TEXARKANA, Texas — His family and friends say he's bull headed, but there's definitely something admirable about being determined. Pitmaster Darby Neaves worked in kitchens for free, changed his recipes, and soaked in every piece of advice he could to make the best barbecue in Texas.
Only problem is... He's in the wrong state. That's right. His restaurant is on the "wrong" side of State Line Boulevard... In Arkansas.
"I love Arkansas, but for barbecue it should be Texas. Especially brisket," Neaves said.
Neaves started his journey into the world of barbecue competing on the BBQ circuit.
"I really thought I could cook when I started competitions. I really did. About the third one, I realized this is a different level of cooking," he said.
A friend of his clued him in.
"He said, 'I don't like your sauce.' I said, 'I love my sauce.' And he said, 'Well, evidently the majority of people don't," Neaves said.
A quick sauce fix, and a few other tweaks along the way changed things quickly, on the road, and at home.
"He's probably going to kill me for saying this, but he needs that, I guess me to say, 'You got this. You can do this,'" said Darby's wife Patty Neaves.
"The wife. She changed everything," he said.
Naaman's was off and running.
That little push started the Naaman's food truck, which became the Texas-side Naaman's restaurant, located just across State Line Boulevard.
"This here is a monster. She demands to be fed," Darby Neaves said referring to his current restaurant.
Darvy Neaves is committed to doing all he can to be the very best in the business.
"I want the best. It doesn't mean I'm going to be, but if I can get close it means I'm better than most," he said
And that's the goal, to make the business he named after his son, the best, even if it's on the wrong side of the road.