Our Story
At Smoke Bayou, every plate tells a story, and ours starts with one man’s dream and a life-changing wake-up call.
Meet Calvin Collier, Founder & Pitmaster — a man who’s always had a passion for cooking, making people laugh, and bringing folks together over good food. But it wasn’t until life threw him a curveball that he decided to turn that passion into a purpose.
In 2020, after returning from two months of work in West Africa, Calvin’s health suddenly took a dangerous turn. High fever, night sweats, and crushing headaches left doctors scrambling for answers. COVID-19 tests came back negative, but the real culprit was malaria — a mosquito bite that nearly took his life.
A week in the hospital battling parasites in his bloodstream gave Calvin time to think. If this was it… what would people remember about him? He pictured his own funeral and knew one thing for certain: he didn’t want to leave this world without chasing his dream.
When he recovered, he made himself a promise — no more waiting, no more “someday.” He would pour his heart and soul into building Smoke Bayou, a place where the flavor is bold, the vibes are good, and the love for food is unmatched.
