Is Lettuce Entertain You Getting Back Into the BBQ Biz?

Lettuce Entertain You shuttered its lone BBQ spot, Bub City Crabshack, more than a decade ago, so is Rich Melman thinking about getting back into the BBQ game? Eater was invited to join the Lettuce Entertain You crew at their offices for a friendly BBQ lunch Thursday catered by multiple award-winning pit master and TV personality Myron Mixon of Jack's Old South BBQ from Georgia.

Turns out Paris Club chef Doug Psaltis' brother is Mixon's agent and Mixon is competing in a BBQ competition in Downstate Illinois this weekend. He decided to whip up a serious spread of pulled pork, baby back ribs, St. Louis-style ribs, charred ends, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw and more—even some burgers. And for the record, Mixon deserves all those awards he's gotten.

Now this is definitely speculation and word from the Lettuce camp is that there is no BBQ joint being planned. However, when Eater interviewed Melman in June to look back at his 40 years in the restaurant business, he did say that he has files filled with ideas and some new things will be opening in the next year. And during an informal Q&A session while people munched away, Mixon did loosely say something about being excited about working together. So will they be getting into bed together and open a BBQ place? You just never know.
· Rich Melman Looks Back at 40 Years of Lettuce Entertain You [~EChi~]

[Photo: Myron Mixon]