In Episode 26 of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Linda Bogach, Catering Director at Central BBQ—one of the most iconic barbecue brands to ever come out of Memphis.
Linda brings a true operator’s perspective to catering. Her path wasn’t linear—restaurant management, bartending, raising a family, and eventually stepping into catering leadership. That real-world experience shapes how Central BBQ delivers high-volume catering while protecting the food quality and guest experience that built the brand.
In this episode, Linda shares how Central BBQ successfully takes barbecue from the pit to the party—executing catering for corporate events, weddings, and large-scale orders without chaos. She explains why catering success comes down to systems, consistency, and disciplined execution, not gimmicks or guesswork.
Michael and Linda also dig into what it really takes to scale barbecue catering, how to set clear expectations internally and with guests, and why the right tools and processes save time, reduce stress, and drive repeat business.
If you’re running—or trying to grow—a barbecue catering operation, this episode delivers practical, battle-tested insights from someone who lives it every day.
Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software.
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✅ Catering Is an Extension of the Brand: Off-premise catering must deliver the same Central BBQ experience guests expect in the restaurant.
✅ Systems Beat Chaos: High-volume catering only works when processes are clearly defined and followed.
✅ Restaurant Experience Matters: Linda’s background in restaurant management directly shaped her catering leadership style.
✅ Consistency Builds Repeat Business: Guests come back when execution is predictable and reliable.
✅ You Can’t Wing Catering: The bigger the order, the more important structure and planning become.
✅ Clear Communication Prevents Problems: Managing expectations internally and with clients eliminates breakdowns.
✅ Late Bloomers Can Thrive: There’s no single path to catering success—experience compounds over time.
✅ Catering Requires Discipline: Every order needs attention to detail, regardless of size.
✅ Systems Reduce Stress: The right tools allow teams to focus on service instead of scrambling.
✅ Great Catering Is Repeatable: When systems are in place, success doesn’t depend on one person.
🔹 “I didn’t start in catering—I started in restaurants. That experience is what made catering work.”
🔹 “No matter where the food goes, it still has to feel like Central BBQ.”
🔹 “High-volume BBQ catering is not something you can wing.”
🔹 “Catering only works when everyone knows exactly what they’re responsible for.”
🔹 “Restaurant life prepares you for catering better than anything else.”
🔹 “If catering isn’t organized, it breaks down fast—especially at scale.”
🔹 “Consistency is what turns one catering order into ten more.”
🔹 “Catering isn’t about big ideas—it’s about executing the basics every single time.”
🔹 “Systems are what save you when the tickets are stacked and the smoker’s full.”
