The team behind the smoke

The Burnt Crow began in 2016 with two friends, Jim St. Gemme and Jeff Budde, and a shared desire to test their skills in the world of professional barbecue competition.

What started as an interest in cooking great barbecue quickly became something much bigger. From the first competition, Jim and Jeff fell in love with the sport—the early mornings, the late nights, the smell of wood smoke, the pressure of turn-in times, and the excitement of hearing their team’s name called at an awards ceremony.

But competition barbecue was never just about trophies.

It was about the people they met along the way. The barbecue community welcomed them like family, sharing stories, traditions, techniques, and years of hard-earned knowledge. Every contest became an opportunity to learn, improve, and build friendships with cooks, judges, organizers, and barbecue fans from across the region.

Over the years, Jim and Jeff continued to perfect their craft. They studied fire management, experimented with flavors, refined their recipes, and learned how to produce consistently great brisket, pork, ribs, chicken, and more. Each cook brought a new lesson, and every competition helped shape the food and style that define The Burnt Crow today.

As friends and family began requesting their barbecue for parties and special occasions, The Burnt Crow naturally grew beyond the competition trail. What began under a contest tent expanded into catering weddings, corporate gatherings, private parties, fundraisers, and community events of all sizes.

Today, The Burnt Crow proudly continues to compete while bringing the same passion, attention to detail, and competition-level quality to every catering event.

The trophies are rewarding, but the greatest satisfaction comes from gathering people around a table, serving food made with care, and creating memories through barbecue.

From two friends with a dream of competing in 2016 to a respected competition and catering team, The Burnt Crow remains built on the same foundations: family, friendship, tradition, craftsmanship, and a true love of barbecue.