CRESTVIEW — A year ago this past Wednesday, Crestview’s newest barbecue establishment was really smoking.
A mistake in cleaning out the smoker caused a fire to erupt in the Buddy’s View BBQ trailer parked in front of Waterfront Mission on South Ferdon Boulevard. But the Crestview Fire Department's prompt response saved most of the facility.
One year after firefighters doused the flames, owner and pitmaster Naaman Eicher treated them to lunch. A steady parade of command vehicles and fire engines rolled up to Buddy’s View Wednesday afternoon as Eicher and his team treated firefighters to a double-meat meal and let them sample his new double-fudge chocolate banana pudding.
Eicher, his sous chef Al Battle, wife Vicki Eicher and server Kathleen Clark hustled to cut ribs, load take-out packages and pour drinks for the hungry firefighters.
“We figure nobody knows good food like a fireman,” Eicher said.
“That’s true,” assistant fire chief Ralph Everage said. “They say if you want to know the best places to eat, look for the fire truck out front.”
Laughs aside, Eicher was serious in thanking the firefighters. “The Crestview community was extremely supportive during the rebuild process, but it was the action of the fire department that made the rebuild possible,” he said. “I’ll never forget them, and I look forward to continued appreciation meals for our local firefighters.”
HEALTHY BBQ
When patrons of his drive-up barbecue trailer in Waterfront Mission’s front parking lot started asked about gluten- and sugar-free meals, Buddy’s View BBQ owner Naaman Eicher started listening.
Working with Crestview nutritionist and diabetes specialist Pat Fletcher, Eicher is having his menu reviewed and looking into tweaking his recipes to offer his house specialties in ways that people on restricted diets can enjoy them.
“I want to be able to put out a facts sheet and offer some alternatives,” Eicher said. “I think it’s the right thing to do.”
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Firefighter appreciation barbecue lunch could be first of many