William Bill E. Stitt’s passion for bacon began as an assignment in a college speech class where he had to develop a business model for a product. He narrowed it down to bourbon, bloody marys or bacon. Spending his career in the food and beverage industry those same interests grew over the years. Bill E. has done extensive research on bacon and the bacon making process. He has tasted every kind of bacon imaginable. Not being able to find a product that especially wowed him, he started making his own.
Finding the right breed of pig took awhile, and he tinkered with his recipe for over three years, trying out different curing methods and timing the smoking process to perfection.
His recipe was introduced to customers through the menu offerings at Stitt’s restaurant, Old 27 Grill. The demand caused him to have to produce more and more and pretty soon other local chefs and restaurants were incorporating the bacon on their menus. Bill E. started marketing his product to grocery stores and markets in the area and with the help of Lewis Communications launched the Bill E. Small Batch Bacon website last December. His participation in the World Food Championship Event in Orange Beach last November exposed his bacon brand sparking media coverage from a variety of outlets.
Scott Gold, a national bacon critic even ranked Stitt’s product in the top three of all bacons in North America. Because of the location of the smokers and their proximity to the entertainment stage, the product is exposed to the sounds of local musical talent during the eight day curing process. That gives Bill E’s bacon that added extra special flair and definitely something to brag about.
Old 27 Grill’s newly revised menu now includes more of his signature product in the restaurant’s offerings. Some of the notables are a Pork Belly Trio (pork belly bites), Bill-E’s Pork Belly Blended burger, the Meatball Sub, the Pork Belly Sandwich, Bill-E’s Bloody Mary and of course Bill-E’s BLT.
Along with Bill E’s bacon, Stitt also supports other delicious local products such as Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream, Fairhope Brewing Company beers, Key’s Southern Spice, Fairhope Tire Company’s grits, LL’s Tuna Dip, Monroe Sausage and Wickles pickles. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Old 27 Grill’s eclectic and laid back atmosphere features open air and inside dining. It is also a great place to gather for drinks and regularly scheduled live music. As we gear up for football season in the deep South, keep them in mind for catering, party platters and an upcoming home/business delivery service.
Old 27 Grill & Bill E’s Bacon, 19222 Highway 181, Fairhope • (251) 281-2663
www.Old27Grill.com • Facebook “Old 27 Grill” • www.billesbacon.com