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Business & Tech

Backyard Barbecue Comes Home

Guests at Taste of the Valley/Murrieta Jazz Fest this Sunday will get to try pitmaster Matthew Mugica's barbecued goodness firsthand.

At 23 years old, Lake Elsinore-based Backyard Barbecue and Catering Company founder, Matthew Mugica has already been barbecuing for a decade.

He was 13 when he worked with a family friend to get the barbecue business up and running. The catering company known for its Southern-style barbecue has grown to provide catering services for corporate events, benefits, weddings and parties. Backyard Barbecue provides meal delivery as well as on-site cooking and smoking.

“We try to provide the customer with anything they want,” said Mugica, owner and pitmaster. "We are known for our tri-tip, chicken and ribs, and we offer seafood, carne asada and side dishes.”

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Mugica has always had a passion for cooking. He was in the first class to graduate from Lakeside High School’s culinary program. He then went on to graduate from Johnson and Wales University in Denver, Colo., before returning to his hometown of Canyon Lake.

While his favorite dish he serves is paella—a Spanish rice dish he describes as a jambalaya of sorts consisting of rice, chicken, sausage and shrimp—his tri-tip is what he is known for.

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Guests at the this Sunday will get to try Mugica's barbecued goodness firsthand.

Taste of the Valley/Murrieta Jazz Fest is a district-wide extravaganza benefiting all four middle school music programs, plus all three high schools. The event will feature food from local restaurateurs and caterers, performances by jazz bands from Murrieta Mesa and Vista Murrieta high schools and Shivela Middle School, along with several professional artists.

“Taste of the Valley” begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, at  in Murrieta. A book of 10 tastings is $20 per person. All proceeds from the event will benefit the instrumental music programs of the participating schools. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

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