Mt. Washington resident serves up tasty barbecue

• Mt. Washington resident Kristen Bailey opens barbecue pit. Will operate in Milford during winter.

MT. WASHINGTON – Kristen Bailey describes her barbecue ribs as being so tender the meat literally falls right off the bone.

Bailey, a resident of Mt. Washington, is owner of Sweets and Meats BBQ, a mobile barbecue pit that began operation in November.

For several weeks Bailey served up barbecue from a tent at the Creamy Whip on Beechmont Avenue. Although Bailey will relocate to Milford for several months, she plans to return to Mt. Washington in the spring.

If customer reaction is any indication, Bailey shouldn’t have a problem gaining new barbecue enthusiasts. She said during her first day of operation she sold out of almost everything in less than five hours.

Bailey, who has been involved in food service since 2000, said she was encouraged to start Sweets and Meats BBQ by her family.

“We’d have cookouts at our house with anywhere from 40 to 60 people on a given weekend,” she said.

It wasn’t long after that Bailey decided to get a trailer and take her culinary talent on the road.

“We knew we wanted to do mobile events,” she said.

After buying a smoker in October, Bailey set up a tent at the Mt. Washington Creamy Whip and soon found a fan base for her particular brand of barbecue.

“The secret is in the rub we use,” she said. A “rub” for those unfamiliar with barbecue preparation is the type of seasoning used on the meat.

Bailey said the “Sweets” part of the name was based on the fact she operated outside of a Creamy Whip, which she will continue to do in Milford.

Sweets and Meats BBQ will operate from the Creamy Whip in Old Milford starting Saturday, Dec. 13. It will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. at 119 Main St.

Bailey said she plans to reopen in Mt. Washington in April.

For updates visit “Sweets and Meats BBQ” on Facebook.