Beef Ribs in Big Rapids Mi
Jack & The Bear barbecue to establish in Big Rapids
'I want to serve the common working man because that's who I am'
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Billy Abbott and his wife Keri pose for a photo just after the arrival of their son.
Courtesy/Billy AbbottBIG RAPIDS – Fans of barbecue and smoked foods can look forward to a new addition to the Big Rapids area with the impending arrival of Jack & The Bear, the latest of new businesses set to join the community.
The brainchild of professional chef Billy Abbott, the new barbecue restaurant will bring residents diverse flavors and menu items.
Originally hailing from Silver Lake, Michigan, Abbott said the inspiration to start a barbecue business in town came out of his own family's struggles and triumphs.
"In 2018, my wife Keri was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and it was a Grade IV," Abbott said. "It was about the size of a baseball, and it wasn't much help, so I left my job and took care of her, and we made it through. She had surgery and they removed most of it. ... We decided to just take a chance and we bought a house in the Canadian Lakes."
"I started a personal chef business, Chef Des Lacs, in Canadian lakes," he added. "... We've been wanting to open a restaurant for a while we've kind of had our doubts, especially if pandemic so you know, and with the baby boy here we kind of want make a little bit more money."
Abbott has experience as a professional chef in many different styles of cooking, but barbecue has become his passion.
Abbott said his work with foods of all different kinds lends itself to his goal of having a rotating menu of options.
"For several years I worked at some of the biggest restaurants in the West Michigan lakeshore," Abbott said. "I've pretty much done at all in my career. I've worked at French restaurants for over mostly high end. I started out actually at Burger King and Russ Restaurants when I was 15. Never went to school, paid my dues to the industry, paid attention, applied myself, and earned my first job as a head chef in a kitchen when I was 28."
"I've kind of made a name for myself crafting food," he added. "I've been on TV, I've been on Wall Street Journal, I've been on Food Network Canada, which wasn't that cool."
The new restaurant will be located in the old Arby's location off Highway 20 at the southeast end of Big Rapids.
The Jack & The Bear restaurant will include menu options like smoked chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket, corned beef, St. Louis ribs. Options will also include sides like mashed potatoes, black beans and rice, coleslaw, potato salad, and creamed corn.
The restaurant will also have sweeter offerings for deserts like malts, shakes, and ice cream sandwiches.
Abbott said he will likely have specialties that will utilize some of the more refined cooking skills he's gained.
"I'm looking to kind of change up the restaurant game," Abbott said. "I've been doing this a long time and I got a lot of ideas. I want every choice option to be outstanding. Therefore, I'm going to have a smaller menu and I'm going to run weekly specials."
The weekly specials ideas include dragon eggs, smoked shrimp and grits, smoked salmon etouffee.
"I'd like to branch out into maybe some Asian barbecue fusion, and Mexican barbecue fusion, too," he said. "That's kind of my plans for the summer, to just kind of see what Big Rapids wants, and then bring that to them."
The goal for the restaurant will be to create a space for families to come and enjoy good food, but also bring in takeout options so that people can enjoy Abbott's homemade food in their favorite places as well.
"I want to see Big Rapids thrive," he said. "I come from a community that started booming in the 90s. When we moved there, that's why we moved there, my dad needed work. I just saw how Michigan needle doubled in size, the commerce, the jobs. I just see so much opportunity, potential, and bigger apples. With the river here, I just want to see Big Rapids thrive."
The restaurant may have a soft opening for residents and invited guests, but Abbott is currently still working on ideas for menu items to feature and all the logistics that go into opening the location.
Abbott said his goal is to mesh with what the community already succeeds at and to help it grow through bringing people to town with his food.
"I'm going to run my business in a way where I'm in unison with other business owners, and we support each other," Abbott said. "I really think we have a market up here we just need more commerce, we need things to do. We don't even have a theater right now, and we're a pretty big city, we need things like a theater. I just want to see Big Rapids thrive, and I'm hoping this isn't my only restaurant in the area. I see a lot of need up here for it, so I want to fill that need."
Moving forward, Abbott will be working on new and unique menu items to rotate weekly, as well as finalizing opening plans.
Currently, the goal is to open on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, with a corned beef special along with the regular menu, but if progress is hindered the opening will be pushed to April 1.
Abbott also has plans to make weekly food videos to show the different kinds of cooking he does, as well as updates on the progress of the new restaurant.
Source: https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/local-news/article/Jack-The-Bear-barbecue-to-establish-in-Big-16848621.php
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