Mr. Tendernism, the viral barbecue personality known for his catchphrase "that's tendernism," will appear at Chop Cheese Bodega in Fresno on Sunday, March 15 from 3-5 p.m. Image via Mr. Tendernism

Viral barbecue personality Mr. Tendernism is heading to Fresno, scheduled for an appearance at Chop Cheese Bodega on March 15.

Walter Johnson, known by the name Mr. Tendernism, achieved viral fame in fall 2025 for his videos promoting Destination Smokehouse, his former employer in Murrieta, California.

Mr. Tendernism, also nicknamed “Unc” by people on the internet, became famous for his videos where he would hold up a beer rib or oxtail and exclaim “that’s tendernism” as the meat falls off the bone.

It became viral news last month when Mr. Tendernism, who has 310,000 followers on Instagram, left Destination Smokehouse over a dispute with the restaurant’s owner over trademarking of the “tendernism” phrase.

A GoFundMe account created for Mr. Tendernism on Feb. 19 has raised $79,158 of a $90,000 goal as of Monday morning.

“He’s launching his own food truck, where he’ll showcase his signature barbecue and soul food creations, giving fans the authentic flavors and larger-than-life energy they fell in love with,” according to the GoFundMe page. “He’ll also travel city to city, reviewing small, locally owned BBQ and soul food restaurants — spotlighting hidden gems, driving foot traffic, and helping hardworking entrepreneurs grow their businesses.”

At Chop Cheese Bodega, Mr. Tendernism will make his appearance on Sunday, March 15 from 3-5 p.m. to try a new chopped cheese sandwich.

Often described as a hybrid between a cheeseburger and a Philly cheesesteak, the chopped cheese sandwich is a popular choice for followers of viral food trends.

The sandwich is believed to have been created in 1999 by Frankie Frank of Blue Sky Deli a.k.a. Hajji’s, located in Harlem, New York, in response to a shortage of hamburger buns. The chopped cheese became an instant fan favorite and is now available across the country — including here in the Central Valley. 

The traditional chopped cheese sandwich is made by cooking ground beef on a griddle while chopping it up. Onions are added to the mix, followed by cheese, which melts into the beef. The melty mixture is layered onto a hero roll that’s been dressed with lettuce, tomato, condiments and a signature sauce.