Pop-culture convention Comicpalooza just wrapped up this past weekend, and a featured celebrity graced a Houston barbecue joint with his presence the next day. Comedy legend and actor Cheech Marin visited J-Bar-M BBQ at 2201 Leeland the following Monday. Marin is perhaps best known as one half of the duo Cheech & Chong.
Marin is an avid collector of Chicano art and was at the restaurant to attend a lunch along with a dozen local artists hosted by Houston City Council representative Joaquín Martinez. The group had the restaurant all to themselves for the two-hour meeting, as J-Bar-M is typically closed on Mondays.
Owner John Toomey was there to greet Marin and the rest of the group. Newly hired pitmaster and longtime hospitality professional Arash Karat, general manager Hoffie Ferreira and chefs Jaime Valencia and Chuy Cazares also got to meet Marin and gave him a tour of the pit room…