Big Ed's BBQ to burn up Fallon

Barbecued turkey legs, pulled pork, beef-link sausage ... hungry yet?

Soon these and many more barbecued specialties will be available for Fallonites at Big Ed's All American Brickhouse BBQ on the corner of West Williams Avenue and North Allen Street.

The talent behind the new barbecue house is chef Clay Slieff, a graduate and instructor at the Culinary Institute of America in California's Napa Valley. Slieff is also certified in smoking meats and making homemade sausage.

Besides his culinary education, Slieff has an impressive résumé that includes his current position as executive room chef for the Atlantis Steakhouse, the former executive chef at Circus Circus and the Peppermill, and he's had a big hand in opening Adele's in both Reno and Carson City.

In fact, Slieff said he's opened 38 restaurants all over the United States in the past 40 years. Big Ed's will be his 39th restaurant.

He was talked into opening the barbecue house by Ed Sanders, a local man working for the civil service at NAS Fallon. Sanders' lifelong dream was to open a restaurant, Slieff said.

The barbecue house is tagged "All American" to pay tribute to America's armed forces. Slieff spent six months in Afghanistan last year feeding the troops - the closest he could come to serving in the military. Overseas, he said the base at which he served was under fire all the time. These days, he's dealing with a different type of ammunition.

"I've bombed this place seven times," Slieff said of his efforts to eliminate bugs at the former Szechuan Express location.

The entire restaurant has been gutted, walls and ceilings replaced in the kitchen area and a new covering placed on the floor.

"We've had to replace everything," Slieff said. "We've rebuilt every wall and crevice."

Slieff has grand plans for the restaurant including an 800-pound smoker that will stand guard outside. He likes to use fruit wood like peach, almond, cherry or apple to flavor his meat.

"It gives it a really intensive flavor," he said. All meat will be slow-smoked up to 12 hours and will include beef brisket, pork butt, barbecued chicken and turkey. He also plans to have freshly made sausage and barbecued turkey legs.

Side dishes will include homemade potato salad, coleslaw, sweet potatoes, cobbler and corn on the cob.

Slieff guarantees a fun atmosphere and, above all else, a clean restaurant. He anticipates opening in the next four weeks.

Other restaurants, and a bar, planning to open in Fallon include:

• Boomer's at 128 E. Williams Ave. - The former Bird Farm has been completely gutted and topped with a new roof. Owners Gary and Lesley Busboom will turn the reins over to daughter Holly Busboom and her business partner, Robin Dawson. Boomer's is set to open in mid-to-late September.

• Maine Street Café at 810 S. Maine St. - Owners Susan and Amadeo Boadella have put a lot of work into renovating this building which is just south of the Old High School. They were approved for a liquor license in June. No word on an opening date.

• The Slanted Porch at 310 S. Taylor St. - Still under major renovation, the restaurant was approved for a liquor license in July. Again, no word on an opening date.