LAKEVIEW — Nothing should get between a pit master and his barbecue.
But last weekend, a beloved barbecue trailer nicknamed Black Pearl was stolen from Toons Bar and Grill, 3857 N. Southport Ave., leaving its chefs mourning the loss of the masterful machine.
"It's just horrible," said Johnny Van, who serves up Toons barbecue alongside owner Danny Beck. "We can buy a new trailer, but it's the love that went in there."
The smoker was stolen last weekend from its nearby storage lot, said Van, a veteran who runs a catering business on the side.
The smoker, which the pair also used to raise at least $40,000 for charities like the Boot Campaign for veterans and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, is named after Beck's daughter Olivia Pearl.
"I'm just thinking about all the people we've done stuff for out of that trailer, and now it's gone," an emotional Van said.
Van and Beck got the trailer four years ago, clocking hundreds of hours with Black Pearl.
"When we're doing an event, before they eat dinner we've spent 18 hours standing over that machine, making those products taste so delicious," Van said. "That's where the value is — the hours we've spent on it."
The wear and tear shows, Van added.
"She's temperamental, but she's been good to us," he said. In fact, he's hoping to reach the thief and let him or her know that the smoker has a faulty regulator.
"I don't want you to blow your hand off," Van said. "Don't want that girl to burn somebody up."
Van posted on Facebook hoping someone might see the trailer and get Black Pearl back home. While the post has gotten lots of attention and kind words from Toons and Johnny Van BBQ fans, Van said they're no closer to finding the smoker.
He's also leading the fruitless search efforts, as Beck had to return to his hometown for a sick relative.
"Talk about how to kick a guy when he's down," Van said.
Still, Van is optimistic. With a backup smoker, he catered an event for the 100 Club of Chicago, which provides for families of fallen first responders. Eventually, they'll replace Black Pearl, which will cost around $4,200.
"It's really hard, but we're going to bounce back," he said. "And Black Pearl 2 will be great."
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