Barbeque Masters
Out on faith and destined for greatness, this Executive Chef emerged from a single parent household in Columbus, Ohio. With two brothers and a sister, the young chef at heart was trying to alleviate some of his mother’s daily responsibilities and unknowingly he undertook his culinary calling at the tender age of seven.
He wanted to bake a pie like the one he saw on “The Flintstones.” Nonetheless, the future chef burnt the pie while watching “Three’s Company” and later realizing Jack Tripper (television chef), would be his inspiration to becoming a prominent well-respected chef. However, burning the pie challenged the future culinary great and propelled his excitement and determination to be the very best. His mother immediately decided that an Easy Bake Oven would be a wise investment that would provide Eric with a creative outlet for cooking and prevent future catastrophes in the kitchen.
With this driving passion, the future culinary sensation began creating magnificent gourmet desserts on holidays and special occasions. As a result, he was called upon by many to invent decedent desserts; therefore leading Eric to establish and operate his own neighborhood dessert stand. This was the stepping-stone, which paved the path for him becoming an entrepreneur and owning his own restaurant today, Barbeque Masters.
As a teenager, the future chef worked under the tutelage of many splendid chefs in an assortment of facilities in Columbus, Ohio such as the Grand Hyatt Regency and the famous One Nation Restaurant. After mastering the basic culinary skills, Eric decided he wanted to expand his knowledge by receiving formative training at a culinary institution.
Eric gradated with honors from culinary school defying all odds because the public school system classified him as a special education student. Excelling in all aspects of his life while understanding that failure is success turned inside out and it can only be victorious when you give up and stop trying.
He was determined to walk into his destiny and invalidate those who opposed his tenacity.
Ignited with a true passion the Chef had a bigger vision for his life and new that traveling would expand his culinary and cultural education therefore deciding to join the United States Army. He was fortunate to travel extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East thus being exposed to various types of international cuisines.
He received many awards and accolades including: 1) Three-time award winner of the Army’s “Best Chefs Award.” 2) In 1993, his former culinary school awarded him the “Outstanding Alumni Award” 3) A five-time recipient of the Grand Pit Master of the Year Award due to the exquisite savor of his barbecue.
Eric became a protégé to a host of prestigious award winning chefs and toiled in five star restaurants both domestically and internationally. Consequently, Chef Smith’s credentials made him the obvious candidate to be selected out of 14,000 culinary greats to serve as an executive chef for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, feeding more than 20,000 people daily. He took the helm as Executive Chef and made the menu his own by demonstrating distinctive cooking styles to accommodate the various nationalities represented. As a result, The International Olympic Committee awarded him the crystal medallion of excellence for “outstanding performance.”
He has also had the distinct honor and privilege of obtaining seven Executive Chef Titles from various hotels, conference centers, retirement communities, corporate dining facilities, convention centers, and fine dining restaurants. His dedication and genuine love for the kitchen allowed him to continue to push the boundaries and secure the Executive Chef position for the St Louis Rams. Taking pride in all that he does, The Chef has orchestrated culinary feats, including superb banquets served in luxurious surroundings and with undeniable panache. He has thrilled the pallets for world–renowned clients such as Kenny Rogers, Quincy Jones, Ted Turner, Muhammad Ali, former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, and Pope John Paul II as well as a host of other celebrities and dignitaries.
Stepping out on faith with his entrepreneurial aspirations, the chef embarked upon his journey to fulfill his predestined life. Armed with determination, the auspicious Chef, blessed with twenty-five years of experience is perfectly prepared for his present position as Executive Pit Master and owner of Barbeque Masters his fourthzz restaurant. His authentic barbeque cooking style and his ability to broaden his cooking repertoire by creating stellar dishes along with his specially patented Formula 2:26 BBQ sauce has granted him the privilege of being voted the best barbeque in Georgia and winning the National Best Sauce Award.
Formula 2:26 derived from the Chef’s principals Out on Faith and acquires substance from James 2:26, Faith without works is dead. As a living testimony of this biblical verse, the chef decided to replace the word James with Formula to avoid immature views. Although, Barbeque Masters is the most recent venture for Chef Eric, in1998 he started Great Chefs Worldwide, Inc. (GWF) to provide culinary service at its best, operated by professional chefs. GCW, Inc.’s focus is to provide the highest quality culinary services throughout the world.
Our chef is most proud of all his accomplishments and is driven to success. He is now content knowing he is living up to his full potential in life, yet always striving for a higher goal.
Remember too always think good cooking and bon appétit.
Provide Smack your Mamma fall off the Bone tasty tantalizing BBQ Daily.
A PASSION FOR BBQ
Dedicated to “Distinctive Quality &Taste”
COMMITMENT TO EXTRA ORDINARY SERVICE We promise to give you finest barbeque dining experience you've ever encountered.
For past 25 years, Pit Master & Legendary Certified Master chef E.L. Smith has set the standard for premier barbeque in and across the nation
Ribs* Smoked Chicken* Smoked Wings* Turkey Ribs* Beef brisket* Pulled Pork* Smoked Sausauge
Southern Style Vegetables: BBQ Beans * Slaw * Potato Salad
