Thomason's Barbecue In Henderson, Kentucky: Meet The Chef

We sat down with Executive Chef Kevin Gibson of Thomason’s Barbecue in Henderson, Kentucky. Thomason’s Barbecue offers a mouthwatering experience that showcases the best of Southern barbecue traditions. Known for its tender, smoked meats and homemade sauces, this spot invites you to indulge in a variety of signature dishes, including juicy pulled pork and flavorful mutton. The warm, inviting atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for families or friends gathering for a hearty meal. With its commitment to quality and authentic flavors, dining at Thomason’s Barbecue is a must for anyone looking to savor true Kentucky barbecue.

Thomason's Barbecue In Henderson, Kentucky: Meet The Chef

Thomason's Barbecue In Henderson, Kentucky: Meet The Chef

Tell us about what your morning routine looks like, and how you like to end your day?

To make really ah-mazing West KY BBQ, you have to get up early. We fire up the Pit around 4:30/4:45 am Tuesday through Saturday so we can get the meat smokin’ early. We also start a batch of our BBQ ‘dip’, a vinegar-based BBQ sauce, and the first of several batches of our BBQ Baked Beans.

I usually like to end my day grabbing a bite to eat & a cocktail from Cap & Cork, a favorite local Henderson, KY Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar. I partner with their owners & chef quite often on ways to showcase our traditional West KY BBQ in new & exciting ways.

Do you have any awards or achievements you’d like to mention?

Each year, we track how many pounds of our delish BBQ Baked Beans we make. On average, we sell over 37,000 pounds a year. What makes this so exciting is that our lil’ BBQ joint is located in Henderson, KY which has a population of around 27,000 folks. So we sell more pounds of beans then there are people in town. And current our goal is to sell over 47,000 because that’s how many people are in Henderson County with the ultimate goal of getting our beans out so the rest of the country can have access and enjoy them. I was also recently named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Ohio River Valley LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, Civitas.

Do you have a favorite chef that you look up to and what advice would you give to aspiring chefs?

I really enjoy Chef Edward Lee not only for his delicious cuisine, but his investment in Louisville, KY including work he did to help bring culinary training to kids who may not have had an opportunity to do so otherwise and his LEE Initiative which works to find solutions for diversity issues in the restaurant industry. I personally don’t see myself as a chef because I don’t think I am, but that doesn’t prevent me from taking a food item and showcasing it in a new and innovative way. So my advice is challenge yourself to bring new life to old favorites, however, never forget where you came from and your roots.

Thomason's Barbecue In Henderson, Kentucky: Meet The Chef

Thomason's Barbecue In Henderson, Kentucky: Meet The Chef

What do you typically cook at home? 

Though I tend to enjoy most of my meals at other local restaurants, when I do get the opportunity to cook at home I tend to eat salmon or chicken glazed with either our Bourbon BBQ Sauce or one of my favorite sauces from another West Kentucky favorite, Patti 1880 Settlement.

What’s a food trend that you’re loving right now and why?

I’m a big fan of fusion cuisine. I enjoy when you can bring unique flavors and cooking styles together to create something new & unique or even to recreate an old tried & true favorite.

What’s the strangest food combination you’ve ever tried? And, did you like it?

First, I love to experiment so we step outside of the box often. There are two dishes that we tried - one worked and one didn’t! For a Runway event, I created a delish amuse bouche where we chilled & pureed our BBQ Baked Bean then topped them with an avocado mousse and a crumble made from our Heat Rub. The other made it to the trashcan very quickly - we took our Pecan Pie recipe and added our BBQ Baked Beans. My Aunt suggested we try it after she had seen something similar.

What cocktail or beverage do you enjoy most?

My main “go to” cocktail is a good smokey Mezcal marg served up in a coup or martini glass. But I am a major fan of a big bold Napa Valley Cabernet - some of my favorites are Brand Napa Valley, Aonair & Del Dotto!

Have you ever cooked for a celebrity? Do you have a story to tell?

One of my good friends is Damaris Phillips, a chef known for many shows and appearances on the Food Network. Before she became a household name I would invite her along with her husband and other good friends over to my place for dinner parties. My favorite thing is to create, cook and share a dish or two ultimately waiting to see her reaction. I remember one evening she grabbed the entire bowl of Mac & Cheese I made and was eating spoonfuls straight from the bowl. So it must have been delish!

What’s your Instagram so readers can follow you?

@ThomasonsBBQ and also follow @WKYBBQ, since we are just one of 81 BBQ joints located along the West KY BBQ Belt.

Thomason's Barbecue In Henderson, Kentucky: Meet The Chef

Thomason's Barbecue In Henderson, Kentucky: Meet The Chef

Why should readers visit Thomason's Barbecue in Henderson, Kentucky?

Visiting Thomason’s BBQ is like stepping back in time. With so many new and hip places popping up that seem to focus on experience and maybe not so much on the flavors of the food, you can’t beat a good hole in the wall that serves up good ole BBQ. From the minute you pull up, you can smell the aroma wafting from our chimney. Then when you walk in you smell the deliciousness and begin salivating. What we do is a craft - many long hours goes into making our BBQ something you can enjoy for lunch or the rest of the week. What I like to say is we don’t have specials, we have specialities. So stop in, say hi, tell us where you travelled in from and grab some delish West KY BBQ and some of the best BBQ Baked Beans you’ll ever put in your mouth. Hope to see you soon!

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