April 3, 2001
Section: METRO NORTH
Edition: CITY
Page: N01
Correction:Southern Yankee Bar-B-Q of Anderson manufactured the log cabin trailer and smoker used by an outdoor restaurant along Ind. 32 west of Noblesville. A Metro North feature April 3 about the Hamilton County restaurant, Dick's Bodacious Bar-B-Q, did not mention that fact.
Owner of small eatery hopes to have a big effect on city
BRAD JOHNSTON STAFF WRITER
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. -- The name says "Bodacious."
But the little log cabin drawing so much attention along Ind. 32, west of Noblesville, is anything but.And yet, from just a 7-by-10-foot shack, Rich Allen says you get Texas-sized flavor.The name says it all, according to Allen: Dick's Bodacious Bar-B-Q.
He opened the outdoor restaurant two weeks ago next to Ritter's Frozen Custard, promising authentic, Texas-style barbecue straight from the Lone Star State.
Though he may offer only open-air seating, and though his quarters may be a little tight, "the secret to this venture is my pit, where I have more than 36 square feet of grill," said the Noblesville resident. "I can cook more than 500 pounds of meat at a time."
According to Allen, the guiding principle behind authentic Texas-smoked barbecue is "low and slow," which is a lot of smoke over a little heat."
When real barbecue is done, it doesn't require sauce," said the Texas native, who wanted to make barbecue since he was a kid.
Allen got into the barbecue business last February. He had operated out of a freestanding tent with a few picnic tables next to Grindstone Charley's in Noblesville. Since that time, his catering business has expanded, and now he's trying to sell his specialty on a daily basis.
His cabin next door to Ritter's is on land owned by the custard shop, and Ritter's proprietor, Paul Davis, thinks it's a great set-up."
We have people stop all the time to ask if we serve sandwiches," said Davis. "He's got great barbecue, and it provides an additional one-stop option for our customers. They can have a sandwich and some great ice cream. I really like Rich's entrepreneurial spirit."
Allen lives with his wife, Tracee, and their two daughters in Noblesville. They moved here to be close to her family. He delights in comparing his product's quality to the local sandwich competition."
My beef brisket is smoked for 10 hours. With a grease-burger, they can whip more up in about three minutes. But real barbecue takes hours."
Dick's Bodacious Bar-B-Q is two miles west of the courthouse in Noblesville. Barbecue is available from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Or, as Dick says, until the food runs out. The number is (317) 331-3469.
Allen's goal is to establish firm roots in Noblesville and to eventually open up a dine-in barbecue restaurant.
So why bodacious?"
This is a memorable and unmistakably one-of-a-kind flavor," said Allen. "This Texas stuff is the ultimate barbecue."
Contact Brad Johnston at (317) 816-4420 or via e-mail at brad.johnston@starnews.com
Copyright (c) The Indianapolis Star. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
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