By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
After many years as a cook, Patsy Denault, a Russell native, has finally realized her dream of having her barbecue sauce on store shelves.
Patsy D's BBQ sauce in hot and regular hit stores in June.
Denault, 56, said she doesn't like to categorize her sauce.
"People say it's a Kansas City style. I say it's a Russell, Kansas, style," she said. "You try it. It just lights your mouth up. I couldn't be prouder."
She said you don't have to season your meat because she covered that in her sauce.
"I'd toss my sauce in the barbecue ring anytime," she said.
Her sauce was rated 8.6 by jackstacks.eats, a food reviewer.
Denault worked for 20 years as a cook at Meridy's Restaurant in Russell.
She struggled with health issues and was forced to have three rotator cuff surgeries.
After she left Meridy's, Denault operated a catering business and two food trailers.
"Now my barbecue sauce is my vision, and that's what I'm following," she said.
The first time Denault barbecued was for a friend's graduation party.
"I forgot that I had never touched a barbecue grill, and I had to borrow four barbecue grills," she said. "But they said it was awesome."
In the beginning, she didn't use her own sauce recipe.
"There was a guy that asked me yesterday, Patsy, don't tell me that you got this recipe for this barbecue sauce overnight," she said.
But that's how it happened.
Denault had a catering job for her long-time bank in Russell and wanted it to be special.
Her uncle and brother had their own barbecue sauce recipes, but Denault said she preferred to make her own sauce from the ground up.
"I went into the kitchen and threw 32 ingredients together. I tried it and said it's an amazing sauce, and here we are today, three years later," she said.
Denault said she had a hard life growing up.
Denault faced more health problems, including a broken leg and knee replacement, but she was determined to realize her dream of selling her barbecue sauce.
She worked for a time for Bricks Rockin' BBQ in downtown Hays, which is now closed.
However, she faced more tragedy when her husband of 30 years died during the pandemic. She also lost two lifelong friends back to back.
She struggled with alcohol, but she has been more than 800 days sober.
"I had so many deaths that I jumped into the bottle," she said.
She added, "I finally learned what it was through God and faith."
Because of her struggles, seeing her barbecue sauce on store shelves was a great accomplishment.
"The first time I saw my barbecue sauce on the shelf ... a lot of tears, you know," she said. "It was my vision."
You can purchase her sauce at
• Klema Apple Market in Russell
• Encore Antiques & Collectables in Russell
• Woelk's House of Diamonds in Russell
• T-Ray's BBQ food trailer
• 24/7 Travel Store in Russell
• Brant's Market in Plainville
• Pat's Beef Jerky in Liebenthal
• B's Hometown Market in LaCrosse
• Eldridge Fencing in Great Bend
• Kansas Originals Market in Wilson
• 8th Street Liquor in Hays
• Centennial Salon in Hays
• Bigg E Meats in Hays
• Paisley Pear in Hays
• Hildebrand Farms Dairy in Junction City
Prices might vary depending on location.
You can also purchase directly from Denualt. Call 785-324-1852, email her at [email protected] or message her on Facebook.
"If I can do this, anyone can do it," she said. "I like to see people open some doors. I know a lot of people will tell you can't, but I'm here to tell you can if it's your dream."
She said a Steve Harvey motivational video inspired her.
"He said you just find something that you're really good at. You sell it to 100 of your friends. Then you sell it to 1,000 people, then 10,000, 100,000, then you're on your way," she said. "And I did that."
Denault said she is happy with where the barbecue sauce is going.
"It's been my dream. This is probably the first time I've ever dreamed anything," she said. "To see it on a plate is just a wonderful thing. "
"I know this is not the end. It's just the beginning. It's going to be a wonderful thing," she said.