The Hogfather BBQ: A Culinary Offer You Can't Refuse?

Mark Gabrick brought a little bit of Kansas City to The Shops at Wiregrass this weekend.

The owner – actually, he goes by “chief tasting officer” – of The Hogfather BBQ was serving up pulled pork sandwiches as a vendor at the mall's farmer’s market. Although he is saving up for a food truck, Gabrick currently can be found at area markets and frequently does private catering events.

Aside from pulled pork, The Hogfather is also known for his baby back ribs, prime-grade beef brisket, five-bean baked beans and his classic cole slaw. New Tampa Patch sat down for a chat with Gabrick, who lives in Dunedin.

Patch: Without giving away some of the secrets, how is Kansas City different from other types of barbecue?

Gabrick: As far as my (barbecue smoking) woods, I use a combination of oak and hickory. My sauce is a sweet tomato-based sauce with a little heat, whereas in the Carolinas you might get a vinegar and a mustard base. So when you come to me you’re going to get a very classic style that’s going to appease people from the east coast and the west coast. I think most people can agree that Kansas City is kind of the melting pot of barbecue where it all comes together.

Patch: Is this a full-time job?

Gabrick: Yes. I used to be an advertising guy. I worked for Ogilvy & Mather ... all those big ad agencies. I decided to quit building other people's brands and build my own.

Patch: When did you make that jump?

Gabrick: About three years ago. I took some time off, learned some lessons along the way, and now I’m going to take this brand and build it.

Patch: So what is the key to good barbecue?

Gabrick: One is technique. Two is quality ingredients, quality meats. It’s also important to have a good smoker. This smoker cooks like an oven. I set it at a temperature and it doesn’t move for 24 hours.

***

For more information about The Hogfather, visit www.thehogfatherbbq.com. For more information about the Wiregrass farmer's market, visit www.theshopsatwiregrass.com.