Built on Smoke, Fire & a Leap of Faith
Sawtooth Smokehouse started with a simple realization: life is too short to spend it doing something you don't love.
For Jon, that something had always been food—and especially barbecue.
Jon and his wife, Claire, spent several years living in Texas, where great barbecue isn't just food. It's part of the culture. That's where Jon's interest in BBQ became a passion. Already a longtime foodie and self-taught cook, he became fascinated with the craft—the smoke, the fire, the patience, and all the little details that separate good BBQ from something you remember.
After moving to Pocatello to be closer to family, Claire started telling Jon they needed a smoker. She wasn't exactly sure where the idea would lead, but she had a feeling that someday they might find themselves feeding the neighborhood.
Turns out, she wasn't far off.
Jon eventually left a job that wasn't fulfilling, and the two decided to take a chance. They bought a twin 500-gallon Primitive Pits offset smoker and headed to Georgia to pick it up.
The Long Way Home
The trip back to Idaho became part road trip, part BBQ research mission.
Jon and Claire stopped at barbecue joints along the way, tasting, comparing, and taking notes. What did they love? What would they do differently? What made one brisket, side, or sauce stand out from another?
They brought those lessons home—but they weren't interested in copying somebody else's barbecue.
They started cooking. Testing. Tweaking. Starting over.
Jon obsessed over the details—temperatures, timing, smoke, seasoning—refining the process until the food coming off the smoker tasted the way they believed it should.
Not somebody else's barbecue. Theirs.
Before long, they were passing brisket, pulled pork, and whatever else came off the smoker to friends and neighbors. Claire's idea about feeding the neighborhood was becoming a reality.
Made From Scratch Means Made From Scratch
At Sawtooth, “from scratch” isn't marketing copy. It's how we cook.
Our rubs, seasonings, and recipes are our own. We start with fresh ingredients and make everything ourselves rather than reaching for shortcuts.
Because great barbecue isn't just about the meat. Everything on the plate should be every bit as good as what comes off the smoker.
It's more work. We think you can taste the difference.
From Feeding the Neighborhood to Sawtooth Smokehouse
What started with a smoker and a whole lot of experimenting has grown into a family catering business built around feeding people well.
Today, you'll find Sawtooth at weddings, company events, family celebrations, and community gatherings. And when we're not catering, we're doing local BBQ drops—still feeding the neighborhood, just on a slightly bigger scale.
BBQ Worth Gathering For
Sawtooth Smokehouse was built on a love of great food, a willingness to take a chance, and a belief that doing things the right way is worth the extra effort.
Real wood. Fresh ingredients. Original recipes. Made from scratch.
No shortcuts.
Just food we're proud to put our name on.