San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Pitmaster champ’s Burnt Bean is hot
Churros cafe for Leon Valley
For those who love churros, a new restaurant with a menu all about the fried-dough pastry and other desserts will open its doors this month on Bandera Road in Leon Valley.
Ernest Servantes has established himself as one of the top pitmasters on the competition barbecue circuit, winning more than 50 grand championships. He has been featured on national food television programs such as “BBQ Pitmasters” and “Chopped Grill Masters,” where he won a $50,000 grand prize in 2012.
And now he’s in the process of opening his first barbecue restaurant, the Burnt Bean Co. in downtown Seguin. Servantes, who has worked in the culinary industry for more than 20 years, has taken over the former Warehouse bar and grill. He has been using it on weekends for pop-up events and is building up to full-time Thursday-throughSunday hours, expected to begin in mid-January.
Behind the building, two 1,000-gallon steel pits outfitted with 18-foot smokestacks and loaded with oak cook an assortment of briskets, ribs, turkey, barbacoa and whatever else Servantes decides to put on the menu during his pop-ups.
Servantes also grinds and
processes his own beef, jalapeño and cheese sausage links, which have been so popular, he is now making 300 of each per week. Most area barbecue joints get their sausage from other providers.
The public has already taken notice. Lines start snaking around Burnt Bean as early as 10 a.m. on Saturdays, and on a recent Sunday, the line was more than 30 deep for lunch service.
Burnt Bean serves a classic barbecue menu on Saturdays and opens earlier on Sundays with special menu options and breakfast tacos to go with the standard barbecue offerings. Sides include beans, potato salad, rice and cheese casserole, and banana pudding. There is also a full bar outside near the pit area.
Burnt Bean Co., 108 S. Austin St., Seguin. Hours: 11 a.m. until sellout Saturdays, 8 a.m. until sellout Sundays. Facebook: @Burnt-Bean-Co.