetizers, charcuterie boards, small bites, salads, flatbreads, and specials. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, 9:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Details: 719-698-7437, facebook.com/mycellarwinebar
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Hurry up, curry
Married couple Amarpal and Jasdeep Mand opened Curry Culture, 3255 E. Platte Ave. You may remember that they opened another restaurant, King Restaurant Indian Kitchen and Bar at 5660 Barnes Road, in late December.
The menu at Curry Culture is slightly different from the more formal menu at King Restaurant Indian Kitchen and Bar. Unfortunately for us, they won’t have the amazing lamb chops we love at King Restaurant at Curry Culture, “But we will have lamb boti kebab,” Amarpal assured us. “Our big difference in the new restaurant is to offer a daily buffet lunch at Curry Culture.”
For the opening, the buffet was on sale for $9.99, which was a great deal for the wide selection of Indian specialties on display. The regular price will be $17.99 which is still a good deal for the selection of healthy foods including chicken options, curry dishes, vegetables, dals and nanna with all the trimmings available.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Details: 719-698-9929, facebook.com/CurryCultureCos.
Pork belly and belly = yum
Welcome to Belly & Brisket Burgers, the newest addition to the Avenue 19 food hall, 19 N. Tejon St. Here you’ll find a burger paradise like no other in the downtown area. The burgers are made from tender pork belly and Angus brisket, shaped into half-pound patties. Choose from five burger options ($14 to $18) with a few sides like fries, fried mushrooms and onion rings. If you like the Pueblo slopper style burger, opt for the Gringo Killer ($18). The juicy, fried pork and brisket patty is topped with all the burger fixings and smothered in the same great green chile served at Burnt Toast. Add extra jalapeños ($2) if you like it spicier and bacon ($2) for even more deliciousness.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visit avenineteen.com/belly-brisket.
Free donut
Two Shipley Do-Nuts stores will celebrate National Do-Nuts Day on Friday. Get a free signature glazed donut with any purchase at 11010 Cross Peak View or 7955 Fountain Mesa Road, Fountain, or order online with code DONUTDAY24.
Contact the writer: 636-0271.