The journey began in 2007 when Gerardo “Gerry” Mendiola and his wife Elsa opened their first brick-and-mortar shop, Windsor Fudge and Ice Cream Parlor, in West Dundee, Illinois. It was a dream realized—until unforeseen health challenges led them to step away and focus on what mattered most: Elsa’s recovery.

As her health improved, Gerry’s entrepreneurial spirit reignited. Armed with determination and a cooler full of ice cream, he launched his next chapter—festival food vending. He started with crowd-pleasing sundaes and frozen treats, perfect for those warm summer days. After a sweet debut at the Heritage Fest in West Dundee, Gerry expanded to more local events, quickly becoming a festival favorite.

But he didn’t stop there. Inspired to serve more, Gerry crafted a menu featuring savory BBQ, fried sides, and mouthwatering combinations that soon drew in hungry crowds from all over. With a perfected lineup of hearty sandwiches, homestyle sides, refreshing drinks, and indulgent desserts, Blackhawk BBQ and Seafood was born.

From May through October, you’ll find us traveling across the Chicagoland area, serving up delicious food at some of the city’s most iconic festivals and community celebrations.

Come grab a bite, try something new, or just swing by to say hi—we love meeting the people who make this journey so worthwhile.