Bigmista's Barbecue Coming to Long Beach!

Photo by Gary Walkup

​You may not know it, but Bigmista's Barbecue is kind of a big deal. Listed on Jonathan Gold's 99 Things to Eat Before You Die 2010, the barbecue competitor-turned-caterer sells at farmers' markets across far-flung parts of LA. It has been geographically inconvenient for us behind the Orange Curtain, but it announced yesterday the company will start vending this Sunday at Long Beach's Old McDonald's Certified Farmers Market. The relatively new, weekly farmers' market is on Spring and Clark from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

That market is just a short distance from Long Beach Airport, which means you can torture your Jet Blue aisle-mates with the smoky aromas of barbecue brisket while they're snacking on little bags of complimentary blue potato chips and secretly hating you.

Will this interfere with the other Sunday location at the Atwater Village farmers' market? No. According to Neil Strawder, the business has the capability to deploy two crews on any given day. The bigger smoker in the photo above, named Olivia J. Pima, will operate at the established Atwater Village market, while Strawder will drive a smaller rig to the newer Long Beach market.

Strawder, a Long Beach resident himself, says, "We finally get a market close to home. People in Long Beach have been asking for our barbecue, and now people can get it every week. This market has kids' activities, many craft vendors, live bands and other family-friendly amenities, along with ample free parking."

Food-wise, what's new? Smoked pastrami will probably become a permanent addition to the menu. For the holidays, Strawder says, there will be smoked whole turkeys, turkey breasts and prime rib roasts. These items must be pre-ordered, so call ahead for pricing and reservations.

Disclosure: Prior to 2010, this writer and Strawder cooked together on the Four Q BBQ team.

Bigmista's Barbecue, (562) 423-4BIG (4244); Bigmista.com.

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