About Us

Well, it all began as a trip into the southern states in 1997. The owners of Shuswap BBQ – Morley and Nancy Hansen were on a trip and just happened to stumble upon an eatery called the Pig Out Inn in Natchez, Mississippi. The place was a renovated gas station and unknown to us at the time we had come across a new type of cuisine.  Never having had Southern BBQ before it intrigued us and we decided to give it a try. So after 3 hours of trying BBQ and being given a tour of the owner’s setup, which included a speedy version of how BBQ was created we were on our way.

It was not until we returned to Alberta where we found that this type of cooking had that unique way of tantalizing the taste buds to a point where we had to have some more. At that time in Calgary there was no such establishment to be found that could cure our craving for BBQ.

This is also about the time we found the internet and started to research the methods and numerous recipes available to cook BBQ for ourselves.  It started off by having a custom pit built for the back yard. Along with this came lots of experiments which involved inviting lots of neighbors and relatives over for BBQ’d meat. Still we were not putting out a product that we could call good. Then in 1999, along with a good friend, we noticed an announcement in the paper about a competition called BBQ on the Bow in Calgary. They only allowed wood and charcoal as a cooking method. Well that was right up our alley and we were going to go down there and show them how BBQ was done. So along with myself, assistant cook Shane Bowley we entered a team under the name of Pigasus BBQ Team. Put it this way we did not come in last but were a long way from first. More importantly what we did was come away from there with more knowledge than we could ever gain on your own. Up until September 2009 we toured the western Canadian provinces, Washington, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Texas taking in competitions where we were able to add to our growing number or trophy’s and ribbons. In the last 3 years the team was complimented by our respective partners Nancy Hansen and Cindy-Lou Wallace.

In between BBQ contests there was always some way to carry on BBQing. Whether it was a gathering for friends or just a backyard party at our place it was always another reason to BBQ.

Up to this point all of this practicing and competing was funded by a full time job in Calgary working in the Oil and Gas business of Alberta. This brought us to the point where we were enjoying BBQing more than working. With Nancy having her roots in Salmon Arm and growing up there it was always our dream to end up living there someday. Well someday came and we are now concentrating on bringing great food with great flavor to the Shuswap and surrounding area. We look forward to serving locally for everything from weddings, birthdays, family reunions or anything that comes along.

Our vision statement:

“We will build a relationship, and then we will do business”.