Comedic powerhouses Anthony Anderson and Cedric The Entertainer hosted a massive backyard barbecue party at Bar 5015 in the historic Third Ward.
This wasn’t your average cookout. Attendees were treated to a complimentary BBQ by celebrity pit master Joey Victorian. The aroma of slow-roasted goodness filled the air as guests enjoyed mouthwatering bites and refreshing drinks. But the show’s real stars were their AC Barbeque line of cooking seasonings and sauces.
The AC Barbeque brand isn’t just about delicious food; it’s about building connections and celebrating culture. The duo has long dreamed of bringing these elements together in a business venture. Their entrepreneurial journey began with a shared love of good barbecue.
When they launched AC Barbeque, they took their passion national with an unscripted series on A&E Network called “Kings of BBQ.” The show documented their hilarious quest to master the art of grilling on different regional styles and techniques.
“We learned a lot from the show. We learned how to put people in positions that are a lot smarter than us that handled this business,” Anderson told the Defender. “But it was really about a story chronicling the start of a business with two friends building generational wealth and telling the story of barbecue and where it comes from and what it means for our community.”
But their ambition doesn’t stop at backyard gatherings and television shows. Anderson and Cedric are committed to bringing AC Barbeque to a wider audience, particularly on college campuses.
Through a partnership with Sodexo and SodexoMagic, AC Barbeque launched at Jackson State University in Mississippi, with plans to expand and elevate the dining experiences to more Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide, including Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern University.
“We have five other universities we are adding to the roster this season,” said Anderson. “University of Cincinnati is one, that’s not an HBCU, but we have four others that we’re adding to the program.”
