American Pastime BBQ & Grill

                                ESTABLISHED 2004

ABOUT US:

Our Chef,

HISTORY...  What began as a love of barbeque ribs as a Child growing up in middle-america Richfield Minnesota, and visiting his Uncle Sherm at the Restaurant he worked at to have his "famous" ribs & au gratins, progressed from getting his first job 'Que-ing  at Mamalu's BBQ in Bloomington Minnesota to the Opening of this Restaurant in May of 2004... In between has been a varied experience in professional kitchens, with well placed stop-overs at Restaurants  serving "Mid-west BBQ" and gathering valued experience along the way working with a Finish, Austrian, French and then (Most importantly) French trained  Chef(s) learning the "ropes" of how to run a kitchen.

None of this however drove him to want to run his own restaurant. Not untill he met his future Wife & moved to West-Central Minnesota did he discovery the desire, fire & kick-in-the-pants motivation (his Wife,Janae) required to pull off a go at one of the nations toughest industries to get "rich" at.

With special props to his late, great friend & entrepreneurial motivator Chuck Schmid who after being introduced to him by his wife in late 2002, became friends & co-workers and was asked to open his second Cellular Phone Store in Litchfield Minnesota. Due to the weak job market in Dave's chosen field of Food-service, he jumped at the chance to open a Retail store. It was an eye-opening experience in many ways and as in so many similar cases throughout infamous David's working life, it taught him many things, mostly centering around the realm of "what-not-to-do!" We need to learn these lessons & they were to help him cope with some of the"challenges" you face in opening a BBQ joint.

A final acknowledgment goes out to Dave's late (great) & beloved Uncle Sherm Seeker mentioned above. He was the greatest of inspirations for him from the beginning of Dave's career (see above) to the fundamental concept of this Restaurant... Baseball 'n BBQ!

His pride is always evident in describing Sherm's (Jr.) career as lifelong Head Chef for the Minnesota Twins Professional Baseball Team. Beginning in the early years at Metropolitan Stadium (as an employee of the Metropolitan Sports Commission, thus he was also Chef for the Vikings and even the Minnesota Kicks) to being exclusive to the Twins when they made there move to the teflon coated confines of the Metrodome until his retirement after the 1992 world series win. (nice timing!)

From a life time of involvement in sports ( examples being he was both a golden gloves boxing champion in 1942 to being instrumental in developing the BAA, Bloomington Athletic Association. and was elected to there Hall of Fame.)

He was forever humble & kind by nature, and after his retirement, would volunteer his time & cooking skills at various charitable events. Apon his untimely death from stomach cancer shortly after the opening of American Pastime BBQ, Infamous David refined his concept in honor of Uncle Sherm.Thank you Sherm, we miss your kind nature and giving spirit.

All of this led to the foundation of our concept with the final details being created around  our Willmar Minnesota location.

A prototype BBQ Restaurant, with authentic smokehouse BBQ and a conceptual mix of vintage baseball, antique bbq & grilling knick-nacks, and a touch of Harley Davidson (a great American Business success story) led to ... American Pastime BBQ!

We Prided ourselves on offering authentic smokehouse BBQ and until its takeover and menu changes, were proud members of the NBBQA

Home     Catering     BBQ news & Reviews     About us         B.B.Q. & A.