Boy does this thread sound familiar.

I grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, where we had what sounds like the spittin’ image of Stern’s. I’m referring to a place called Underwood’s BBQ.

Best sauce I ever had and the meat was also not true BBQ.

There is one Underwood’s remaining in Brownwood, Tx. I drove out there recently in the hope that the kids had stuck to the original recipes and qualities, but I am sad to say they have not. The old Underwood’s is just a memory.

Anyway, I searched for years for the recipe and finally came across one in the Wichita Falls online newspaper, a few years back.

I heard mention on this thread of Stern’s using the trimmings which was Underwood’s basic secret, chilli powder, yep its got that too, coca-cola for a darker color and unusual flavor, on and on.

Anyway, I experimented with this recipe and found that the drippings do indeed need to be the base, not and additive. Get your trimmings and drippings the way you want them, then add the sauce until you get there. (and don’t dare use diet Coke :))

So, as a salute to Stern’s and all you Stern’s Sauce lovers, I thought I’d share this recipe in the hope you might be able to alter it to fit your memories.

SAUCE RECIPE SAVED: Even though I couldn t find the copycat Underwood s barbecue sauce recipe that ran in this column long ago, alert reader Steve Litteken sent a copy of the original clipping he says he has  been making since this recipe came out in the paper.
Although similar to the version that appeared July 1, this recipe was shared by a former Underwood s employee who knew its secret. The cooking time is loosely described but I d recommend simmering the mixture for about 30 minutes to let the flavors blend.
Thanks also to Paula Tucker who also hung on to her clipping. Thank goodness some people keep up with things better than I do.
ALMOST AS GOOD UNDERWOOD S BARBECUE SAUCE
Ingredients
16 ounces tomato sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
6 ounces (3/4 cup) Coca-Cola (regular or diet)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ to ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Directions
Combine ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over low heat until blended.

Good luck!

I had the names mixed up.  Big story.
 
Jimmy Lennon was the announcer at the Olympic Auditorium, the home to wrestling and the Roller Derby.
 
William Lennon was the father of the Lennon Sisters.  He was a golf pro at the Marina del Rey Golf Course.  My condo is built where the golf course stood.  He was murdered at work.
 
I think William and Jimmy were brothers.
 
Dick Lane is not Bill Lane although he was also an announcer.  It’s easy to confuse me.
 
 
 
 

According to Phineas, Finder of Lost Recipes, the Sterns are in talks to market the sauce!

I remember Stern’s BBQ fondly. when I was about 13 years old. My family rarely went to restaurants back then but we got take-out from Sterns once a week…I remember the beans the most..there were bits of meat in them and raisins I think too…yum! I don’t remember it being in Culver City though..More like West LA but I could be wrong. Regarding XLNT chili..I just bought some today!

To have the recipe perfected you have to process 100’s or more pounds of brisket every day to get the scraps and drippings. A single person alone can not come up with it.
 
I bought this a few weeks ago as I’ll always be a Stern’s BBQ fanatic.
 

I presently live on property where Dick’s brother Jim Lane (I think) was a golf pro. I might have been murdered. 

 
But apparently you weren’t, as the existence of your post proves…[;)]
 
Is there a story here?
 
Brad

Exactly, 7echo.  The table sauce was ordinary.
 
You called it right… The Holy Grail of sauces.
 
Those that had in only once… would know.

Just checking back…bummer, no new posts. Someday… The only thing i can add is there was a person on a Facebook page for Venice High clas of 1973 that claimed to have the recipe perfected, but all my inquiries came to naught. He was probably talking shite.

I just signed up for this link as I would LOVE the Stern’s Barbecue Sauce available. The recipe would be GREAT BUT I would even rather be able to PURCHASE it!  If you need help in SELLING to major retail/distributors in Grocery – please contact me. I went there as a little girl until they closed! They were THE BEST!  My mouth is watering…and truthfully it was one of the few GREAT memories growing up. I am speaking about the incredible  meaty sauce -not the counter one. From what I am understanding frozen block would be best! Please let me know the progress for purchase or recipe. Thanks so much, Lynne

Hi dmastalski and welcome to a fellow Stern’s Sauce Lover.
 
If you’ve searched half your life we must have crossed paths some way, somewhere.
 
Frozen!  What an idea!
 
There are several generations that would stock their freezers with Stern’s Sauce.  If I didn’t have a second freezer, I’d buy one… it’s that good.
 
Here’s to hope and remembering!
 
 

Stern’s had two kinds of sauce. If you went to the sit down part of the restaurant, they had a pretty normal kind of sauce they served. To my recollection, it was a lot like Chris & Pitts’ sauce that you can still get in the grocery store. The sauce everyone wants the recipe to was a thick, hot (like from the stove, not cayenne) sauce that came in white cardboard containers. It was almost like a gravy and had a lot of meat in it. The closest thing to it that I know is the bbq sauce at Pickle Bill’s BBQ in Santa Monica, CA, which was also more of a gravy with meat concoction. Pickle Bill’s needs it’s own section, as it was fantastic. I can still taste their mac & cheese, nice browned crust on top…yummmm

I don’t think that they can bottle the sauce.  It was that different.

It also took a day’s worth or week’s worth of smoking briskets.  There was meat in the sauce.

Salivating just thinking about it.

I sincerely hope that the message from Margie Stern is real and not a web hoax.  I’ve been trying to find the recipe for Stern’s BBQ sauce for over half my lifetime!  All I ever find are other people looking for the recipe too!  I have never had a bbq sauce that has even come close. You’re right that the sauce could not possibly come in a bottle, but it could be frozen.  My dad used to buy several quarts of it at a time and and stick it in the freezer.  I sincerely hope “Margie and Bob” come through with a sauce that can be purchased over the internet!

Stern’s had a traditional red bbq sauce which they served on the table and in bottles to purchase for home use. It was ok, but just bbq sauce. The one everyone here longs for was served hot, and came in a cardboard container to take out. I cannot imagine any way it could be bottled, maybe frozen like and XLNT chili brick. I remember my grandmother having a big backyard bbq and sending grandpa to Stern’s just for the sauce and beans. I was checking back here hoping for success, I guess the search for the Holy Grail of sauces is still on. I’m hungry just remembering the food there….

I don’t think that they can bottle the sauce.  It was that different.
 
It also took a day’s worth or week’s worth of smoking briskets.  There was meat in the sauce.
 
Salivating just thinking about it.

Hi Doug, me again obsessing.  I didn’t realize that was your first post.
 
WELCOME TO ROADFOOD!
 
Join us in all of the other threads.  This is a great place with lots of nice people who have lots of interesting things to share.