Meet Tramaine Duncan of Buddahs BBQ & Soul Food in Aurora

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tramaine Duncan.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Tramaine. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After being fired from two jobs post-undergraduate school, I was kind of forced to create my own career. I’ve always had a passion for cooking due to a long line of pitmasters that came before me. My granny, who raised me, was the executive chef of our household. Everything I know in the kitchen is a direct result from her teachings. The name Buddahs was a nickname that my dad had given me when I was younger. I used to hate the name because it reminded me of him and his absence. However, it very fitting for my company. “Food from the heart to feed your soul”.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing is ever easy. My degree is in Social Sciences with a minor in Africana Studies and Mathematics. I had no idea of what it took to run a business. I thought it was easy as buying a food trailer and hitting the road. NO. Not easy at all. I’ve had to invest in my professional development as an owner to ensure that I build a long-lasting business for my children. I am a daddy of four children all under the age of five, so you can only imagine how challenging managing the two can be. With all of that being said, I’m grateful to have the freedom of being a stay at home father while fulfilling catering and food orders in-between time.

Buddahs BBQ & Soul Food – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Buddahs is food from the soul. Literally. My recipes, cooking style, and customer service are what keeps the customers coming back. I have a big heart and personality that helps drive the business as well. I specialize in smoked meats and traditional soul food. I’m known for my Mac N Cheese, Smoked Chicken Wings, and Smoked Salmon. As a company, I’m most proud of the opportunity to build a legacy for my family to have long after I’m gone. What sets me apart from the competition is that my food is consistently good and the customer service is great. Of course, there is always room for improvement but taste consistency is an area where I far exceed my competition.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment has been being the first in my family to graduate from a four-year college/university.

Contact Info:

• Website: BuddahsBBQ.com
• Phone: 7204513506
• Email: BuddahsBBQ@gmail.com
• Instagram: @buddahsbbq
• Facebook: @buddahsbbq
• Yelp: @buddahsbbq

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