Born and bred in Boston, at just 16 Steve Uliss was already hard at work cooking in a chain of high-volume restaurants. He attended the Johnson & Wales “Eight-Week Wonder” program for talented young chefs, completed his BA, and made a name for himself in the New England restaurant industry rebranding restaurants for hotels.

   

Steve fell in love with barbecue on a junket to the “Memphis in May” World Championship Barbecue Cookoff, where he met Barbecue Hall of Fame star John Willingham. After traveling the country with Willingham’s famous River City Rooters barbecue competition team, Steve was determined to “bring ‘real’ barbecue to Massachusetts. He began to develop his own barbecue recipes that  swept local competitions, then went on to win national championships. With support from partners, Steve created, grew and then sold off the Tennessee’s BBQ concept.

   

In 2001, Steve and his wife Amy created Firefly’s BBQ in Marlborough, Massachusetts, serving “Bodacious Barbecue” and Southern fare. They launched Dante’s nightclub in Firefly’s in 2004, featuring topnotch Rock, Blues, Soul and Country performers, and they opened up The Backyard at Firefly’s in 2016, where in warm weather guests can dine al fresco and enjoy live acoustic music on the weekends. The Firefly’s BBQ S.W.A.T. (Smokin’ Wicked And Tasty) competition team has won dozens of national awards for its barbecue ribs, chicken and smoked brisket, as well as for the signature sauces and rubs now sold through retailers including Stop and Shop. Today, Firefly’s BBQ is also the largest barbecue caterer in New England.