Pitmaster John Capelo brings Texas Barbecue to the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Owner and “Boss of Barbecue,” John Capelo, grew up in Harlingen, Texas, where his love for barbecue was forged in the heart of Southern tradition. In 2008, while running his catering business, John noticed a serious lack of authentic Southern barbecue in the Bay Area. Visits back to his family's new home in the Texas Hill Country, where Central Texas-style barbecue is a way of life, inspired him to experiment with different woods, meats, and sauces until he found his signature flavor. By 2012, as the food truck scene gained momentum and his skills continued to sharpen, John hit the road to bring slow-smoked, Texas-style barbecue to hungry crowds across the Bay Area.

Now with a fully established storefront opened in 2020, John’s journey has come full circle. No longer just a passionate pitmaster with a catering company, he is a craftsman devoted to delivering the rich, smoky experience of true Southern barbecue. Whether it’s someone’s first bite or a nostalgic return to a familiar taste, every plate served is the result of years of dedication, experimentation, and a deep respect for tradition.

Meet the Smokers

Big Red

The J&R Oyler 1300 is the "Workhorse of the Barbecue Industry" and was custom made in Mesquite, TX (Dallas). At a gross weight of 6,300 lb, this 18-rack rotisserie smoker is capable of handling loads up to 1,800 lbs. This is the newest addition to our arsenal and we are excited for it help take us to the next level of barbecue greatness!

Big Baari

Named after the legendary Mr. Barbecue. This Cadillac Cooker's smoker has rotating shelves that constantly turn in the smoker grills cooking chamber. This produces a slow moving air tunnel that in turn creates perfectly even temperatures throughout. Unlike flat smoker grills, there is no need to ever turn or reposition any meat!

Black Angus

Cadillac Cookers, "Home of the Best Rotisserie Smokers in the World," custom built our beloved and reliable Black Angus smoker in Sikeston, MO in 2012. With its ten 4 ft racks, this 2,000 lb rotisserie smoker can cook up to 600 lbs of meat at a time. Most of you know our barbecue has been made with love from this primary smoker.

Little Smokey

This was our first smoker and the one that inspired it all for us. Custom built in Fresno, CA, this little beauty is the star of the show at our on-site catering events.