The Glade 4.0

Gene Porter was the man behind "The Man."

"The Man" was Mr. Porter's own secret hot sauce, and at lunchtime Mr. Porter would work his way through the tables of his crowded barbecue restaurant, challenging customers to try a tiny dab of the fiercely hot liquid on a toothpick.

Mr. Porter, 71, the owner of Dixie's BBQ in Bellevue, died Sunday of cancer.

"The Man" hot sauce is legendary, and under Mr. Porter's hand, Dixie's barbecue has become a Bellevue institution since it opened 16 years ago — one that has fed hundreds of people for lunch every day in a converted auto mechanic's shop. For many years, it was considered one of the best barbecue places in the Greater Seattle area.

The restaurant crowd is often standing-room-only, and people have come from all over the world — CEOs from big companies on visits to the Eastside, as well as movie stars like Bill Cosby and sports heroes like basketball great Lenny Wilkens and hydroplane racer Chip Hanauer, said Mr. Porter's daughter, L.J. At various times through the years, the restaurant had served barbecue to practically everyone on the Sonics, Mariners and Seahawks teams, she said.

"People come in from all over the world to try that 'man' sauce," L.J. said. "They come in to get beat up. It's pretty crazy."

Those who dared to taste "The Man" often walked out with bumper stickers to advertise their courage: "I met 'The Man' at Dixie's BBQ. Yeah, baby!"

Those who couldn't take the heat would bolt to the front of the store for a handful of peanuts to put out the flame.

L.J. said her father perfected his barbecue technique through trial-and-error. As for the sauce, "he was just kind of messing around with something one day, and he came up with it, and he started calling it 'the man' sauce," she said.

The restaurant is a family business, L.J. said. Dixie's was named after Mr. Porter's wife. For the red beans and rice and other side dishes, Mr. Porter used his mother's recipes, which were originally developed in Louisiana and Mississippi. And Mr. Porter's son, Alton, runs a barbecue restaurant and catering service, Porter's Place, in Tacoma, as well as Porter's Place & Dixie's BBQ at Safeco Field.

Mr. Porter started his career as an auto mechanic, opening Porter's Automotive Service in 1970 on Northup Way. L.J. said her father was one of the best mechanics in the area.

On the weekends, he'd cook barbecue for church fundraisers, raising thousands of dollars. One day, a parishioner persuaded him to drop auto repair and open a restaurant, she said.

Mr. Porter converted the auto shop into a barbecue restaurant in 1994, and soon after, the accolades began pouring in.

Dixie's BBQ is closed for the week, but L.J. said the restaurant will continue to operate.

Mr. Porter is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dixie; his children, Alton and L.J.; and five grandchildren.

Services will be held at Overlake Christian Church, 9900 Willows Road N.E. in Redmond on Monday, March 8, with a viewing from 9 to 11 a.m., and a service at 11 a.m. Mr. Porter will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery.

19 Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.

19 Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.

When I get up there Midgen, take me there, please.

southern style BBQ in Seattle... was a he a transplant? Cause that looks like coarse corn bread too, not the sweet stuff most people sell outside the south.

A moment with ... Dixie and Gene Porter, of Dixie's BBQ
'If people don't have money ... we feed 'em. Why not?'

By DAN RICHMAN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Dixie's BBQ/Porter Automotive in Bellevue is hard to find, but barbecue lovers make the effort. They come not just for the food but also for the owners' vivid personalities and the funky atmosphere: a converted garage, with church pews for outdoor seating.

Dixie's sells bumper stickers promoting "The Man," a dark sauce so incendiary that Gene serves it on the tip of a toothpick. But the biggest draws are Dixie's brisket and pork ribs. The 9 1/2-year-old restaurant serves about 6,000 pounds of meat a week.

Gene Porter, of Dixie's BBQ/Porter Automotive in Bellevue, doesn't work on cars.
Dixie, who says she's "over 64," was born in Franklinton, La. She met Gene, 64, who comes from Liberty, Miss., in New Orleans, where she was studying to become a nurse. She still works part time as an RN at a veterans hospital.

They have two children and five grandchildren.

Dixie, why is this place so popular? Because we have good food, honey! And we give good service and a large portion. We serve 200 to 300 people a day. We've never advertised. If people don't have money, I let them write an IOU and we feed 'em. Why not?

Do you eat other restaurants' BBQ? No. They don't know how to cook it! It's too tough.

Gene, do you still fix cars here? No. Don't touch cars.

The sign says "Dixie's BBQ/Porter Automotive." I don't care what it says, I don't do it. I own the building, I don't have to take the sign down less'n I want to.

Has the restaurant business been good for you? Ain't no problem at all.

Do you do most of the cooking? I do all the meats. My wife do all the beans, the cornbread and the lemon cake.

How do you relax? I work all the time. There's never no end.

What's in "The Man"? Heat.

How many people actually like it? Nobody like it. The record is 9 spoonfuls.

Do you like it? Nope. I don't touch it. I ain't stupid.