Long Valley’s Pulled Fork BBQ: Comfort Food Amid Pandemic

LONG VALLEY NJ — The coronavirus pandemic has presented challenges for most local businesses, but that hasn't stopped many from continuing to offer the products and services beloved by their regular customers.

One of those businesses is Pulled Fork BBQ.

The business was nominated by Patch readers as a business of the year for managing to navigate the turbulence with steadfast determination and an unwavering commitment to the clients they serve.

"It is a take out BBQ lunch business that had the most delicious, creative, scrumptious food I have ever had. They were open all through the pandemic with curbside pickup, and followed health and safety rules," Janice Taylor Freedman said.

Pulled Fork BBQ owner Mike Meredith came to New Jersey from Texas in 1999 and quickly discovered that a barbecue in the Garden State meant hamburgers and hot dogs, not the ribs, the smoked brisket, the pulled pork and the smoked sausage he was missing.

As a hobby, Meredith started building smokers and experimented with new recipes and techniques, finding his own smoking style that reminded him of the Central-East Texas BBQ he missed so much.

He created his signature dry rubs, spiced up his own version of ranch style beans, homemade slaw, hell yeah corn, and spent years perfecting his signature sauce. After six years as a part-time catering business, last summer, they opened a full-time business close to home Meredith was able to share the comfort food that tasted just like his memories of home, close to his new home.

And it is that comfort food that Patch readers said provided them comfort during the pandemic.

"The staff is always friendly and helpful. The food is consistently delicious. They worked hard to service Long Valley, and they deserve recognition for their service, and wonderful food," Freedman said.

Have a business you would like to see in a special spotlight? As a Patch reader, you can nominate a Local Businesses of the Year.

Please tell us the name of the business, where it is located, why it deserves to be recognized and what specific actions have earned your allegiance. Please be as specific as possible, as your comments may be included in a Patch feature article about the local business.

You can nominate any local business you feel should be recognized. That includes retail stores, restaurants, hardware shops, dry cleaners, plumbers, car mechanics, salons and more. You can even nominate the business you work for if you feel they've gone above and beyond in helping their employees through this uncharted time.

Patch will feature nominated businesses in December.

Please submit your nomination by Dec. 10.

Additionally, if you are a local business owner who would like to share more information about your services and offerings, sign up to be included in Patch's free Local Business Information Center.

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