Sweeney's BBQ News Page

Authentic Kansas City Style Barbecue for Your Special Event!

About Sweeney's Barbecue & Catering:

The Sweeney Family has been providing Kansas City Style barbecue to friends at tailgate parties, family gatherings and charity events for many years. The reactions to the food varies, but all of the comments generally center around the same themes: "You should open a restaurant" or for those who might not know us, "Where is your restaurant?". One person even went so far to tell us that our food "makes Famous Dave's taste like McDonalds!"

Inspired by all of these words of encouragement, we decided to organize our catering operation into a real business in the summer 2008. Our kitchen is a mobile food truck making our operation is fully Health Department compliant and is inspected regularly. We don't plan to open a restaurant anytime soon, but you can enjoy our barbecue in the comfort of your own home. Please take a look at our menus and send your comments about the menus and the website to our pit master. Thanks for visiting and we look forward to serving you soon.

About The Pit Master:

Brian J. Sweeney is the pit master for Sweeney’s Barbecue and Catering. He has been a backyard barbecue and grilling enthusiast most of his adult life. In 2001, Brian decided to improve his skills to a competitive level and joined the Iowa Barbecue Society (IBS). As a member of the IBS, Brian has taken the opportunity to cook with some of the best barbecue cooks in the state at multiple exhibition and charity events.

Brian is a Kansas City Barbecue Society Certified Judge. He has served as a judge as such events as the Great Pork “BarbeQlossal” at the World Pork Expo. In the spring of 2009, he served as the Contest Organizer for the first "Smokin' In The Junction" barbecue contest and festival held in West Des Moines, Iowa. An estimated 12,000 people attended the inaugural event. The event has grown from 30 teams in 2009 to over 60 teams from 10 states in the 2011 event.

Brian has provided his Kansas City Style barbecue for numerous events including private family dinners, football tailgating parties, dinners for charitable organizations and graduation parties.

Over the course of the last few years, Brian has developed his own recipes for the rubs and mops used in creating the selections you find on the menu today. The basic preparations are not too hot, but far from mild. If you do like your barbecue on the spicy side, Brian is willing to accommodate.

Brian is married to his wife Angela and they have one daughter, Jennifer. Angela does help with the side dishes and Jennifer is learning to tend the pit - making Sweeney’s Barbecue and Catering a family operation.

Thanks for choosing Sweeney’s Barbecue and Catering. We look forward to serving you.

Association Memberships:

Sweeney’s Barbecue and Catering is a proud member of these Organizations

The Iowa Barbeque Society is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the promotion of outdoor cooking through numerous educational and charitable activities. Encouraging all Iowans to develop an appreciation for barbeque and outdoor cooking, the group sponsors numerous fundraisers and charitable events for the promotion of barbeque as well as the betterment of our neighborhoods and communities less fortunate. You can learn more at www.iabbq.org.

The Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and enjoying barbeque, is the world's largest organization of barbeque and grilling enthusiasts with over 8,000 members worldwide.

KCBS sanctions almost 300 barbeque contests coast-to-coast throughout America. From volunteering to actual event production, our members also offer assistance to civic and charitable organizations who organize events. You can learn more at www.kcbs.us.

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization. Individuals and businesses work through the Chamber to advance economic growth while ensuring a premier standard of living for residents. The Chamber asserts a leadership role in the areas of business retention, business recruitment, the development of increased business and tourism opportunities, and promotion of the quality of life offered in West Des Moines.

Maintaining communication and cooperation with affiliate metro area Chambers and the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the West Des Moines Chamber works with metro leaders to ensure a strong economic base for Greater Des Moines. You can learn more at www.wdmchamber.org

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