Life is Service: Darrus Evans x Lawrence Barbecue

“When I was in 2nd grade, my teacher asked me what my favorite subject was. I looked at her and said, “Lunch.” What can I say? I loved to eat. I didn’t know it at the time, but one day I’d love to cook too.

I grew up in Cary. It’s crazy how different things are today—everything is so developed compared to how it was when I was growing up. As I reflect on my childhood, all of my core memories are centered around food. Whether it was barbecues at the fire station where my dad worked, family dinners at Pizza Hut, or helping my grandma in the kitchen, food was always at the heart of it. Thanksgiving will always be my favorite holiday.

I wanted to go straight into culinary school, but my dad encouraged me to go to college and play baseball too. Even then, I started picking up shifts at Bojangles during the week, just to be around food and cooking. Eventually, I attended The Art Institute of Raleigh–Durham, a for-profit culinary school that’s permanently closed now. Honestly, that whole culinary school experience was a mistake. I always tell aspiring chefs, if you can find a great chef and person to work under, just do that. I’m still trying to sort out my student loans from those days—it’s complicated with the school closure. But even with all that, I’d do it all over again to land where I am now.

Getting connected with Jake (Owner - Lawrence Barbecue) was life-changing. One phone call, and he told me to put in my two weeks at my other job, and here I am as Chef de Cuisine at Lawrence Barbecue. I wake up every day so happy to go to work. I get to provide people with that instant gratification that only good food can offer. That look people have after their first bite? I live for it. Sometimes I find myself in a flow state, like I’m back in my grandma’s kitchen. 2nd grade me would be proud.”

— Darrus Evans
Chef-de-Cuisine: @lawrencebarbecue

Photo series: Life is Service
Pt 8.
Photographed + Interviewed by: Jordan Abdur-Ra’oof @shotbyjbot

Location: Lawrence Barbecue - Boxyard RTP