We Had $0 Left: The BBQ Pitmaster Who Slept in His Restaurant

We sit down with the owner and head chef behind Wildfire Craft BBQ to hear one of the wildest restaurant origin stories we’ve had on the podcast.It started with a $400 backyard smoker and a first brisket so bad it went straight in the bin. Then came the garage BBQ cook off, 12 customers became 60 a night, and eventually every dollar of their savings went into opening a restaurant.Casey opens up about working days without sleep, living on instant noodles, sleeping inside the restaurant, the Melbourne pop-up that changed the business overnight, and the heartbreaking timing of losing his biggest supporter just as Wildfire went viral. We also get into the real economics of brisket, Filipino food, Texas BBQ, building a loyal following and what comes next as Wildfire expands into a second Geelong venue.Check out their new venue, Honky Cat Saloon in Geelong, along with their flagship store Wildfire Craft BBQ in Newcomb, Geelong, Victoria.Don't forget to visit our sponsor, Royal Stacks, when in Melbourne, your burger cravings are sorted, by the kings. Follow us @thefoodguyspodDM us your questions and topics! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.