Big Lee's BBQ

Brick and mortar restaurants are always a favorite go-to for the masses. They offer service, atmosphere, and most of all, the luxury of someone else preparing a meal for you. But with the current Covid restrictions and ever lurking uneasy feeling that comes with being in a confined space due to health concerns, many people are not yet ready to enter back into the dine-in restaurant world. However, it is so important for us to come together as a community and support our local small businesses. Since we are big foodies, it just made sense for us to come up with a way to make it happen. What better way to experience dining out sans restaurant than to find a local food truck? That’s when “Big Lee’s” hit our radar.

Big Lee’s tagline is “serious about barbecue”, and serious they are. While they also have a permanent location on Court Street in Ocala, we were set on tracking down their mobile food truck. It moves daily, but you can easily keep up with the schedule on their website, mybigleesbbq.com. Savory is an understatement! The menu was mouthwatering - boasting burnt ends, brisket stuffed mac n’ cheese (The Kathy), and a pulled pork sandwich, to name a few. Faced with the daunting task of choosing, we picked the brisket sandwich and brisket chili. Our taste buds were singing with the first bite, and we were not emotionally prepared for the last one.

We absolutely had to know the mastermind behind these creations, and we were privileged to meet the Pitmaster himself: Rashad Jones. He had such a kind heart, and his passion for food exuded through his cooking. This man fully puts his soul into each creation. In addition, the staff was amazing. Their hospitality was second to none. You could truly taste the love in their dishes.

Rashad’s passion for smoking meats became evident when he experienced his wife’s uncle Leon (Big Lee) and his skills on the pit. On his website, Rashad states “the quality of food he made was unparalleled, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind.” Until his passing in 2012, Leon mentored Rashad, sharing all of his tips, tricks, and secrets. Now, like Leon, Rashad shares his creations with others. This was further made possible by winning the “Bad To The Bone” barbecue contest. One judge even reached out personally and said it was the best barbecue she had ever eaten in her life. From there, he was featured on Guy Fieri’s show “Guy’s Big Project” via The Food Network. He and his family developed a close friendship with Fieri that continues to this day.

Since then, Rashad has been serving up top-notch barbecue plates in the Ocala area to thousands of hungry partakers. From the food to the hospitality, this was hands down one of our most enjoyable eating experiences to date. If you are in the neighborhood, track down Big Lee’s barbecue truck and see for yourself. Your taste buds will not be disappointed!