Everywhere
We've Been
From a small town in the Arkansas Delta to County Clare, Ireland — every place that shaped Jim Quessenberry BBQ, plus every store that carries Sauce Beautiful today.
70
Total Places
35
Retail Locations
10
BBQ Restaurants
5
Comp & Intl Venues
Get It Today
Where to Buy Sauce Beautiful
Available at 35 stores across Arkansas and Missouri — plus online delivery.
Instacart
Same-day delivery from Harps stores
Amazon
Ships nationwide — 2-packs available
Order Direct
Shop our full championship lineup
Harps & DoorDash: Many Harps stores also offer delivery through DoorDash Grocery — search for Sauce Beautiful in your local Harps store on the DoorDash app.
Hays Food Stores
Food Smart
Edwards Food Giant & Cash Saver
Edwards Food Giant — Lakewood Village
2727 Lakewood Village DrNorth Little Rock, AR 72116 Directions →
Edwards Cash Saver — North Little Rock
3801 Camp Robinson RdNorth Little Rock, AR 72118 Directions →
Bill's Cash Saver
Harps Food Stores
Other Locations
Where It All Started
Heritage Sites
Birdeye is a visit, not only a pin. Events & lifestyles — go taste it.
Birdeye, Arkansas
Birdeye, Arkansas — greater-area ZIP 72314 (never confuse with Cherry Valley 72324). Cross County Delta ground where Jim Quessenberry grew up. The family built a stately home here at the turn of the 20th century. Becky Farmer owned it; cousin Martin Smith owns it now. Whole-hog country longer than anyone can remember. Spelling is always Birdeye — never Birdseye.
Root geography of the Quessenberry / Smith cousin line. Jim’s childhood. Visit destination: taste the recipes, ride Crowley’s Ridge gravel, walk the house and farm. See /events/birdeye/.
Birdeye Farms
Low-till, bio-intensive organic farm at 10 CR 334 — the 1903 house tract. Established 2018. Fruit, vegetables, herbs, animals. Tours. Supplies restaurants and the ASU Regional Farmers’ Market. Not Birdeye Angus Farms.
Whit Smith, sixth generation on the plantation. Kara Smith is the LLC registered agent. Same ground as the W.M. Smith House. Different crop from the 1936–1960s Angus herd.
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at Birdeye
State veterans cemetery at 3600 Hwy 163. About 99 acres of old W.M. Smith pasture. Purchased 2008; construction 2010; first interment 2012. Martin Smith designed the landscape. Bob Stacy was co-owner of the “old W.M. Smith farm,” working from an office in the old store, around that sale.
Smith pasture becomes a state cemetery. Martin designed it. The old store on Hwy 42 had been plantation headquarters.
W.M. Smith House — 10 CR 334
Built 1903–05 on Major R. Pope’s Walnut Camp site — the overnight wagon camp on Bay Road from Wittsburg. Parcel 002-00836-000. 5,330 sq ft, two stories, hip roof, wraparound porch, pier foundation, 3.26 acres. Shared after WWII by W.M. Sr.’s four children. Then Becky and Johnny Collier (sold 2004). Then Martin and Kara. Pope Cemetery is a quarter-mile west. 54 CR 334 is the next house on the lane.
The family seat. East of Highway 163, across Pope Creek from the four 1950s houses. Whit’s vegetable farm is on this tract.
3343 Highway 163
Built 1956 by James Harrell Quessenberry Sr. and Clarah Anne Smith. Parcel 002-00834-000. Jim Jr. grew up here after the shared years in the 1903 house. Later Lee Quessenberry, Beth Renfro, Maurice Renfro.
The Quessenberry house on the west-of-163 row. Next door to Maurice Jr. at 3335.
3335 Highway 163
Built 1954 by W. Maurice Smith Jr. and Alva Jane Murray. Parcel 002-00833-000. ~5,078 sq ft. Consecutive with 3343 and the 1903 house parcel.
Maurice Jr.’s house on the west-of-163 row. Angus partner next door to Jim Sr.
Birdeye Angus Farms
W.M. Smith & Sons registered Aberdeen-Angus program. Commercial Blacks 1925; purebred from the 1930s; slogan “Quality Angus breeding since 1936.” First private Angus auction in Arkansas, 1951. 400+ registered cows by 1959. Not today’s Birdeye Farms vegetable operation.
Run after 1959 by Maurice Jr., Jimmie Johnston, and James Harrell Quessenberry Sr. — the same men whose households lined Highway 163.
Wynne, Arkansas
Cross County seat and the town central to Jim Quessenberry's story. Home of Donna Quessenberry (kindergarten teacher), Tom B. Smith (Pig Tails attorney), Johnny Surgeoner (the sauce maker whose recipe died with him), and Wayne Martin (New Orleans Saints). Every product is shipped directly by Jim's sons.
Home of Donna Quessenberry, the Pig Tails team, and several figures in Jim's story. The Hays grocery store on North Falls Blvd carries Sauce Beautiful.
Coldwater, Arkansas
A small community in the Arkansas Delta where Jim Quessenberry remembered B.B. King playing guitar on front porches in his youth — drawing workers out of the fields to listen. One of the blues landmarks of the Mississippi Delta world Jim grew up in.
Jim remembered B.B. King playing on front porches here as a young man.
Beedeville, Arkansas
Small Jackson County community where Shorty Owens operated a hunting lodge. Jim Quessenberry cooked here in the winters, feeding hunting parties and lodge guests — an important part of his off-season cooking life.
Jim cooked at Shorty Owens' hunting lodge here during the winters.
Floyd, Arkansas
Small Arkansas community where Alice Marie Webb Choate hosted the Webb family reunions. Mum to her grandchildren; Mrs. Choate, Alice-Marie, or Ree to everyone else. Donna’s mother and Jim’s mother-in-law.
Home of Alice Choate, who hosted the Webb family reunions that kept generations connected.
Jonesboro, Arkansas
The Northeast Arkansas city where Lee and Michael Quessenberry carry on their father's legacy. Home base of the Sauce Beautiful brand and the headquarters of Jim Quessenberry BBQ.
Home of Lee and Michael Quessenberry. Headquarters of the Sauce Beautiful brand.
Cherry Valley, Arkansas
Cherry Valley, Arkansas — ZIP 72324. A distinct Cross County community from Birdeye (greater-area 72314). Jim’s 1993 Smokestack Lightning interview with Lolis Eric Elie and Frank Stewart is associated with the Cherry Valley / home interview orbit; do not collapse Cherry Valley into Birdeye or swap ZIPs.
Neighbor town, not Birdeye. ZIP 72324 vs Birdeye 72314. Interview / regional association — keep place names and ZIPs clean.
Blytheville, Arkansas
Mississippi County city and home of Ray 'Red' Gill — the champion showman who competed alongside Jim Quessenberry at the 1985 Irish Cup Invitational and famously taught the Irish crowd how to 'call the hogs.'
Home of Ray 'Red' Gill, Jim's 1985 Ireland teammate.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas state capital. Jim Quessenberry cooked for Bill Clinton's early political fundraisers here, back when Clinton was building his political base in Arkansas before his presidential run.
Jim cooked for Bill Clinton's early political fundraisers in Little Rock.
Olive Branch, Mississippi
DeSoto County city in North Mississippi and home of Beth Renfro, Jim Quessenberry's younger sister.
Home of Beth Renfro, Jim Quessenberry's younger sister.
Parkin, Arkansas
Cross County community and site of the Parkinfest BBQ contest, where Lee and Michael Quessenberry competed. Lee famously beat the Budweiser-sponsored team here — a story told with great relish in the family.
Site of Parkinfest, where Lee Quessenberry beat Budweiser's team.
Magnolia, Arkansas
Columbia County city in southwest Arkansas and site of the World Steak Cooking Championship, where Jim Quessenberry won the People's Choice Award and showmanship honors.
Jim won the People's Choice Award and showmanship honors at the World Steak Cooking Championship here.
Nashville, Tennessee
Tennessee state capital where Lee and Michael Quessenberry competed as "The Little Ribbers" in 1989, their first contest as children under Jim's guidance.
Site of the Little Ribbers' first contest — Lee and Michael competing as children in 1989.
Houston, Texas
Site of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one of the major stops on Jim Quessenberry's expanded national BBQ tour during the 1990s.
Jim competed at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as part of his expanded national circuit.
Daytona Beach, Florida
Site of the Florida State BBQ Championship, one of Jim Quessenberry's stops as the Arkansas Trav'ler expanded his national circuit through the South and Southeast.
Jim competed at the Florida State Championship in Daytona on his national tour.
The Circuit & Beyond
Competition Venues & International Sites
Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
The largest pork BBQ competition in the world, held annually on the banks of the Mississippi River in Memphis. Jim Quessenberry competed here on the circuit throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Jim Quessenberry competed at Memphis in May.
Visit siteAmerican Royal World Series of Barbecue
One of the world's largest BBQ competitions, held in Kansas City, Missouri. Jim Quessenberry placed Top 3 at the American Royal. The 2019 class of BBQ Hall of Fame semi-finalists — including Jim — was announced here.
Jim Quessenberry placed Top 3 at the American Royal. The 2019 BBQ Hall of Fame semi-finalist announcement included Jim.
Visit siteJack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue
Prestigious invitation-only BBQ competition held at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Ardie Davis served as a featured judge at the 20th Annual event in 2008.
Ardie Davis — lifelong friend of Jim Quessenberry — served as featured judge at the 20th Annual event (2008).
Visit siteIrish Cup — Lisdoonvarna, Ireland
The spa town in County Clare, Ireland where Jim Quessenberry won the Irish Cup in 1987 — his second World BBQ Championship.
Jim Quessenberry's 1987 Irish Cup win, the second of two World Championships in County Clare.
Irish Cup — Fanore, Ireland
The coastal village in County Clare, Ireland where Jim Quessenberry won the Irish Cup in 1985 — his first World BBQ Championship.
Jim Quessenberry's 1985 Irish Cup win with the Arkansas Trav'ler team.
The Joints
Notable BBQ Restaurants
Charles Vergos' Rendezvous
Memphis, TN
The legendary downtown Memphis BBQ institution founded by Charlie Vergos in 1948. Pioneered the Memphis dry-rub rib style using a Greek-inspired spice blend. Operating from a basement on Monroe Avenue for over 75 years.
Founded by Charlie Vergos, whose Memphis dry-rub tradition influenced the regional style Jim Quessenberry cooked in.
Visit →Franklin Barbecue
Austin, TX
Aaron Franklin's James Beard Award–winning Austin institution. Opened as a trailer in 2009, moved to brick-and-mortar in 2011. Named the best BBQ in the country by Bon Appétit (2011) and #1 in Texas Monthly's 50 Best BBQ Joints (2013, 2017).
Aaron Franklin — 2019 BBQ Hall of Fame co-nominee alongside Jim Quessenberry — operates this restaurant.
Visit →17th Street Barbecue
Murphysboro, IL
Founded by the late Mike Mills — "The Legend" — 3x Memphis in May Grand World Champion. A southern Illinois BBQ institution built from a century-old building into a nationally acclaimed restaurant.
Mike Mills — Memphis tradition peer of Jim Quessenberry — founded and operated this landmark.
Visit →McClard's Bar-B-Q
Hot Springs, AR
Founded in 1928 and still family-owned. Arkansas's most famous BBQ restaurant, known for pork ribs, pork shoulder, and the signature "tamale spread." A lifelong favorite of Bill Clinton, who grew up in Hot Springs.
Featured in the Arkansas BBQ History guide. A landmark of the Arkansas BBQ tradition Jim Quessenberry cooked in.
Sims Bar-B-Que
Little Rock, AR
A Little Rock institution specializing in ribs and chopped pork with a distinctive thick, vinegar-and-tomato sauce with heavy black pepper — considered one of the most distinctive sauces in Arkansas BBQ.
Featured in the Arkansas BBQ History guide as a landmark of the Arkansas tradition.
Whole Hog Cafe
Little Rock, AR
Opened early 2000s by a competition BBQ team with real KCBS experience. Now an Arkansas institution with multiple locations, selling sauces and rubs commercially in addition to the restaurant.
Featured in the Arkansas BBQ History guide as part of the modern Arkansas BBQ tradition.
Wright's Barbecue
Johnson, AR
A buzzed-about Northwest Arkansas BBQ joint featured on national lists, known for brisket and pork belly burnt ends in addition to traditional Arkansas pork.
Featured in the Arkansas BBQ History guide as a standout modern Arkansas BBQ joint.
Craig's Bar-B-Q
DeValls Bluff, AR
A small-town Delta legend in the middle of the Arkansas Delta, serving old-school pork BBQ for generations with a distinctively thin, spicy, black-pepper Delta sauce.
Featured in the Arkansas BBQ History guide as a genuine Arkansas Delta BBQ landmark.
Jones Bar-B-Q Diner
Marianna, AR
One of the oldest Black-owned BBQ joints in the country, dating to the early 1900s in Marianna, Arkansas. A James Beard Foundation American Classic Award winner and a living piece of the Delta BBQ tradition.
Featured in the Arkansas BBQ History guide as one of the deepest roots of the Arkansas Delta BBQ tradition.
