In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Tim Halls, co-founder of Burnt BBQ N’ Tacos.
Tim shares the unconventional journey that led him from working in the ambulance industry and attending culinary school to building one of the most unique BBQ concepts in Texas—blending traditional barbecue, tacos, and Venezuelan-inspired flavors into a catering-driven business model.
With a restaurant that’s only 24 seats but generates a significant percentage of revenue through catering, Tim breaks down how relationship-building, word-of-mouth marketing, Easy Cater, and strategic differentiation have fueled Burnt BBQ N’ Tacos’ growth.
Michael and Tim also dive into:
✔️ Why finding a niche matters in crowded BBQ markets
✔️ Using catering as both a revenue stream and a marketing tool
✔️ Turning first-time catering customers into repeat clients
✔️ The power of food sampling to drive sales
✔️ Building relationships with corporate accounts and construction companies
✔️ Why operators need systems, follow-up, and less friction in their marketing
✔️ How Venezuelan-inspired menu items helped create a true point of differentiation
This episode is packed with practical insights for BBQ operators looking to stand out, grow catering revenue, and build long-term customer relationships in competitive markets.
Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software.
Listen to the podcast episode below:
Prefer listening on your favorite streaming platform? We’ve got you covered!
And don't forget to subscribe to Barbecue Catering Smarts to stay up to date with the latest episodes.
Sign up to find out when we release our next episode!
✅ Differentiation Drives Demand: In crowded BBQ markets, unique menu offerings can become a major competitive advantage.
✅ Catering Builds Brand Reach: Every catering event becomes an opportunity to create future catering and restaurant customers.
✅ Relationships Matter More Than Transactions: Long-term catering growth comes from building trust and repeat business—not chasing one-off orders.
✅ Sampling Sells Catering: Getting food in front of people remains one of the fastest ways to convert prospects into catering customers.
✅ ezCater Can Open Doors: Third-party catering marketplaces can generate leads, but direct relationships improve long-term profitability.
✅ Corporate Niches Create Stability: Construction companies, pharmaceutical reps, and recurring office clients can become dependable revenue sources.
✅ Flexibility Wins More Business: Being willing to customize menus and adapt to customer requests creates more sales opportunities.
✅ Friction Kills Marketing: Simpler systems, QR codes, CRM tools, and easier lead capture help operators convert more inquiries.
✅ Your Story Matters: Tim’s unique culinary background and multicultural menu helped create a memorable brand customers talk about.
✅ Repeat Customers Are the Real Goal: The most profitable catering growth comes from turning one successful event into ongoing business.
🔹 “Once you get that first bite of food in somebody’s mouth, you get them hooked.”
🔹 “I’m not looking for just one catering from you—I want to do most of your catering.”
🔹 “You’ve got to find your niche.”
🔹 “The most expensive thing in business is acquiring a customer.”
🔹 “Every catering event is basically sampling for future business.”
🔹 “We’re all about building relationships.”
🔹 “If you can remove friction from your business, you can grow faster.”
🔹 “People can get barbecue anywhere—but they can’t get what we’re doing.”
🔹 “Most of our growth has come from word of mouth and relationships.”
🔹 “Once you take care of customers, they’ll take care of you in the long run.”
