Our Story
A chance encounter with the best BBQ sauce he’d ever tasted led Steve Valenta, Papa Valachy’s founder, to create some of the most amazing sauces on the market. Over seven years ago, Steve was on a fishing trip in northern Minnesota and stopped by a restaurant out in the boondocks. That night, BBQ chicken was on special and it was the most incredible sauce Steve had ever tasted. After convincing the owner to sell him the recipe, Steve began tweaking and perfecting the recipe while carefully taking in customer feedback. The result? A complete line of distinct flavors that are hailed by pit masters and competition BBQ professionals.
About Steve Valenta
Steve Valenta is a creative outside the box thinker with a passion for making the absolute best tasting BBQ sauce. Steve’s customer-first mentality, coupled with his passion for cooking, enables BBQ enthusiasts from all over to enjoy a premium product that delights family and friends.
After discovering the foundation of Papa Valachy’s sauces during a fishing trip and spending over a year refining it, Steve knew he had a winner on his hands. For nearly two years, he produced and canned everything inside his home kitchen. While working as a sales rep, he came across a company who specialized in making sauces for entrepreneurs. He expanded his line from his Original BBQ sauce flavor to include Zing, a spicier alternative. After sending a sample of Zing to Amazing Clubs of America, it was one of two sauces selected to be shipped across the US.
Today, Steve’s product line includes six different flavors in addition to a steak and chop seasoning and popcorn seasoning named Papa’s Secret Weapon. Additional seasoning and rub products are on the way, such as Cajun, oink, fish and shrimp. Papa Valachy sauces are currently sold in about ten different retail locations.
About The Name
In 1972 The Valachi Papers starring Charles Bronson hit theaters. Steve’s buddies began calling him Valachy as it was close to his last name, Valenta. Upon graduating from college at Mankato State University, Steve started up an Italian restaurant called the Italian Place. After more space opened up adjacent to the restaurant two years later, Valachy’s Peanut Bar was born. The name “Papa Valachy” combines Steve’s childhood nickname with an Italian gangster character from the Italian Place.