The Pinkies Story

Dan Napierala was born and raised in Binghamton, N.Y. He says that food has always been an important part of his life. His grandfather, and then eventually his uncle, owned a meat market and butcher shop in the Binghamton area. The first shop was located on Clinton Street in the city’s First Ward. As a child, Dan would help make sausage. He also enjoyed sampling different cold cuts including prosciutto on Sunday mornings at his uncle’s gatherings. As he got older, he pursued other interests and passions that were not related to the food industry.

In 2010, while selling maple syrup at the Farmer’s Market, a group of vendors expressed the need for hot food at the market. Dan stepped up with the first food truck and the rest is history! BBQ has always been one of Dan’s great passions, and this was his time to shine. The response to the food and sauces that he served was so good that Dan spread out from the markets to fairs and events around the area. In 2017, he opened up a brick and mortar establishment which he named Pinkie’s BBQ, so that he could serve his customers year round.

Dan credits his culinary knowledge to his mother, uncle and a lot of trial and error. And that hard work paid off as Pinkie’s BBQ has been named “Best BBQ” in our area for a third year in a row!