It’s been quite the year. But, amid the uncertainty of recent months, Oprah Winfrey is offering fans a glint of both normalcy and holiday joy with the release of her annual list of favorite things.
The 2020 list is focused on products made by Black-owned or Black-led businesses, showcasing items from cozy throws and loungewear to lipstick, dolls and food and beverage products.
"We've got some fascinating gifts for everybody in your life," writes Winfrey. "Everyone could use some extra joy. It is my hope that this year's list will inspire you to express your gratitude for the people that matter most. And to support more Black-owned businesses all year round."
From Bychari rings to BBQ sauce
Among the items, which range from Rihanna's million dollar brand to items from small, family-owned businesses, is a local favorite: the barbeque sauces from Pat’s Rib Place, the family-owned restaurant at 151 E. Sunset Dr. in Waukesha (which also happens to be owned by Winfrey's niece).
The featured two-jar pack includes two of Pat’s most popular house-made sauces: Pat’s House Sauce, a smoky, mild red-hued barbeque sauce and Brown Brown Sauce, a deeply flavored sauce sweetened with brown sugar and molasses. Both sauces are gluten-free and contain no preservatives or GMO’d ingredients.
According to restaurant owners Alisha and Ty Hayes, both varieties are extremely popular with restaurant patrons, although Pat’s House Sauce “reigns supreme,” with a versatile flavor profile which can be used to enhance any number of items beyond barbeque, including sandwiches, pizza and more.
Pat’s Rib Place, which opened in 2009, was founded in honor of Alisha’s late mother Pat, who was well known for her talents in the kitchen. And for over a decade, the Hayes’ have kept her spirit alive by offering guests delicious barbeque with a side of Southern style hospitality. And despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the restaurant’s loyal customers have continued to offer support for the restaurant through carry-out and curbside pick-up.
The December 2020 issue of “O, The Oprah Magazine,” featuring Pat’s Rib Place, will hit newsstands nationwide on November 17.
Even better, twelve lucky readers will have the chance to win every item, including Pat’s House Sauce and Brown Brown Sauce, during Oprah’s 12-Day Give-O-way Sweepstakes, which runs from November 25 through December 6.
This article was updated on Nov. 6 at 5 p.m.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
