Cooking up something good in Agoura

If anybody knew the recipe for good, plain old barbecue, it was the late Willy Harris.

The North Carolina native began his quest for the perfect barbecue recipe in the 1930s and '40s when he traveled the world as a military cook and personal chef for Bob Hope on Hope's famed USO tours.

Harris passed down his culi- nary secrets until they finally landed in the hands of longtime restaurateur Dennis Ofsthun, an Agoura Hills resident. Ofsthun took the proprietary recipes, spiced them up and put them to work at a new Agoura Hills res- taurant named in Harris' honor.

Willy's Smokehouse Bar & Grill, a one-of-a-kind barbecue spot where the sauces range from mild to "turbo," is located at the site of the former Agoura Valley Inn at 28435 Roadside Drive, a local hot spot where it is said Hope used to visit when traveling through the area.

"The restaurant is an ode to Willy because he came up with the original recipes," Ofsthun said.

Willy's Texas-style barbecue and national award-winning, slow-smoked hickory wood recipes-Louisiana hot links, pulled pork, beef brisket and baby back ribs included-are available seven days a week.

For more information about Willy's Smokehouse Bar & Grill, call (818) 991-7227.