Bellevue got a whole lot cooler when pitmaster Shane Nasby opened HoneyFire Barbeque Co. in the One Bellevue Place shopping development. A former competitive barbecuer, Nasby understands the sort of sweet/heat combination that really tickles the tongues of consumers and barbecue contest judges. He smokes a variety of meats, from brisket to pork to chicken, but almost all of them exhibit the style of honey and spice that gives his popular restaurant its name. Add in an unexpectedly diverse selection of whiskeys at the convivial bar, and you can see why the joint is always packed. CHRIS CHAMBERLAIN

