When clients ask Christopher Jones how he cooks the delicious barbequed meat at his restaurant, he answers, “‘Just like you, except I have to concentrate a little harder.'”
The extra concentration, for a blind man, is a necessity not an option. But as is so often the case, this became the mother of Jones’ invention.
Blindfolded Barbeque is located at 598 E Wheatland Road in Duncanville, a city of 40,000 in southwestern Dallas County, Texas. It features a simple yet delicious menu all prepared by Jones, a former tow-truck driver who 5 years ago was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy.
In other words, his diabetes robbed him of his sight, but it couldn’t take his inspiration. No: this father of 7 not only had mouths to feed, but realized he could feed the whole neighborhood.
“It’s a conversation starter, and that’s what I want to do is just bring awareness to it,” Jones said.
Using his grandfather’s recipes, he acquired a simple restaurant space, set up a BBQ menu, and taught himself how to cook without sight: using touch, sound, taste, but particularly smell.
“I have to rely on a lot of smell because I can measure, but if I know it’s too much, then I’ll fix it,” he said.
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You think about how closely guarded are the secrets of BBQ sauce and spice mixtures; of how precise some of them must be to win awards and create one of the most beloved of American cuisines.
And then, when you consider that Jones makes his without being able to see how much of any ingredient he’s adding, the sandwich or pork ribs between your fingers seems suddenly so much more delicious.
WATCH the story below from CBS News…
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