Kiwan Guyton

Kiwan Guyton of Millstadt began whipping up barbecue for the public last year when he opened Mr. BBQ’s Rib Shack & Catering at 106 N. Main Street in Smithton.

Now, Guyton, 42, has a second location at Mystic Oak Golf Course in Waterloo, which has already been a hit in just the first couple weeks of opening.

“Some people who haven’t come back here for a couple years came to my restaurant and now it’s their place again. It makes me feel good,” he said.

Guyton, who is also a full-time investigator for the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, said the idea to open Mr. BBQ at Mystic Oak, 643 Ridge Road, came from golf course owner Carl Unverfehrt.

“I think (having Mr. BBQ) is going to help a lot,” Unverfehrt said. “He’s very much into what he’s doing. He makes sure everything is clean. They make sure the staff knows what they’re doing.”

Since opening, Guyton has catered three Waterloo events, including the Hot ‘N Spicy Women’s Golf Tournament, an event for Monty Wolfe, owner of Sure Shine Auto Wash in Waterloo, and a baby shower.

His kitchen opened inside the restaurant on Saturday.

“They were impressed with the professionalism of the staff, how clean everything was. They really liked the food,” he said of the catering events. “Some people are always going to have something to complain about. That’s the nature of this business.”

To that end, Guyton admitted that he, too, is never fully pleased with himself.

“I’m never satisfied. I strive to be better today than I was the day before,” he said.

Still, Guyton has created quite a recipe for success, with menu items ranging from pulled pork and ribs to pork steaks and snoots. Sides include green beans, fries and potato salad, among others. Guyton said he compares the taste of snoot to pork rinds or a thick slice of bacon.

“We sell a ton (of snoots),” he said. “People, they love them.”

Additionally, Guyton said he likes to go “old school,” meaning he grills most of his meats, while pork butts and brisket are the only items he smokes.

“I want to be out there flipping it. When people walk in the restaurant, I want them to be smelling it before they taste it,” he explained.

Those interested in trying out his barbecue recipes can stop in anytime between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. More information can be found at facebook.com/mrbbqcatering, or by calling 939-4646.

Guyton, who has been a police officer for 21 years, 10 with  the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, doesn’t like the idea of taking time off from work.

“Some people like free time,” he said. “If I’m not working, I’m not happy. Sometimes I get tired from all of it and I want to get away. But when I’m away, I’m thinking about work. I’m checking in with my staff: ‘How are things going? Are there any calls for me?’”

The longtime cook began barbecuing when he was 15 years old and worked at the Antique House Restaurant in Belleville.

“There were a group of guys there playing cards, and they said they wanted something different,” he said. “So I asked them, ‘Well, what do you want?’ And they said they wanted barbecue, so I whipped something up.”

Since then he has determined, “Cooking is my passion. Being a cop is just my profession.”