At CaterZen, we believe BBQ catering can become a powerful profit center when it’s built with intention, strong systems, and a clear understanding of what makes the business actually work. That’s why we created Barbecue Catering Smarts.
Hosted by me, Michael Attias, founder of CaterZen Catering Software, this podcast is built for BBQ operators who want actionable insights, expert advice, and real-world strategies to grow a more profitable catering operation.
We’re excited to announce Episode 36 of Barbecue Catering Smarts, featuring Phil and Johanna Hennenfent, the husband-and-wife team behind Henn House BBQ!
Episode 36: Betting on Barbecue — How Henn House BBQ Turned Passion Into a Catering Business
In this episode, I sit down with Phil and Johanna to talk about how a smoker won in a local radio contest eventually turned into a full-time BBQ catering business.
Their story starts with backyard cooking, side-hustle catering, and a leap of faith — but what makes this episode especially valuable for operators is how intentional they’ve become about building a catering-first business.
Henn House BBQ isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. They’ve leaned into weddings, private events, holiday orders, and catering opportunities that fit their operation. Along the way, they’ve learned important lessons about pricing, staffing, customer communication, CRM systems, food truck profitability, and protecting quality of life as the business grows.
Here’s some of what you’ll learn in Episode 36:
- How Phil and Johanna turned a BBQ hobby into a full-time catering business
- Why Henn House BBQ chose a catering-first model instead of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant
- How weddings became one of their strongest revenue drivers
- Why food trucks don’t always equal easy profit — and when they do make sense
- How CRM systems, automation, and documented communication helped the business scale
- Why email and text marketing became critical after losing access to their Facebook audience
- How holiday orders, rubs, sauces, and frozen BBQ pizzas can create additional revenue streams
- Why knowing your value is essential when pricing catering events
- How to think about growth without “catering your life away”
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that catering growth doesn’t always come from doing more.
Sometimes it comes from doing the right things more intentionally.
For Phil and Johanna, that has meant focusing on the events that make sense, building systems to stay organized, and creating revenue streams that support the business without adding unnecessary chaos.
How to Tune In
You can listen to Episode 36 of Barbecue Catering Smarts on your favorite podcast platform or watch the full episode right here.
Why Barbecue Catering Smarts?
Barbecue Catering Smarts was created specifically for BBQ restaurant operators who want to grow catering into a predictable, scalable profit center.
Each episode features successful operators, pitmasters, and catering leaders who share what's actually working in their businesses—from sales and marketing to operations, customer experience, staffing, technology, and profitability.
Whether you're just getting started with catering or looking to scale an established operation, you'll walk away with practical ideas you can implement immediately.
Let’s Hear From You!
What was your biggest takeaway from this episode?
Are there specific BBQ catering topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes?
Send us a message—we'd love to hear from you.
Stay Connected with Us on Social Media!
Don’t miss out on updates, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive tips for growing your catering business. Follow us on social media to stay in the loop:
- Instagram: @bbqcateringbizacademy
- Facebook: BBQ Catering Business Academy
Join the conversation and let us know how Barbecue Catering Smarts is helping you level up your catering game. We love hearing your wins!
Ready to Build a Catering Business That Works for You?
Phil and Johanna’s story is a reminder that successful catering businesses are not built by accident.
They’re built by operators who are willing to take the leap, learn the numbers, build systems, and make smart decisions about what kind of business they actually want to run.
If you’re serious about growing BBQ catering revenue without creating more chaos, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can start applying immediately.
Launching Soon: The BBQ Catering Business Academy — for Operators Who Want More Sales (Without More Chaos)
If you’re looking to build a more predictable, profitable catering operation, the BBQ Catering Business Academy was built for you.
Learn how to:
- Generate consistent catering leads
- Put systems in place that save time and reduce stress
- Turn catering into a reliable, high-margin revenue stream
Join the waitlist and be the first to know when doors open:
bbqcateringbusinessacademy.com
