Fire in the hole
The Barbecue Hut is nestled in down-town Mangawhai Village and has set local food options on fire.
Owner-operators Jeannie "Jea" Davis and Kerren "Kezza" Packer had a dream to create a local food outlet that is a perfect mix of café food, great coffee, and a menu that included wholesome American-style low 'n’ slow barbecue (coal and wood-fired only) with an artisan chilli hot sauce and house-made pickles operation on the side.
"After years of cooking barbecue for large groups of friends, work dos, weddings, and for family functions, the feedback from our guests was often that we should open our own restaurant, so we took that idea and ran with it. Last October we found a local established cafe that was for sale, bought it, rebranded, rejigged the menu, and The Barbecue Hut was born," says Jea.
The foodie duo are passionate about delivering quality barbecue with a large helping of relaxed atmosphere; and judging from the reviews, that is exactly what they are achieving.
During the week (7am-2pm) the team dish up low 'n’ slow barbecue lunch boxes with three different barbecue meats plus all the trimmings, delicious barbecue burgers with house-made slaw, succulent pork ribs, fry-bread hoagie rolls, sweet-treats, scones, an ever-expanding range of gourmet sandwiches, cold and hot drinks.
On Thursday and Friday nights, The Barbecue Hut is open for a dinner service from 5pm until 8pm and is proving to be a big hit with locals and visitors alike. Also available on Thursday and Friday nights are whole cuts of barbecue (including but not limited to; brisket, pulled pork, beef, sliced lamb, succulent pork ribs), and sides by pre-order, pick-up and take home – an ideal option for holiday makers, weekend residents or locals having get-togethers.
Kezza says, "I have been cooking low 'n’ slow barbecue for several decades now, and love the flavour profiles that comes from the perfect balance of quality meats, rubs, a lick of smoke, and the time-taken to breakdown of what is traditionally tough proteins into succulent and tasty offerings." He adds, "Barbecue is more than just food, it is about bringing people together and it's about community, and we are stoked to be able to have introduced this style of food to Mangawhai. The feedback has been off the charts, and is very humbling."
The Barbecue Hut is located at 1a Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai Village.