By Patricia Griffin Mangan
Adam Hoffman, 37, came from California l0 years ago to open a restaurant. He started with a food truck in Noblesville and a few years later opened his barbecue pit restaurant in Westfield on Ind. 32. After seven successful years at 800 E. Main St., Westfield, Hoffman will soon open another location on Main Street in Carmel.
“After researching cities and demographics, the Indiana Midwest area hit the spot,” said Hoffman, a Fishers resident. “I then decided to just drop everything and move.”
Hoffman was a cook in California and the Los Angeles area and also liked to entertain at home. Some of his friends were Spanish and he learned Spanish cooking and the language, which has been an asset with his business. Being next door to the Main Street Shoppes where visitors and local collectors frequent has helped this energetic cook’s business as it has become “big” and thus the name “Big Hoffa’s.”
Hoffman believes his food is comparatively better than other barbecue hot spots such as Kansas City or Memphis. Hoffman said Indiana has been good to him. He attributes certain factors such as ambience, a friendly atmosphere and great food and service.
“I just want people to know that we are a different kind of barbecue restaurant as we take varied food items and create amazing dishes that customers never had before,” Hoffman said, adding one such item is the “El Segundo” specialty which has gone over “big.”
The barbecue process is a slow one. Hoffman said the smoked pork ribs are slow-smoked for more than 12 hours and the beef brisket is smoked for more than 30 hours.
“You may notice that we like pirates when you visit and that’s because barbecue officially got its start in the Caribbean. And just like the pirates of yesteryear, our barbecue is legendary, thrilling and full of flavor,” Hoffman stated.
In addition to its restaurant menu, Big Hoffa’s offers catering for parties of 10 people to more than 200. Big Hoffa’s is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is closed Monday. For more information, call 867-0077 or visit www.bighoffas.com.