Wilson Barbecue
The best of American barbecue right here in Wellington.
Overview
Wilson Barbecue serves up low 'n' slow barbecued meats from a roving food truck — and they're smoking the competition. Think ribs, juicy brisket and tender pulled pork, carefully smoked and barbecued for 12 hours. Interested? We thought so. The product of passion between owners Casey and Blair, they expect quality in every bite. As Blair says, "we don't watch the barbecue for twelve hours for it to turn out rubbish."
Beginning as a dream, Casey and Blair took their love of food and turned it into a lifestyle. Inspired by the massive United States low 'n' slow style of barbecue (and many trips to Mitre 10), they both decided the classic Kiwi barbie wasn't gonna cut it. Because bigger is better, they shipped a 1900kg Yoder Frontiersman barbecue from Kansas — they're pretty serious about their meats.
Parked up outside of The Third Eye - Tuatara Temple of Taste, it was an idyllic afternoon - warm sun, brews, and the promise of mouthwatering smoked meats.
The Signature Platter ($25-$45 depending on how many meats you choose) is an absolute must have. When the platter was presented to us, we were overwhelmed. The ribs were classic; cooked and seasoned to perfection. Slabs of Wakanui brisket were juicy and moist — as you'd expect after being cooked for 12 hours. The brisket also had a complementary smokiness to it which imbued a distinct flavour into the meat. The pulled pork was phenomenal. Tender and succulent, it was a truly melt-in-your-mouth sensation. Spicy sausage provided a zingy kick, which created needed balance with the full bodied savouriness of the meats. With sides of comforting, creamy potato salad, crispy mac and cheese morsels, sweet pickles, and crispy red onion slaw — your palate will be delightfully refreshed.
We also tried a couple of burgers (it would have been rude not to). The brisket cheeseburger ($14) was a revelation of how a burger should be done. A gorgeous yet simple combination of brisket, cheese, pickles and lashings of mustard and ketchup resulted in one hell of a mouthful. Likewise with the pulled pork burger ($14), simplicity once again prevails. The superbly seasoned pulled pork came on a bed of crispy slaw — what else do you need?
Of course, we had to try some of their jalapeño poppers stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon. Truly an adventure for your tastebuds, these morsels are not for the fainthearted. Don't fret if meat isn't your thing, either. With a seriously sumptuous smoked vegan burger ($12, smoked tofu, pulled mushrooms and vegan mayo), there's something for everyone.
It only makes sense for Wilson Barbecue to use the finest products for their delicious dishes. With a real commitment to quality and excellence, they source their meats from Prime Star in Miramar, Wakanui and Freedom Farms (everything is free farmed). They also try and source locally wherever possible, for instance, all of their buns and rolls come from Aro Bake.
Because they're on the move quite often, stay in the loop on their Facebook page here. Wilson Barbecue is the best of American barbecue, right here in our cool little capital. Get ready to tuck in.
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