“You don’t eat Black Tie because you’re hungry. You eat Black Tie to celebrate a cause or an occasion.” So says Spencer Humphrey, one of the founders of the gourmet BBQ catering company. Instead of letting the economy break the bank and their hungry spirits, these Atlanta-based foodies pursued their passion in the kitchen. Now, the four-some have an inspiring come-back story. We recently sat down to learn a little bit more about the brains behind our favorite bowtie-wearing BBQ-ers:

SCOUT: How people might know Black Tie BBQ?
BTBBQ: For the amazing taste of our food and the unique flavor profiles we offer. (For example there’s cinnamon in the BBQ chicken.)

SCOUT: Mmmmm... only one question in and already I'm drooling. How’d you get to the gig of gourmet BBQ catering?
BTBBQ: We started our company in April 2009 after we all found ourselves unemployed due to changes in the economy. Neil was laid off from his job as a management consultant. LaToyin had been a corporate attorney but had become a homemaker to care for the Rollins’ daughters. Spencer who was also a management consultant was laid off after being employed with a new company for only six weeks and his wife, Allison, who was also a lawyer was laid off from her law firm after just six months on a job she had still been so excited to even get.

In our newly-found free time, we talked about what to do when the severance packages ran out. Neil dreamed about owning a restaurant. Since Neil and Spencer had been on the grill together feeding the masses during their days at Morehouse College, we decided to start telling people we were caterers. And to our surprise, people began to hire us and, well, it all snow balled from there.

SCOUT: Way to kick the recession in the figurative behind. You must use inspiration as another one of your secret ingredients. What is Black Tie BBQ doing to make a difference locally?
BTBBQ: We are a full-service catering company. Black Tie is more than barbecue. Black Tie Barbecue is an experience. You don’t eat Black Tie because you’re hungry. You eat Black Tie to celebrate a cause or an occasion. We’re making a difference locally by inspiring others to live their dreams. (We never looked back at our corporate careers in order to pursue the things that have meaning to us.) We are constantly talking to people about ways they can face their fears in efforts to pursue their passions.

SCOUT: We're firm believers that secrets are no fun, unless you tell everyone. So tell us (and everyone else) about these secret suppers you put together?
BTBBQ: It’s a Secret for a reason. Our Secret Suppers are an adventure. We publicize only the date and time of the event leaving the location and the menu a mystery. Our goal is to transform non-traditional spaces into restaurants. We have converted an unfinished office building, an antique car museum, and most recently a theatre into Secret Supper destinations.

Black Tie Barbecue's Secret Suppers were spawned out of our desire to host the type of parties we would like to attend ourselves. We don't host Secret Suppers for profit. We are so passionate about throwing a great party/dinner that we generally pour all proceeds collected into the event. For us, Secret Suppers are a chance to pursue our passion for entertaining while showcasing our food to old friends and new faces.

SCOUT: Since you’re no longer tied to desk jobs, you can be out on the streets more, right? What is one of your favorite parts of living in ATL?
BTBBQ: We love the neighborhoods and the neighborhood festivals. We enjoy spending the summer and spring months attending festivals and street fairs. We also love the diversity of our great city.

SCOUT: One thing people don’t know about you or wouldn’t expect?
BTBBQ: Lets see… we got a 99 on our Health Inspection and child labor laws do not apply to us. We use our toddlers in the kitchen. (SMILE!)

SCOUT: Sanitary wipes are being put to good use, it sounds. Tell us a favorite “curious find” in Atlanta?
BTBBQ: We love our neighbors at the Village Theatre and their after-show parties. Secretly (but not so secretly), the Village Theatre has one of the best Saturday night parties in Atlanta. Attend a show and then just hang around until the party starts.

SCOUT: Time for the hard question: Best BBQ in Atlanta?
Fatty Cues, Gates Barbecue...dang, those are all out of town. I guess that just leaves us. But we like Hankook Taqueria a lot, if Korean Barbecue counts.

SCOUT: It definitely does in our book. Well, now that I’m hungry and officially hankering for some gourmet BBQ, where can I get a hold of your hand-crafted fixins?
BTBBQ: We offer lunch takeout every Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. We’re going to do an end of the summer low-country boil featuring Belle Glade garlic crabs at a location to be determined. And of course, be on the lookout for our next Secret Supper.

Check out the rest of Black Tie's finger-lickin' good eats on their website, black-tie-barbecue.com.