In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Stuart McClean, Founder of BaQ-Bone BBQ & Catering, to discuss how a passion for authentic Texas barbecue evolved into a catering-focused business built for long-term growth.
Stuart shares how selling smoked Thanksgiving turkeys from his backyard led to larger catering opportunities, why he chose to prioritize catering over expanding everyday food truck service, and the operational systems that allow his team to execute consistently while maintaining the quality they're known for.
They discuss practical strategies for generating catering leads through corporate partnerships, food truck events, referral marketing, ezCater, and even TikTok advertising. Stuart also explains why minimum order requirements, saying "no" to the wrong opportunities, and focusing on repeat customers have helped create a healthier, more profitable business.
Beyond barbecue, Stuart reflects on how lessons from college football, entrepreneurship, and his background in mental health counseling have shaped his leadership style, work ethic, and approach to building a business that supports both growth and family life.
Whether you're trying to generate more catering leads, improve profitability, or build a catering operation that gives you more freedom—not less—this episode is packed with practical insights every BBQ operator can apply.
Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software.
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✅ Build Around Catering, Not Just Restaurant Sales: Stuart intentionally chose catering as the primary growth engine because it delivers more predictable revenue and better work-life balance than daily food truck service.
✅ Word of Mouth Still Wins: Strong food and exceptional service continue to generate referrals, repeat customers, and long-term catering relationships.
✅ Corporate Relationships Drive Consistency: Office pop-ups, business partnerships, and catering platforms became valuable channels for building recurring corporate catering business.
✅ Don't Be Afraid to Set Minimums: Order minimums help protect profitability and ensure every catering job makes financial sense.
✅ Use Multiple Lead Sources: Catering growth came from referrals, food truck events, Easy Cater, corporate outreach, TikTok advertising, and simply talking to every customer about catering.
✅ Say No More Often: Turning down the wrong opportunities creates space for the right ones and prevents unnecessary operational stress.
✅ Discipline Creates Consistency: Early mornings, structured preparation, and disciplined routines allow the team to consistently deliver high-quality barbecue.
✅ Protect Your Mental Health: Building a successful catering business means creating systems that support both profitability and personal well-being.
✅ Catering Offers More Predictability: Knowing what's booked in advance allows for better purchasing, staffing, production planning, and reduced food waste.
✅ Growth Should Support Your Life: Stuart's long-term vision isn't simply growing bigger—it's building a catering business that allows him to spend more time with his family while continuing to serve great barbecue.
🔹 "We're about 85% catering. We do more catering than anything."
🔹 "It's got to be worth our while to fire it up."
🔹 "Word of mouth has been huge for us."
🔹 "TikTok ads have actually done really well for us."
🔹 "Tomorrow's going to be better than today."
🔹 "If it doesn't make sense for the business, we pass."
🔹 "One of the most important skills is knowing what to say no to." — Michael Attias
🔹 "Food is the bridge that brings the world together."
🔹 "People smile when they try the food—that's what really makes me tick."
