Growing: Bakery owner adds full barbecue to When Pigs Fly

Business has been brisk at When Pigs Fly, a new barbecue restaurant on West Saile Drive.

But if demand becomes overwhelming, more pork can easily be flown in.

The Genesee County Airport-adjacent home of Michelle’s Catering and Bakery took its next leap forward this month by adding a menu of mouth-watering food.

Michelle Farina said jumping from baked goods to barbecue is just the latest step in her business’ rapid growth.

Michelle’s started with a single food truck, expanding to the permanent bakery before going back on the streets with five more food trucks. Neighboring storage units were taken over and last year saw the opening of a public market.

Farina believes having a larger menu can bring more people north of the city. It did for her.

“I finally hopped off one of the food trucks I’ve been driving and it gave me the opportunity to be here and to build the restaurant now,” Farina said.

The restaurant has not dropped its baked specialities, as chocolate chip cookies, fudge, pie and oreo brownies were waiting as dessert if a heaping platter of barbecue wasn’t enough.

When Pigs Fly offers pulled pork, chicken, beef brisket sandwiches and ribs, chicken, brisket and pork platters; along with pulled pork pierogi, nachos and soft tacos, meatballs made with pulled pork and ground turkey and daily specials. A full catering menu is also available.

“Barbecue is something that doesn’t go wrong, everyone loves barbecue,” said Farina, who smothers her meat in a “sweet and tangy” brown sugar and bourbon sauce. “We’ve gone through a lot of pulled pork, two dozen pork butts — it’s been non-stop.”

Farina said customers can expect food quickly, with her staff cooking all day and night to have a ready supply.

“We’re constantly moving,” she said. “I’m always experimenting, I love to bake and cook.”

A “Wheels Up” platter came with hefty amounts of a pineapple cole slaw, macaroni and cheese and a jalapeno corn bread for $9.95, a meal for the truckers bypassing the city, bikers stopping at Stan’s Harley, pilots flying in or GCC students on a hungry hunt.

When Pigs Fly BBQ and Bakery, 4535 W. Saile Drive, is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.

By JIM KRENCIK, Batavia Daily News