Springfield barbeque restaurant serves 90 pork steaks to U.S. Senators in Washington D.C.

Greta Cross, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read
Sugarfire Smoke House owners Erin and David Whitman, chef Clint McCann and owner David Burke outside the south Springfield restaurant on Thursday, July 6, 2023.
Sugarfire Smoke House owners Erin and David Whitman, chef Clint McCann and owner David Burke outside the south Springfield restaurant on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

A Springfield barbeque restaurant served up its famous pork steaks to the U.S. Senate last month during a luncheon recognizing food made and loved by Missourians.

Sugarfire Smoke House's Springfield location was asked by Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt to participate in the closed lunch for the Senate on June 15. The restaurant provided 90 pork steaks, potato salad and baked beans for the luncheon.

"We were just so ecstatic to have the opportunity and for us to represent Missouri and to represent Springfield," David Whitman, co-owner of Springfield's Sugarfire Smoke House, said.

One of the pork steaks that Sugarfire Smoke House in Springfield served to the U.S. Senate last month.
One of the pork steaks that Sugarfire Smoke House in Springfield served to the U.S. Senate last month.

After preparing the pork steaks at the Springfield restaurant, Sugarfire Smoke House chef Clint McCann placed each steak in a vacuum-sealed bag, which were then packaged in shipping containers with dry ice and delivered to the U.S. Capitol by FedEx overnight, Whitman said. Caterers at the Capitol finished the preparation process, following instructions provided by McCann.

The special luncheon was open only to senators, but the Whitmans did get the chance to visit the U.S. Capitol and eat lunch in the Senate Dining Room in June.

From left to right, Sugarfire Smoke House Springfield owners David and Erin Whitman and Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt pose for a photo in the United States Capitol in June 2023.
From left to right, Sugarfire Smoke House Springfield owners David and Erin Whitman and Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt pose for a photo in the United States Capitol in June 2023.

In honor of the pork steaks' success at the luncheon, Springfield's Sugarfire Smoke House will be offering "Senate Steaks" as a special menu item throughout the summer.

Alongside Sugarfire Smoke House, Missouri-based restaurants Arthur Bryant Barbeque in Kansas City, Gooey Louie Gooey Butter Cakes in Creve Coueur and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis served food at the luncheon.

Established in St. Louis in 2012, the Sugarfire Smoke House franchise now operates 13 locations in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Colorado. The Whitman's expanded the Sugarfire Smoke House footprint to Springfield with the opening of their restaurant in December 2019. The restaurant is located at 1730 E. Republic Road and open Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Sugarfire Smoke House serves 90 pork steaks to U.S. Senate