How It All Began – About Us
CowboyBBQ is a California-based, family owned and operated business and online bbq store. We offer a line of BBQ Sauces, Relishes and Gourmet Seasonings. John and Julie Bidegain started their lives together farming in Live Oak, California beneath the World’s smallest mountain range, the Sutter Buttes. They worked together for over 40 years, side by side, growing alfalfa mostly and coming up with other ventures to supplement the lean years of farming. They did everything from braided garlic to designing a line of Western iron furniture. If they had an idea, they went for it.
The beginning of the Online BBQ Store
The BBQ part of their venture started when their children were in grammar school and they were in charge of the school’s annual BBQ and carnival. The company was started in the year 2001 by Julie and John Bidegain, in their home, with a single BBQ sauce. Soon they expanded the product line into Relishes and Gourmet seasonings. The complete line of products is being sold in stores, gift shops and restaurants around Northern California, as well as their own online bbq store.
They ended up building a Ferris Wheel BBQ grill to make life easier and crafted the BBQ sauce to go along with it. They became a hit and went on to expand and entered their sauces in cook-offs and other competitions and won awards. It was only a matter of time before they began the process of manufacturing the product line and selling it to the world.
Our Awards and Achievements:
COWBOY BBQ
AWARDS
2017
Fiery Food Challenge/Zest Fest
Irvine, Texas
1st place (Cookoff – Dry Seasoning /Rub Pork)
Cowboy BBQ Pork Wranglers Rub
3rd place (Best New Product Cookoff)
Cowboy BBQ Pork Wranglers Rub
2016
Chili Pepper Awards
Stafford, Texas
1st place – (Category-Specialty)
Cowboy BBQ Corn Salsa
2nd Place – (Category-Cookoff)
Cowboy BBQ Fishin’ Seafood Seasoning
2nd Place – (Category – Condiments/Rubs)
Cowboy BBQ Gone Fishin’ Seafood Seasoning
2015
Fiery Food Challenge,
Irving, Texas
2nd place (Category-Dry Seasoning/Rub)
Cowboy BBQ Smokey Salty Bronc Seasoning
3rd place – (Category-Cookoff-Table Seasoning)
Cowboy BBQ Smokey Salty Bronc
2014
Fiery Food Challenge,
Irving, Texas
1st place (Category-Dry Seasoning/Rub)
Cowboy BBQ Salty Bronc Seasoning
3rd place (Category-Tomato based)
Cowboy BBQ Sweet & Smokey Meat Moppin’ Sauce
2009
Fiery Food Challenge,
Fort Worth, Texas
1st place (Category- Bourbon Infused)
Cowboy BBQ Sweet & Smokey Meat Moppin’ Sauce
2nd place (Category- Relish)
Cowboy BBQ Cranberry-Orange Jalapeño Relish
2005
Fiery Food Challenge
Ft. Worth, Texas
1st place (Best Overall Product)
Cowboy BBQ Sweet & Smokey Meat Moppin’ Sauce
3rd place (Category- Relish)
Cowboy BBQ Sweet & Spicy Jalapeño Relish
2005
America’s Zesty Best Food Show
Los Angeles, California
Professional Food Competition
3rd place (Category- Relish)
Cowboy BBQ Cranberry-Orange Jalapeño Relish