Super Tasty BBQ Co.

It all started in 2013 at Manatee Springs State Park…

When we landed our very first concession contract, we knew right away we didn’t want to become just another park food vendor serving frozen burgers, basic hot dogs, and fries.

At first, I was honestly a little skeptical about getting into the food business.

But my business partner, Charlie Anderson, saw the vision immediately.

Charlie spent years as a career butcher for Publix Supermarkets and had already developed his own low-and-slow smoking system along with a serious smoker setup.

One day, Charlie looked at me and said:

“Paul, we can bring authentic Southern smoked barbecue to the park.” Then he added:

“I can show you how to use my smoking system.”

That became the beginning of everything.

From day one, we believed the meat should be the hero.

We kept the menu simple: slow-smoked meats, fresh coleslaw, Miss Katie’s baked bean recipe, balanced seasoning, balanced smoke, and authentic Southern flavor.

No gimmicks. No overcomplicated menu. Just simple food done right.

That’s the philosophy we’ve stayed true to from the very beginning.

Over time, that tradition was passed down through the family.

We taught our son Timmy how to smoke and prepare the barbecue using the same low-and-slow methods and philosophy we started with. Later, Timmy helped teach his sister Casey the process as well.

What started as an idea between partners slowly became a true family tradition built around smoke, flavor, patience, consistency, and Southern hospitality.

But while the food had its identity, the brand still didn’t.

My wife, Miss Katie, always told us:

“You need to brand this barbecue. You need to give it an identity.”

For a long time, we struggled trying to figure out exactly what that identity should be.

Then one day, a little kid changed everything…

A young boy — maybe nine years old — came by absolutely starving. He ate our barbecue, smiled, and said:

“You guys are heroes because you made my hunger go away.”

At first, I just thought it was a sweet moment.

But later, while floating down the river fishing, it finally clicked.

I remember reeling in a nice bass and suddenly saying:

“That’s it… we need a comic-book-style barbecue hero.”

Then the name hit me:

Super Tasty BBQ Company.

Not long after that, I had one of the most vivid dreams of my life.

I saw this wild character: half hog, half chicken, wearing sunglasses, holding a barbecue fork, with a checkered cape blowing behind him while traveling around fighting hunger and bringing people Super Tasty BBQ.

I could picture him perfectly in my head, but for years I had no real way to bring him to life.

We tried sketch artists, but nothing ever truly captured what I had seen in that dream.

Years later, AI image technology finally changed everything.

I started experimenting with ChatGPT image creation and was finally able to describe the exact character I had imagined all those years ago. Little by little, the mascot started becoming real.

Then Jay stepped in and helped put the finishing touches on the design that eventually became the official Super Tasty BBQ Co. mascot we use today.

That’s when Super Tasty BBQ Company truly came to life.

Not just as food — but as a real brand and identity.

As we expanded into Poe Springs Park, we started developing themed menu items inspired by the springs, the river, and Florida outdoor culture.

Items like Poe Nachos, Porky Paddler, Cottonmouth Dog, and Cypress Sweet Heat Relish.

We wanted every item to feel unique to our parks and our story.

Even our drinks became part of the identity.

We decided we didn’t want to serve ordinary sodas anymore, so the whole family — Jay, Miss Katie, myself, and my daughters — started creating our own signature fruit-infused lemonades and mocktails.

That’s how drinks like River Rush, Poe Colada, Santa Fe Splash, Gator Guts, and Mosquito Water were born.

River Rush came from customers constantly asking for energy drinks, so we created a Red Bull-based fruit-infused refresher.

Gator Guts was created almost by accident.

While developing our Sweet Heat Relish, we tested both pineapple-jalapeño and strawberry-jalapeño versions. The pineapple version became our signature relish, but I still loved the strawberry version.

One day I got a wild hair and thought:

“I bet this would taste good with ginger ale.”

Turns out… it did.

And Gator Guts was born.

Then there’s Mosquito Water.

Miss Katie had been making a refreshing infused water at home for years using lemon, lime, fresh ginger, and mint.

We almost called it Mojito Water, but that felt too ordinary.

Then somebody joked:

“What about Mosquito Water?”

Everybody laughed, and the name stuck immediately.

That’s pretty much how Super Tasty BBQ Co. has evolved from the very beginning: family ideas, river ideas, happy accidents, Southern barbecue, and authentic Florida flavor.

The real mastermind behind our signature Super Tasty BBQ sauce is Miss Katie herself.

Katie brought years of experience, creativity, and flavor knowledge and blended it with the traditions we had already built from the beginning.

She worked tirelessly developing an in-house pineapple-based BBQ sauce that was sweet, smoky, balanced, and unique enough to stand apart from anything sitting on a grocery store shelf.

Her influence helped shape the flavor identity that makes Super Tasty BBQ Co. different today.

Today, our goal remains the same as when we first started:

To bring authentic Southern-style smoked meats, unique signature drinks, and unforgettable flavor profiles to the springs of Florida.

As we reopen at Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, Super Tasty BBQ Company will continue growing as the heart and identity behind everything we do.

And the Low and Slow Almost Bar and Grill at Poe Springs Park will continue being fueled by Super Tasty BBQ Company.

Simple food. Done right. Served with personality.