Big Ed's BBQ Shed

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Big Ed's BBQ Shed

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BBQ is not culinary arts, its a sport! About this Adventure...

BBQ is not cooking or culinary arts...it’s a sport and adventure! Cheers!

Big Ed's BBQ Shed adventurously offers BBQ classes, craft BBQ sauces and catering in the authentic traditions of the Carolina, Memphis, Kansas City and Texas styles and explores Cajun, creole, and NOLA cuisines. Welcome to Big Ed’s Shed…Big Ed’s Shed is a authentic BBQ styled after traditional southern BBQ, with a focus on the Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee (Memphis) styles of BBQ, and a nod to the Kansas City and Texas traditions. Big Ed’s Shed is led by Dave Fako to pursue his passion for casual and quality food, especially BBQ. Big Ed’s Shed is named in honor of Dave’s late Father, Ed (Big Ed) Fako, a truck driver who enjoyed life to the fullest. The Shed is an ode to him and good food everywhere. Big Ed’s Shed focuses on BBQ in the authentic style of southern roadside BBQ shacks, with an interesting twist toward the “craft” of unique, quality BBQ. Big Ed’s Shed explores the traditions in the Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee (Memphis) styles, with a nod to the Kansas City and Texas traditions. We’ll also explore other culinary ventures such as Mexican, southwestern, Cajun, Eastern European and coastal seafood. Join our adventure in the sport of BBQ and enjoy some of Big Ed’s favorites.

10/19/2026

One of our favorites...

Hickory Smoked Pulled Chicken with South Carolina BBQ Sauce!

Photo Credit: Hilltop Photo Company

10/18/2026

We saw Bigfoot!

Thank you for everyone who visited us at the National Bigfoot Day Market in Lemont Downtown yesterday. It was an adventurous experience and that's how we roll!

We sold out by 11:30 AM and served nearly 100 new customer in addition to our existing customers...thank you, that was awesome.

The smoked pulled BBQ chicken and habanero hot smoked pulled chicken sliders were a hit and our award winning Texas style chili as always was super popular....Thank You!

And we got a visit from Archie and Stash too!

Thank you to all the market guests, our customers, and Folklore Coffee for hosting a fun and adventurous market.

Now time to enjoy the Bears this afternoon and the Packers game tonight!

10/16/2026

Another one of our favorite culinary adventures...making Texas Style Chili...aka "A Cup of Red."

Our Texas style chili is made from top quality coarse ground beef (sometimes we add cut beef into it too), onions, garlic, our homemade chili paste made from ancho, guajillo and pasilla chilis, the powdered versions of those chilis, and a blend of other spices. No beans, no fillers! Its a classic version of the official state dish of Texas....and we have won awards for it in our competition days.

Making a batch for the Bigfoot Market this Saturday!

10/15/2026

One our of favorite BBQ adventures....making craft BBQ sauce!!!!

We'll be at the National Bigfoot Day Market hosted by Folklore Coffee this Saturday, October 17 (9a - 2p) at Peterson Park in downtown Lemont selling our sauces...plus we will have our award winning Texas Style Chili and pulled chicken sliders - either BBQ style or Habanero Hot style.

Hope to see you there unless you are Bigfoot as we hear you are challenging to see...

10/13/2026

Come on by and forage at the National Bigfoot Day Market at Petersen Park in Lemont Downtown hosted by Folklore Coffee this Saturday, October 17. The market is from 9 AM to 2 PM and is in the park next to the the Marabella Apartment building along Canal Street.

Visit the market vendors and enjoy a cryptid themed fall outdoor market. Its outdoors, its adventurous...that's us!

We'll be selling our craft BBQ sauces and serving our award winning Texas style chili and smoked pulled chicken sliders (BBQ or Habanero Hot). Menu is in the picture...

Hope to see you foraging this Saturday!

10/08/2026

Next weekend on Saturday October 17 we'll be at the National Bigfoot Day Market hosted by Folklore Coffee at Petersen Park in Lemont Downtown. Shared are some details about the market.

Its outdoors and adventurous...that's us!!!

We'll be selling our craft BBQ sauces plus some fall warm up culinary adventures...

Cryptid B**r Cheese Soup w/ Milano Bakery Pretzel Stick (V)

Sasquatch’s Smokey Pulled BBQ Chicken Slider

Hot “Big” Foot Habanero Pulled Chicken Slider

Hope to see you there...unless you are Sasquatch in which its unlikely we'll see you!!!

10/04/2026

We had an adventurous time running a tailgate at the Illini game vs. Purdue this weekend...the tailgate was awesome...the game not so much!

Our featured tailgate menu was a blackened chicken po' boy with a homemade remoulade using locally (Lemont) made Keet's Habitual Habanero sauce!

Plus repping Lemont...

Its tailgate season!

We specialize in BBQ, grilling and outdoor adventurous culinary experiences....If you have game day or tailgating food cravings...give me a call to check on availability and our adventurous BBQ and grilling culinary options!!!!!!

https://bigedsshed.com/

09/19/2026

We are adventurously looking forward to serving at the National Bigfoot Day Market hosted by Folklore Coffee on October 17 at Petersen Park in Lemont Downtown. This is one of the rare public events we do.

We'll be selling our craft BBQ sauces and some of our craft culinary creations - we'll figure that out but maybe our award winning Texas Chili, smoked wings or our popular b**r cheese soup.

09/15/2026

UPDATE: All but three of the 20 we had for sale are sold. We only have three left for sale. Contact me soon if interested...Adventures in BBQ!

Looking for some quality craft BBQ sauce for your upcoming home BBQ, game day, or just to have around your kitchen....

We've been busy with various catering jobs and BBQ classes over the last few weeks and have a small amount of extra BBQ sauce available for purchase. We have 12 oz. containers of our Memphis BBQ sauce available. See description below.

$5 each. Prefer cash but will accept card too.

Contact me via our website (email or call) to purchase:
https://bigedsshed.com/

Memphis BBQ Sauce
(Sweet & Tangy)

Memphis is known for their pork ribs, usually served “dry” with no sauce, or “wet” with a tomato based sauce. Our Memphis style sauce is a mix of tomato, vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, and a blend of spices to create a lite sweet and tangy flavor.

Mild heat. Gluten free and low in sugar.

09/14/2026

Hi BBQ Adventurers:

A few announcements from Big Ed's Shed BBQ & Grilling...

-Thank you for an incredible summer. This was the busiest Summer we had. We catered numerous parties throughout Lemont, plus in other nearby towns and a few inquires from as far away as Aurora. We also conducted various private BBQ classes and recently held our Rt 66. BBQ class at the Lemont Public Library District, served at Pollyanna Brewing Company several times, served at the The Forge: Lemont Quarries BBQ Festival, served a Cajun Shrimp Boil in Lemont Downtown at Pollyanna Brewing Company...And our appearance on WGN was adventurous too! You can watch it here: https://wgntv.com/video/blues-brews-bbq-fest-daytime-chicago/11813272

-We have updated our catering menu. Its simpler and more flexible so our customers can pick and choose exactly what they prefer. We also can customize packages for your event. See attached menu.

-We are entering our busy fall season. If you are interested in our catering for a party or hosting a BBQ class please inquire as soon as possible. We are typically booked at least four or more weeks in advance. We do not do too many public events, but are scheduled to serve our award winning Texas Chili and sell our BBQ sauces at the National Bigfoot Day Market hosted by Folklore Coffee on October 17. Just contact us via our website for availability at: https://bigedsshed.com/

-Take a look at our new logo...its an ode to the namesake and our adventurous approach to culinary experiences!

Thank you and we hope to adventurously experience BBQ and other culinary adventures with you!

Dave Fako

09/08/2026

Eight years ago serving at the Taste of Lemont...I think this was our third or fourth time serving at that fundraising event. Fun times with help from Alex and Maureen....We had a line that stretched a long way the entire time and sold out in about one and a half hours serving almost 400 people!

We cannot serve at it this year due to a commitment to a large event in Wisconsin but this always was a great event.

08/29/2026

Some more pictures from our Route 66 BBQ Class at Lemont Public Library District this past Thursday...

Adventurous fun demonstrating and discussing BBQ along the mother road and interactive experiences for our guests...

Thank you!

Rib Tips in honor of Chicago
St. Louis Spare Ribs for STL
Texas Chili, the official state dish of Texas
Smoked Hatch Chili Salsa

08/28/2026

We had another adventurous time during our "Smokin' Down the Highway...A Flavor Journey Down Route. 66" BBQ class at Lemont Public Library District on Thursday night.

It was fun, informative and interactive at this full sold out class...

We talked about BBQ and other culinary adventures along the mother road in honor of the route's 100th anniversary...and demonstrated and tasted some classic Route 66 BBQ and other classics. Thank you to the Library and all of the guests who engaged in the class.

On the menu:

Rib Tips in honor of Chicago based on the techniques used by Lem's Bar-B-Q

St. Louis Spare Ribs as as ode to the city's namesake pork spare ribs

Texas "Red" Chili as a nod to the State's official dish (Its true, its not BBQ).

Smoked Hatch Green Chili Salsa, for New Mexico, which we were super excited about as Hatch Chilis just came into season!!!

We also talked about classic SOCAL BBQ as Rt 66 ends at Santa Monica Pier and their specialty, Tri Tip!

08/20/2026

Nine years ago today we adventurously served the food to the band The English Beat, a very well known band dating back to the 1980's. This was the famous Alapalooza in Lemont, a backyard party in town celebrating our neighbor's 50th birthday.

Our BBQ was the featured food for the band and guests while setting up and our backyard served as the food tent while four other neighbors hosted different parts of the event...

We served our pulled pork, smoked wings, Carolina style slaw and a variety of other sides.

Let's just say it was adventurous and we were out there very late with the band too (hint well beyond 3:00 AM!!!)

Adventures in BBQ!

Pictures of the food are limited...

Address

Lemont, IL
60439

Website

https://bigedsshed.com/

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