Not only is this BBQ sauce one of the best in the country, but the brand also does so much for my community — including paying off school lunch debt

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• Lansing, Michigan-based Saddleback BBQ specializes in slow-smoked meats and mouth-watering sauces.
• During the pandemic, the company kicked its support for the community into high gear.
• Saddleback paid the lunch debt for 9 districts, raised money for struggling restaurants, and more.

Kansas City. Texas. Carolina. These are the areas commonly mentioned in discussions about good barbecue. But, I'd like to plug Lansing, Michigan. This plucky, blue-collar town of 112,000 has an impressive selection of BBQ joints. And, as the founder of the local foodies group with over 23,000 members, I can unequivocally say none of the local restaurants do more for the community than Saddleback BBQ.

The company

Owners Matt Gillett and Travis Stoliker launched Saddleback in 2015 in Lansing's REO Town. Saddleback is one of several businesses that have helped revitalize this neighborhood, which was once home to Oldsmobile. 

Gillett is the brains behind the food. He's spent most of his life around the food industry and traveled to Georgia to develop his BBQ chops. Stoliker left a tech job to join Gillett in launching Saddleback and handles the business side. With the success of the REO Town location, the two opened a second location in the Lansing suburb of Okemos in 2017.

These are the facts of the company. But, what's most interesting about Saddleback is what it's done for the Lansing community during the pandemic. Here are just a few of the ways it's helped make the pandemic more bearable for many:

• With the help of donations, Saddleback paid off school lunch debt for nine school districts.
• The restaurant raised more than $1,000 each for seven local restaurants that were recently broken into.
• It offered free pork rinds to anyone with a vaccination card and paid employees a $100 bonus for getting vaccinated.
• Saddleback donated more than 2,100 meals to community members in need and first responders.
• The company helped struggling local restaurants purchase supplies and advertising to stay afloat.

We always felt like the rising tides raise all boats and that we are all in this together as a community," Stoliker said. "When the pandemic hit, we just wanted to do anything to help a community that has done so much for us."

Saddleback also takes care of its employees. In Michigan, the minimum wage for tipped employees is $3.67 per hour. Saddleback pays $9.65 plus an equal share of tips earned. This translated to a low minimum hourly pay of $14 in October of 2020 and a high in December of $20 per hour. That's particularly impressive when you consider the low cost of living in Lansing. Plus, the company is completely transparent about how much it pays.

The food

In July, I polled members of Lansing Foodies to find the best BBQ joint in town, and Saddleback won a closely-contested race. Gillett gave me a tour of the smokers behind the REO Town location one evening and talked about how smoking meat is a 24/7 operation. At 10:00 PM each night, the overnight person starts smoking the meat for the next day. This can be particularly brutal during the snow-covered winter mornings.

My personal favorite at Saddleback is the melt-in-your-mouth fatty brisket. But, I also think the sides are among the best in town. Specifically, the corn cakes are like a moister version of your typical cornbread and served by the scoop. Don't skip the pork rinds. Served fresh and seasoned, they're great for snacking on.

Saddleback is also known for its specials. When the McRib is in season, Saddleback counters with a rib sandwich that helps you forget about the existence of fast food chains. And, Fat Tuesday isn't complete without a pulled pork pączki sandwich. 

The BBQ sauce

It ain't barbecue without the sauce. And, Saddleback's BBQ sauce is what I reach for. It's sold in local stores and on Amazon. There are two varieties: Sweet & Savory and Michigan Mustard. My favorite is the Sweet & Savory since it brings all of the taste beds to the table with its tangy sweetness, mild saltiness, a hint of heat, and enticing umami. It's a viscous sauce that I like to slather on my whole meal.

My wife has a sensitivity to tomatoes and prefers the Michigan Mustard, which is tomato-free. It has more of a vinegary taste to it and of course plenty of mustard. It tastes great on barbecue, and I dip fried foods, such as chicken and fries, in it. 

What the community has to say 

Members of Lansing Foodies regularly praise Saddleback for what it does for the local food scene. Melody Teodoro-Kurtis, a Lansing Foodies Ambassador, appreciates its support for the local food community. "I admire Matt and Travis for their altruistic support of their fellow local small business restaurateurs and food entrepreneurs," she said. "They regularly spotlight local culinary places that need help."

Rachel Osborn, a member of Lansing Foodies, said, "Saddleback's BBQ sauce is absolutely amazing. And, what they did for the restaurants that were broken into was so awesome. They are constantly giving back to the community. And, they pay their workers a living wage and mapped it all out on a public post so everyone could see."

"Matt and Travis are great people for doing all that they do," said Dan Polcyn, another member of Lansing Foodies. "What sets them apart is real pit BBQ. Big Bubba is the secret out back. The service and food quality are always a 10."

The bottom line

Saddleback BBQ is a one-of-a-kind company that demonstrates how supporting the competition, paying workers a living wage, and helping out in the community can help a business flourish. I hope more companies will follow their blueprint. If you want to support Saddleback and love BBQ sauce, pick up a bottle or two of their sauce on Amazon or stop by next time you're in The Mitten State.