The Edmonton Muse February 2018 | Page 20

For those of you that are not regular followers, BBQ is life. I am a certified Kansas City BBQ Society Judge as well as a judge for the Canadian BBQ Society. I love the smell and the taste of smoked meats. I was hooked the first time my bestie gifted me with a smoked rainbow trout as a child.

Smoke and Ash Canadian BBQ has been on my hit list for quite some time.

They were running a food

truck out in front of the

Peavy Mart in Spruce Grove

for most of the last summer.

I did make it out once to see

them, but it was just before

closing time and they were

unfortunately sold out. I did

get a chance to chat briefly

with Kelly (one of the

owners) and the chat just

stuck in my head. You can

tell with just a brief chat

that he is "good people".

Last summer was plagued

with vehicle difficulties for

me. It was rough to try and

make it much of anywhere,

so food truck season ended and I did not get a chance to sample Smoke and Ash. "Next Summer", I thought.

Summer ends and haunt season begins. I put my head down in September and it doesn't come back up until November. Extra busy season this year though as we moved Deadmonton to a new building. When Smoke and Ash came up in my Facebook feed advertising smoked turkeys for Christmas, SOLD! My mom-in-law doesn't like all the work that comes with cooking for all of us ungratefuls, so I thought I would make her life just a little easier and pick up the turkey. I am SO glad that I did.

In October, Smoke and Ash made 106 Fulton Drive out in the Acheson Industrial area their new restaurant's home. It is a bit of a drive, but worth the effort.

I made a point to make sure that I had enough time to have a meal while we were there doing the pick- up. Brisket is always my standard of judging a new BBQ place because it is the hardest meat to smoke properly so that it is

tender and juicy. They did

not disappoint!

This was actually the first

place that had asked me if I

wanted fatty or lean brisket.

The favorite part of the

brisket for me is the burnt

ends. It is a beautiful heart

attack on a bun! Slight

smoky flavor, so tender and

juicy. Some very good BBQ!

Of course I hauled my

husband along with me

because he loves good BBQ

as well and he has been

lucky enough to taste

competition grade along with me. Hubby doesn't normally like Potato Salad. I have no idea what Shirley does to her potato salad, but it is amazing and my husband loves it. Shirley is a little shy (especially compared to Kelly) but she is the creative force behind all of the salads and the sides. It is all delicious. She makes one of my childhood favourites, Ambrosia Salad (Fluff Salad).

After the amazing meal and the equally amazing smoked turkey that we enjoyed over the Christmas holiday, I had to find out more about these two lovely people.

Business of the Month