Smoke, Rhythm & Brews

A whole smoked pig. Carefully selected international craft beers. The Starline Rhythm Boys [1]. Sounds like a party. Specifically, a party planned by new company Full House Events.

When Cabot Creamery [2] spokesman and chef Jimmy Kennedy [3] catered a wedding last summer through his JDK BBQ catering company, the Starline Rhythm Boys were the musical act. The band’s lead singer, Danny Coane, suggested that he and the chef best known for opening River Run in Plainfield join forces to combine their services at parties for a discounted rate.

Kennedy also made a call to former employee Scott Kerner, one of Three Penny Taproom [4]’s owners. Though Three Penny has a busy catering company of its own that specializes in upscale, plated food, Kerner was happy to sign on with Full House Events to provide his booze expertise.

Though Kerner says he has plenty of staff to cover if his two catering companies double-book, Kennedy has his own summer conflicts. Besides entering barbecue competitions, the chef is a pro fisherman. “I’ve been cutting back on tournaments this summer,” he admits. He’ll fish competitively just once a month to make time for catering.

Though Full House hasn’t catered its first party yet, Kennedy believes a whole roasted hog will be its signature. He also plans to prepare pulled pork, catfish and even meatloaf on his mobile smoker.

Kerner predicts most of Full House’s business will be devoted to weddings, but he hopes that groups of friends will hire the company for wild nights of music, pork and brews. “If someone decides they have 40 friends willing to pay 50 bucks, we’ll be there,” he says. “For 50 bucks, you can get all-you-can-eat barbecue and all-you-can-drink beer.”