Your guide to Calgary’s
Southern-style barbecue joints
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Hayden Block
You don’t have to head south to get a taste of authentic barbecue —
from St. Louis ribs to Carolina-style pulled pork to true-Texas brisket,
Calgary chefs are bringing it home.
The true-Texas barbecue at Hayden Block is
a labour of perfectly smoked love. Located
in the bohemian Kensington neighbourhood
with both a street-side patio and a whiskey
garden out back, the communal tables and
chilled-out vibe set the stage for some
downright delicious meat. Best done family-
style (so you can taste more stuff), the food
is served on old-school metal trays. Even
vegetarians profess love for Hayden, with
dishes like watermelon mint salad, deep fried
pickles and gooey mac ‘n’ cheese gracing
the menu. They also make three of their own
sauces — don’t miss the espresso version.
Eat This
The beef short rib is the most popular menu
item, and it’s not hard to understand why
— the meat falls right off the bone and is so
tender you can cut it with a fork.
Drink This
The whiskey list is truly impressive, but
if you don’t know where to turn, General
Manager Gregg
Miller recommends
Fun Fact
Michter’s American.
The smoker at
Established in 1753,
Hayden Block
it’s what George
can fit “just”
Washington gave
685 pounds of
his troops on the
meat inside.
battlefield.
20
where.ca
JULY/AUGUST 2018
HOLYSMOKE BBQ
When Alec Ferguson and Torin Shuster
started Holysmoke BBQ, they recognized a
need in the catering market for high-quality,
delicious food that wouldn’t break the bank.
Shuster, a lover of Southern barbecue,
knew it would fit the bill. They opened their
flagship location on Manhattan Road in the
middle of an industrial park, and people
quickly flocked to get a bite of tasty and
sizable portions without a hefty price tag.
The seating is banquet-style, so you could
be rubbing shoulders with people in suits
or coveralls and everything in between.
“We often get remarks from American
visitors that we succeeded in capturing the
essence of Southern BBQ — no nonsense
surroundings and keeping true to the recipes
and methods,” Ferguson says.
Eat This
Ferguson recommends the mouth-watering
Carolina-style pulled pork sandwich, Kansas
City-style ribs, and Chef Shuster’s sweet corn
bread.
Drink This
The Southern Sweet Tea brewed with real tea
complements the meats nicely.
Fun Fact
All 18 barbecue sauces are made from
scratch and represent every region of the
southern barbecue belt.
HAYDEN BLOCK
SMOKE AND WHISKEY