Ozark Living

By Randy Rice Special to Ozark Living ere's a new BBQ sheriff in town, and his name is Jordan Taylor Poole. e award- winning national BBQ competitor ended his BBQ hiatus by bringing Ozark-styled BBQ to downtown Rogers. "We specialize in Ozark-style BBQ and gluten free friendly cuisine," Poole, executive chef and managing partner of OZ Smokehouse began. "We have a great bar selection, brunch, catering and a beautiful private event space called the lo. e lo is for rent or reservation plus we also hold chef events monthly where tickets can be purchased online." e main dining room is modern/ rustic, designed to make people smell the mouthwatering BBQ right when they walk in the door and hear lively music playing. "We kept the original floors and ceiling tiles and refinished them," Poole said. "We wanted to bring the history of the Ozark timber industry into the decorations which I think ties in really well with our Ozark BBQ theme. ere are also some really cool neon signs and historic pictures of the area." But the real attraction, of course, is the simply amazing experience your taste buds are in for when you visit OZ Smokehouse. For starters, check out the BBQ nachos with your choice of pork, brisket, barbacoa, or chicken that includes tortilla chips, BBQ sauce, pico de gallo, queso, shredded lettuce, sour cream, and pickled onions. Another favorite is the Lion's Mane Buffalo Wings featuring local Lion's Mane mushrooms fried with gluten-free flour and tossed in buffalo sauce with a side of house-made ranch dressing. eir unique sandwich creations are built to please. Try the one named aer the man himself, Mr. Poole, that serves up sliced brisket, blue cheese, provolone and crispy bacon on a potato bun with choice of sauce and house pickles. e delicious smoked brisket au jus with provolone and the house ranch dressing served on a French loaf is another popular item. en there's the awesome selection of designer tacos and the chef 's plate special that rotates from day to day. Following in his father's footsteps, a Kansas City BBQ judge and competitor, smoking meats was the first technique Poole learned. Aer managing operations for corporate chains and small businesses, he decided it was time to return to his roots and offer a new concept to this foodie community. at concept includes challenging the stereotypes of restaurant culture and bringing positivity to an industry that already brings many people together. "is is my second BBQ business," Poole said. "I have now owned BBQ restaurants for over ten years. I have been in the industry almost my whole life. I have worked my way all the way from the bottom. I just love serving people and seeing people enjoy my food." And with OZ Smokehouse, his newest establishment, he has set the bar high. "OZ Smokehouse is special because we are creating something new in this concept," he said. "We have many items that you won't find anywhere else. Our focus of great BBQ done in a healthier way is important for me because I believe I can help people be healthier without them even realizing it! I personally suffer from inflammation in my joints and eating less gluten has really helped me a lot." "Another thing is we are committed to charity and have already done our first giveaway," Jordan continued. "We sold tickets to our first chef dinner and used the proceeds to purchase turkeys to smoke and giveaway." Finally, if you are looking for a unique space to rent, check out their beautiful, private upstairs lo with an Instagram-worthy lounge featuring a custom 18-. walnut table and surround sound. "We rent the lo for $400 for 4 hours," Jordan said. "We offer full service catering and a beautiful private space groups of 16 to 32 can enjoy! is is a perfect option for any event, celebration, and corporate outing." So, stop by and see, experience and taste for yourself Rogers' newest BBQ establishment. In the words of executive chef, Jordan Poole: "I would like people to know OZ Smokehouse cares about what you eat and we believe quality comes first along with a friendly calming atmosphere." Visit www.ozsmokehouse.com for more information. Newly opened OZ Smokehouse building a loyal fan base 38 • April 2023 • OZArK liViNG

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