Lanark business puts BBQ on wheels

LANARK – Custom Catering and BBQ is not your typical sit-down restaurant.

In fact, co-owners Scott Herren and Chas Welch can drive off with the kitchen any time they want.

But just because the kitchen is on wheels doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer a wide array of mouth-watering barbecue dishes, such as a pulled pork loaded baked potato, or pulled pork nachos.

Custom Catering and BBQ has been serving up lunch since last summer.

“People are always on the lookout for where we will be vending lunches in order to get our food,” said Herren, 45.

Some of the signature items are slow-smoked Angus beef brisket, homemade salt-and-pepper sausages, smoked prime rib sandwiches and Italian pulled chicken.

The Gouda smoked macaroni and cheese with homemade bacon has become popular lately, too, Herren said.

The kitchen-on-wheels doesn’t set up on the weekends, although it does do area car shows and festivals.

It’s also a seasonal eatery: Herren will stay open at least through Halloween.

“We can also go a couple weeks into November,” he said. “It depends on the weather.”

He’ll reopen in late March or early April. In the meantime, his catering service is available regionwide.

“We have a commercial kitchen we cater out of once we put the trailer in [for the season],” Herren said. “That way, we are available year-round. We can cater events from 10 people to 1,000.”

WHERE TO FIND THEM

Custom Catering and BBQ's food truck is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays at the Carroll County Farm Bureau building, 811 Clay St. in Mount Carroll, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays in downtown Lanark.

Find them on Facebook, go to customcateringandbbq.com or call 815-821-4701 for more information.