`Smokin’ Joe’ has always been a butcher at heart.

Nicknamed in high school for his love of smoking meat, Joe Grabau, the Memorial Union’s “resident butcher,” is in his element.

While cutting, barbecuing and marinating are part of everyday life for Grabau, smoking is his specialty.

“I do a lot of smoking with oak, but my favorite is mesquite,” he said.

Grabau has been working in the Union’s production kitchen for five years after a stint in an Ames grocery store.

“I started out with the North Side Fruit and Grocery store, where Car Hardware is now located,” he said. “My job here at Iowa State is convenient for me because it is only a 20-minute walk from where I live.”

Grabau’s job at the Union includes inspecting food delivery trucks and checking for damaged boxes.

“I also go on deliveries in the morning and rotate products through the coolers, as well as prepare meat,” he said.

The food he and his colleagues prepare in the production kitchen is sent out all over campus, Grabau said.

“The food we make is used over in the Scheman, Design and Veterinary Medicine buildings as well as for catering and banquets in the Great Hall,” he said.

Taking part in other kitchen procedures is rewarding, Grabau said.

“The best part of this job is when my supervisor and I walk through the inventory to see what needs to be ordered,” he said. “I get to take an active part in the ordering process as well as the preparation.”

Preparing authentic meat for the Travel Adventure program is a great way to practice his skills.

“I like it when we have foreign food festivals because we get to prepare different kinds of food and interact with different kinds of people,” he said.

Grabau combines his love for meat with his spare time as well.

“I like to get together with friends and cook for our Super Bowl parties or camp outs,” he said. “I have also entered several cooking contests including one at the State Fair.”

Grabau said the only contest he has ever won was for the lamb he cooked at the county fair.

“The reason I won is because there was no one else cooking lamb besides me,” he said, laughing. “But it got me to the State Fair anyway.”

Taking care of his elderly mother is another part of Grabau’s life.

“I help her with things like shoveling her driveway or cooking supper,” he said.

Tony Hannons, head cook in the production kitchen, said Grabau is a very dependable and dedicated employee.

“He really likes working with the people here,” Hannons said. “He’s always good for a laugh around the kitchen.”

Memorial Union baker David Sufka also said Grabau is a reliable person.

“He’s always coming through for me,” he said. “I depend on him to complete my jobs successfully.”

Sufka said Grabau has perfected his meat cutting techniques over the years.

“He’s a good meat cutter, and he rarely cuts himself anymore,” Sufka said.

Grabau’s commitment to helping his mother is inspiring to his co-workers, Sufka said.

“He’s very dedicated to his elderly mother, which is pretty incredible in the age we’re living in,” Sufka said.

“He’s breaking down barriers by taking care of her.”