With a Little Help from Our Friends

“BBQ may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.” ~ Anthony Bourdain

The Golden Isles is a tourist destination and the hospitality and food service industry is the backbone of our community. Chefs, servers, bartenders, hosts, restaurant owners and managers are our friends, family and neighbors. We count on these folks to always be there for us with a good meal or much-needed beverage. But who can they count on when they are in need?     

The Firebox Initiative Inc. was founded by restaurant people for restaurant people. When Southern Soul Barbeque burned down on March 27, 2010, owners Griffin Bufkin and Harrison Sapp did not know how they would get through. Their friends in the community and the   restaurant business were quick to lend a hand. They have never forgotten that feeling and it is what fueled their desire to establish Firebox and help others. The Firebox Initiative provides     grants to service industry employees in our community with financial need due to illness, accident or natural disaster. It will also provide direct grants to restaurant employees needing assistance to pay for funeral arrangements for immediate family members. There are local scholarship opportunities for qualified applicants as well. For questions about assistance, email info@ssbbqfirebox.com.

When Santia Reed of Sista’s Kitchen had a loss due to fire, Firebox came to her aid. She expressed her appreciation to EIL, saying, “I am so grateful for what they've done for me. They didn't know anything about me but  the fact that we were in need. They were very generous and very nice and it really meant more than I can explain. They didn't just donate a check, but they still continue to check on me and my family.”

Susan Bates, the owner of Tipsy McSway’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill shared, “My chef, Eric Bond, had to have two emergency open heart surgeries while solidly looking at an unsure future. I contacted Griffin Bufkin with a request for help through Firebox. He put me in touch with Brad Hummel who delivered a check to me the next day! The Firebox Initiative is a godsend." Eric agreed wholeheartedly, "To have that kind of generosity, in a time of uncertainty and so much personally going on for me, was really helpful and selfless."

Kevin Pettingill, general manager of Driftwood Bistro, was another recipient of assistance from Firebox. “I want to thank Griffin Bufkin and Harrison & Kitty Sapp for creating an organization to help service industry people in their time of need. It definitely relieved some major stress during my medical issues.” He continues, “Having such wonderful, kind and caring people like them and Firebox in our community to help me in such a time of need, truly means the world to me. I do not have words to express how much appreciation there is for how much this means to me and my entire family!”

As a community, we can contribute to Firebox’s coffers by attending the events on October 3rd and 5th that make up their annual fundraiser.

The Southern Soul BBQ Dinner Thursday, October 3, from 7:30-10:00 p.m.  is described as the “boozy BBQ kickoff event to the weekend’s Firebox festivities.” This year, author & chef Eddie Hernandez from the celebrated Taqueria del Sol empire of restaurants will be the featured guest. Chef Eddie and restaurateur Mike Klank will join SSBQ in the kitchen and Smokehouse to create a spread that pairs up perfectly with Wild Heaven Beer’s taps and Virgil Kaine’s bourbons. For the 6th consecutive year, Sarah Young with the award-winning Wild Heaven Brewery and David Szlam, founder and proprietor of Virgil Kaine Distilling will be in the house. Tickets are $65 per person, all food and beverage included.

As a child in Mexico, EDDIE HERNANDEZ first learned to cook from his grandmother in her

restaurants. This knowledge came in handy when he moved to Atlanta in 1989 and began working in a Mexican restaurant. He quickly made his mark in the kitchen, laying the groundwork for his business partnership with Taqueria del Sol CEO Mike Klank. They opened the first Taqueria del Sol on Atlanta’s Westside in 2000, creating a menu inspired by Hernandez’s native country using traditional Southern ingredients and Klank’s experiences in the American Southwest. Today, Eddie’s spicy Turnip Greens, Memphis Pork Barbecue Tacos, and Blue Plate Specials draw crowds at four locations in Atlanta and one location in Athens. Hernandez’s recipes have garnered him recognition in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, Forbes, and other publications. He and Klank are four-time James Beard Award semi-finalists in the Outstanding Restaurateur category. Hernandez recently released his first cookbook, Turnip Greens & Tortillas.

The “Main Event” is the Firebox BBQ on the Bluff, Saturday, October 5 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. An evening of expertly wood-fired BBQ under the oaks of Gascoigne Bluff featuring live music by Bonnie Blue. While the sun sets over the Frederica River, whole hogs, slabs of ribs, pork butts, beef brisket, a variety of local seafood, homemade sausage, plus a whole lot more are being smoked, prepped, and served up with sides by some of the best Pitmasters from around the South and beyond. Meet renowned meat masters like Tuffy Stone and Carey Bringle, and other special guests while you listen to music and sip award-winning craft beer and wine and stroll the historic grounds. The Capt. Gabby, a vintage 42 ft. wooden trawler, converted and outfitted as a kayak cruiser, will be anchored in the river offering kayak fishing from the pier. Tickets are $65 per person, all food and beverage included. 

Dubbed “The Professor,” TUFFY STONE’s legendary precision and obsession with the science of

 smoke make him one of the most influential people in barbecue today. Originally trained in French culinary technique at La Maisonette, Tuffy has been on the culinary landscape since 1986. It’s hard to believe he attended his first barbecue competition in 2004 and was hooked. He has earned Grand Champion titles in nearly every major barbecue competition including back-to-back wins at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Grand Champion at the 2015 Kingsford Invitational, and his 2016 history making run at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational, where he and his Cool Smoke BBQ Team became the only team to ever win the contest three times and the only team to take home back to back top prizes. Tuffy also served as a judge for Destination America’s Barbecue Pitmasters for 5 seasons. He has cooked for the troops in Kuwait and at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. He is the author of Cool Smoke: The Art of Great Barbecue. Most recently, Tuffy and his Cool Smoke team took home 1st Place Shoulder in Memphis during May’s Barbecue World Championship.

Since his visit last year, BRYAN FURMAN of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ, with locations in Atlanta and

Savannah, has been named Food & Wine magazine’s New Chef of 2019. Years ago, Bryan left his job as a welder to pursue cooking his signature-style pit smoked barbecue, chicken and ribs. B’s Cracklin’ BBQ’s first building opened in 2014, but tragically burned in June of 2015.  The timing could not have been worse as it had just been included in a Top 50 list of The South’s Best BBQ by Southern Living. With the help of his community, Bryan was quickly back in business. Being a part of the Firebox event is a perfect way for Bryan and his team to give back to the service industry. To set his smoke joint apart, Bryan raises local Heritage hogs and makes his own side dishes using locally-sourced, fresh produce. Bryan and the B’s Cracklin’ team are an EIL favorite and we look forward to seeing him and all of the other participants this year.

If you’re a fan of The Allman Brothers, WSP, Gov’t Mule, and Grateful Dead, you’ll love BONNIE BLUE! No strangers to the Golden Isles music scene, this Jacksonville band is taking stages by

storm with their formula of old-fashioned rock, country, soul, and blues. Founded by guitarist, singer/songwriter Bradley Churchman, the group includes ourGeorgia boy Willis Gore (of Soul Gravy and The Melody Trucks Band) on vocals and guitar, Adam Kenneway on bass, and John Wilson on keyboards and vocals. Bonnie Blue created their sound and style staying true to their roots and by paying homage to Southern Rock and jam bands. Their infectious and organic live act includes originals and covers. The group has played major music festivals, including Wanee and Magnolia Fest, and alongside legends like Butch Trucks, John Popper Band, and Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio. They released their debut studio album, No Lookin' Back in June 2017.

BBQ on the Bluff Participants (at time of print)

17th Street BBQ

B’s Cracklin’ Barbeque

Blackjack BBQ

Buxton Hall Barbecue

Certified Burgers & Beverage

Chef Kenny Gilbert

DL3 BBQ

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

Frosty's Griddle & Shake

Holy City Hogs

Home Team BBQ

Mama Jean’s Barbecue

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint (SC) 

Robert Moss

Peg Leg Porker 

Pelican Oyster Company 

Piedmont Brewing & Kitchen

Pig Beach

Poteet Seafood

Potlikker Peanut Company 

Red Gum BBQ (Victoria, Australia) 

Sam Jones Hologram Tour

Sea Island Forge

Smokelore Author: Jim Auchmutey

Southern Soul Barbeque 

Sugarfire Smoke House

Swig & Swine

Taqueria del Sol

The BBQ Ninja

The Local Palate

The Southern Fork Podcast

Tuffy Stone & Cool Smoke

Woodstack BBQ Tavern 

If you enjoy barbeque, you won’t want to miss this! Visit ssbbqfirebox.com to get your tickets. We’re already drooling!