"About eight years ago, Joe Alfirevich and Phil Vucinic knocked back a few following an epic party where they barbecued for close friends. The two were like brothers — second-generation Croat-Americans whose grandparents came from the Dalmatian coast and settled on Chicago's Southeast Side. Their fathers were friends, too, known for carousing into the wee hours and buying rounds for everyone within earshot of their loud Croatian folk songs."