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Friday, July 18, 2003

A moment with ... Dixie and Gene Porter, of Dixie's BBQ
'If people don't have money ... we feed 'em. Why not?'

By DAN RICHMAN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Dixie's BBQ/Porter Automotive in Bellevue is hard to find, but barbecue lovers make the effort. They come not just for the food but also for the owners' vivid personalities and the funky atmosphere: a converted garage, with church pews for outdoor seating.

Dixie's sells bumper stickers promoting "The Man," a dark sauce so incendiary that Gene serves it on the tip of a toothpick. But the biggest draws are Dixie's brisket and pork ribs. The 9 1/2-year-old restaurant serves about 6,000 pounds of meat a week.

 Gene Porter
 ZoomGrant M. Haller / P-I
 Gene Porter, of Dixie's BBQ/Porter Automotive in Bellevue, doesn't work on cars.

Dixie, who says she's "over 64," was born in Franklinton, La. She met Gene, 64, who comes from Liberty, Miss., in New Orleans, where she was studying to become a nurse. She still works part time as an RN at a veterans hospital.

They have two children and five grandchildren.

  • Dixie, why is this place so popular? Because we have good food, honey! And we give good service and a large portion. We serve 200 to 300 people a day. We've never advertised. If people don't have money, I let them write an IOU and we feed 'em. Why not?

  • Do you eat other restaurants' BBQ? No. They don't know how to cook it! It's too tough.

  • Gene, do you still fix cars here? No. Don't touch cars.

  • The sign says "Dixie's BBQ/Porter Automotive." I don't care what it says, I don't do it. I own the building, I don't have to take the sign down less'n I want to.

  • Has the restaurant business been good for you? Ain't no problem at all.

  • Do you do most of the cooking? I do all the meats. My wife do all the beans, the cornbread and the lemon cake.

  • How do you relax? I work all the time. There's never no end.

  • What's in "The Man"? Heat.

  • How many people actually like it? Nobody like it. The record is 9 spoonfuls.

  • Do you like it? Nope. I don't touch it. I ain't stupid.

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