Vegetarian-Friendly Barbeque? Only in Sebastopol!

Western Sonoma County is not exactly a hotbed of meat consumption.  That didn't stop chef Larry Vito from opening a barbeque restaurant in Sebastopol.  Two years later, his thriving eatery unveils an expanded menu that features slow-smoked Southern BBQ, now with a distinctly Sonoma County veggie twist.

Vito reports, "We surveyed our customers earlier this year to see how we were doing.  I wasn't surprised to see requests for more variety.  We’d started with just the classics without a lot of frills.  I knew a menu expansion was on the horizon so we asked regulars what they'd like."

Vito used SurveyMonkey to conduct an online study.  Along with open-ended questions and feedback on existing menu items, Vito invited customers to select from a chart of ingredients.  The hands-down winners?  Vegetables!

That might pose a quandary to your average barbeque joint but Vito remained undaunted.

"Salads dressed with cured meats, like prosciutto, are common.  Why not use smoked meats instead?  We did some experimenting and invited customers to try our favorites.  There's nothing like firsthand feedback," Vito says.

Survey respondents were eager to see main-dish choices for vegetarians -- and not just a plate of pasta!  It seems there are quite a few carnivores married to vegetarians.  In the interest of marital harmony, Vito has introduced an unbelievable smoked tofu dinner plate that lifts the humble soy bean curd to a whole new culinary level.

Portobello mushrooms were high on the list of favored vegetables.  Weeks of testing unlocked the secret to a tender mushroom delicately perfumed with the smoke of Gravenstein apple wood.  Baby greens, a dash of chili aioli and a light dusting of Fontina cheese complement the star attraction.

The months-long process of collaborating with customers, testing, tasting and tweaking is at and end.  The BBQ Smokehouse Bistro launched the new expanded menu last week to rave reviews from customers.  Expanded menu PDF

The USDA recommends four to six servings of vegetables daily, along with two to three servings each of lean protein.  Enjoy both at the BBQ Smokehouse Bistro in Sebastopol.

The BBQ Smokehouse Bistro has garnered dozens of local awards from the Sonoma County Harvest Fair since opening in 2009. Vito's BBQ Smokehouse Catering is a family owned and operated concern, serving the North Bay since 1996. 

Chef Bio    About BBQ Smokehouse & Catering