Phat Daddy's to open in old Fairfax; Hog Days brings BBQ competition to Lake Monroe

By the first week in August, Phat Daddy's BBQ expects to have two more locations open in the Bloomington area, making four places where people can enjoy the barbecue and other food offered.

Bruce and Kasey Parrott opened Phat Daddy's BBQ in Ellettsville in the fall of 2023 after about five years of catering. Two months ago, Phat Daddy's Sandwich Shop opened in Scotland, near the Crane Naval base. The sandwich shop offers mostly carryout food, including sandwiches stuffed with smoked meats and barbecue with sides.

On July 12, Phat Daddy's BBQ Express will open as a pop-up guest restaurant inside the IU Health Bloomington Hospital food court. The express will be open just for one day, but the intention is to have it as a reoccurring "express" restaurant inside the food court, according to Tony Doyle, a member of Phat Daddy's leadership team. The menu will have "quick" foods that differ from the other two locations.

In three to four weeks, Phat Daddy's Lakeside restaurant is expected to open in the former Fairfax Bar and Grill location near Fairfax State Recreation Area. The restaurant will serve barbecue along with other fare, including fish, Doyle said. The restaurant will be operating next to a new bar, Rusty Anchor Lakeside Saloon, both in the same building.

While the expansion of Phat Daddy's has been quick, Doyle said the ethos of the company remains rock-solid: "More than a meal, it’s a mission."

That is reflected at Phat Daddy's BBQ in Ellettsville by the giving tree where people are encouraged to pay for a drink, a sandwich, or a dinner for someone else. The receipt is hung from the white evergreen tree near the counter in the front of the restaurant. People in need can pick from the paid tabs.

"We are kind-of known for that," Doyle said, adding the restaurant was begun with a mission-first mindset.

The tree was full with receipts until the recent storms left people without power and food for days. Doyle and the Parrots hope patrons will help re-supply the tree so more people can take advantage of the kindness.

Anyone can donate to the giving tree while eating at the Ellettsville restaurant, stop by at 4747 W. Ind. 46, Ellettsville, or call 812-908-2196. Donations can made online at PhatDaddyBBQ.com, just tap the "pay it forward" button.

Hog Days of Summer barbecue contest at Fairfax State Rec Area

Great White Smoke BBQ and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources are sponsoring The Hog Days of Summer on July 26 and 27 at Fairfax State Recreation Area.

The barbecue contest has been at West Boggs Park for the past four years, but it's outgrown the space, according to Dave White with Great White Smoke BBQ. He said the Fairfax site is perfect for the competition that's sanctioned by Kentuckiana BBQ Pitmasters. The competitors will set up and start cooking on July 26 and the contest's open to the public on July 27.

The competition is the fundraiser for Hoosiers With Hearts Disaster Relief, which provides hot food and cold drinks in disaster areas within the Kentucky and Indiana region. After the initial help, the group then conducts goods and supply drives outside Sam's Club to send items to hard-hit areas, according to White.

"Since 2022, we've helped several communities and raised thousands of dollars for individual causes in and around the community," White said.

As of July 8, there were 17 teams from three states signed up to compete in this year's Hog Days contest. Categories are chicken, ribs, pork and beef, with one competitor named best overall. There are also some fun challenges, including the One Bite Challenge where teams are given a mystery protein at 8 a.m. and have to present a finished food for judging at 10 a.m. Anything Butt allows teams to make a dish that doesn't contain any of the four proteins (chicken, ribs, pork and beef) that is created on site. This year the judging will be at 4 p.m. July 27. Judging of desserts will follow at 4:30 p.m. with awards at 5:30 p.m.

Upland Brewing Co. will set up a beer garden and Great White Smoke BBQ will serve barbecue. Fourwinds Lakeside Inn will offer food during its regular hours.

Eventually, White hopes Hog Days will become a two-day barbecue and music festival with a car show, kids' zone and more vendors. At West Boggs, White said several hundred people attended the event that had live music and games.

"The sky is the limit at Fairfax," he said. "The beach and property itself lend so much to see and discover that we just want to encourage people to come down and have a great day at the beach this year and hopefully both days next year."

Contact Carol Kugler atckugler@heraldt.com