Someone You Should Know: BBQ Sauce Creator
CHICAGO (CBS) -- If you like barbecue sauce, you might already be familiar with the work of Reggie Thomas, a young man who's found a new life working as a chef and teacher. CBS 2's Harry Porterfield says he's Someone You Should Know.
When Thomas graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a degree in sound technology, cooking was not high on list of things to do. But then he changed his mind and enrolled in the Washburne Culinary Institute at Kennedy King College.
"I found a whole new life," Thomas said. And he has no regrets about giving up on the sound technology he'd been studying.
When Thomas finished his course work at Washburne and graduated, he was offered the position of chef instructor there. It was a distinct honor for someone who had just come out of cooking school.
And the honors kept coming. He was challenged to create a barbecue sauce and what he developed is now on the shelves at Jewel-Osco stores throughout the city.
"It's a blessing, it's that simple, it's a blessing. You never could have told me ten years ago that I would be producing a barbecue sauce for a major company," Thomas said.
He has concocted two sauces for Smokin' Joe Products: a garlic barbecue sauce and a honey barbecue sauce.
Smokin' Joe Products President Derryl Reed said, "His skills, his talent; some people just have that God-given ability and Reggie's one of those persons."
Thomas said, "I like to say I put a lot of love and soul into the product. I take a lot of pride in everything that I do."
Thomas also said he hopes to take his skills into neighborhoods not so accustomed to fine dining and help develop a taste for food that is well-seasoned and well-presented.
His goal? "To be able to create an environment for others as well as myself, where culinary is appreciated and accepted in our own community," Thomas said.
Reggie Thomas, chef, barbecue sauce creator and Someone You Should Know.
