[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 212 (Wednesday, December 8, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9043-S9044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING SMOKEY PIG       BAR-B-Q

 Mr. PAUL. Madam President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an

[[Page S9044]]

outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize a 
family-owned small business, Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q of Bowling Green, KY, 
as the Senate Small Business of the Week.
  Kaye and Phil Huffer purchased Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q in 1999. Smokey Pig 
Bar-B-Q's founder, Ned ``Smokey'' Nickerson, began serving up his 
signature Monroe County-style barbecue in 1969 when he established the 
restaurant. To prepare this southern Kentucky staple, the meat is 
prepared with no spices before being smoked over hickory wood. The 
hickory-smoked meat has a distinct flavor and is served with a vinegar-
based sauce. Before his family bought the business, Phil regularly made 
the 100-mile round trip from Bowling Green to his hometown to purchase 
Monroe County-style barbecue. Noticing the absence of this particular 
style of barbecue in Warren County, Kaye and Phil decided to run a 
barbecue restaurant. They bought Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q, welcoming their 
first customers in March 1999.
  More than 20 years later, Kaye and Phil continue to serve up some of 
the best barbecue in Bowling Green. Folks drive from all over the 
Commonwealth to enjoy their delicious cuisine and family-friendly 
hospitality. Kaye and Phil's care and attention to detail are evident 
in every aspect of Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q's restaurant and catering 
business. Even the charcoal is made on site, using hickory wood from 
local sawmills. Their son Scott has also joined his parents in 
dedicating himself to the restaurant's continued success.
  Together, Kaye and Phil seek to give back to their community in any 
way possible. Through Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q, Kaye and Phil regularly 
support community organizations, including Norton Children's Hospital 
in Louisville, KY. When their son, Matthew, was born preterm, they 
turned to the Children's Hospital for support. Now, Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q 
is a longtime supporter of the hospital, supporting their mission to 
continue helping children overcome health challenges.
  Over the years, Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q's unique cuisine has been profiled 
by local and national media. It is currently rated as TripAdvisor's No. 
1 Quick Bites in Bowling Green, and Grubwire named it the best 
restaurant in Bowling Green in 2019. Additionally, the Kentucky Pork 
Producers Association honored Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q as the 2018 Pork 
Restaurant of the Year. For more than a decade, locals have voted 
Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q as ``Best of Bowling Green'' in BG Daily News's 
annual readers' choice awards. The restaurant was also featured in the 
Food Network's ``Feasting on Asphalt'' series hosted by Alton Brown.
  Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q is a remarkable example of how hard work and 
ingenuity can turn a dream into reality. Small businesses like Smokey 
Pig Bar-B-Q form the heart of towns across Kentucky and regularly step 
up to support their communities. Congratulations to Phil, Kaye, and the 
entire Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q team. I wish them the best of luck and look 
forward to watching their continued growth and success in 
Kentucky.

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