Carolina Smoke

Pro

Pricing: From $50 per personCategory: CaterersLocation: Sydney-wide

Highlights

Every package is built on 400g of smoked meat per guest
An 1,100 gallon smoker handles events of as many as 1,500
Halal-certified meat available when requested

About Carolina Smoke

Carolina Smoke is a Sydney barbecue caterer run by one family. Its pitmaster and founder, Nick, comes from Fayetteville, North Carolina, where family get-togethers tended to involve a whole hog cooking for hours. After noticing how keen Sydney was on slow-cooked American barbecue, he turned it into a catering business, and over three years he has fed upwards of 10,000 guests. He cooks on two offset smokers: a custom 1,000 litre trailer rig with three racks that fits fourteen whole packer briskets, and an 1,100 gallon unit big enough for events of as many as 1,500 guests. Each of the three packages starts from the same base of 400g of meat per guest, split evenly between brisket and a choice of pulled pork or pulled lamb. The Feed costs $50 per person and comes with bread rolls, pickles and two sides. The Feast, at $65, brings a third side plus a choice of 4kg of pork belly bites or 8kg of chicken wings. The Banquet, at $90, puts eight racks of pork spare ribs on top, along with a second serve of the belly bites or wings, freshly made banana pudding and southern sweet iced tea. Every package needs at least 30 guests, and orders must reach $1,800. For sides you can pick from smoked eggplant parmigiana, smoked butternut squash, corn on the cob, potato salad, mac and cheese, dirty rice and Carolina creamy coleslaw. You can choose how much service you want. The simplest option is hot food delivered for you to unwrap and put out yourself. For a $300 fee, the team brings it to your venue and sets it out as a relaxed buffet in country style, kept warm in bain maries, with some simple styling. For $600, the smoker itself comes along and stays fired up while guests graze for three hours. Halal-certified meat can be arranged if you ask.

Inclusions & amenities

Service

Caterers

Cuisine type (caterers)

American / BBQ

Catering style (caterers)

BuffetFood Stations

Dietary support (caterers)

VegetarianHalal

Budget

$$ (Average)

Pricing

Three packages are published, all priced per person with a minimum of 30 guests. The Feed is $50 per person for 400g of meat a head, two sides, bread rolls and pickles. The Feast is $65 per person and adds 8kg of chicken wings or 4kg of pork belly bites plus a third side. The Banquet is $90 per person and adds wings or pork belly bites, eight racks of pork spare ribs, southern sweet iced tea and fresh banana pudding. Every package includes a $50 burning materials fee, and there is a minimum order spend of $1,800. A la carte extras can be added to a package but not ordered alone: side trays that feed about 30 are $100 for coleslaw and $150 each for potato salad, dirty rice, mac and cheese, smoked butternut squash or smoked eggplant parmigiana, dinner rolls are $1 each with a minimum of 30, and half cobs of corn are $2 each. By the kilo, smoked brisket is $100, pulled pork $90, lamb shoulder $100 and pork belly bites $100, each with a 4kg minimum, while chicken wings are $35 per kilo, chicken thighs $6 each and Maryland chicken $8 each, with a 25 piece minimum. A whole rack of three beef ribs is $100, and baby back or pork spare ribs are $80 a full rack. Serving at your venue adds $300 and bringing the smoker on site adds $600.

Service Details

The cooking is done on a 1,000 litre custom offset trailer smoker that fits fourteen full packer briskets across three racks, and on an 1,100 gallon offset smoker for gatherings of up to 1,500 people. Three service levels are offered. Just Deliver It has the food cooked and delivered hot to your door, ready to unwrap and serve, with delivery costs varying. Deliver and Serve has them bring the food to your venue and set it up as a relaxed country-style buffet with bain maries and simple decor, guests helping themselves at their own pace, and aluminium trays supplied for leftovers, for an extra $300. The Whole Hog brings the smoker to the event and keeps it running for the atmosphere, with bain maries and decor and a three hour grazing service, for an extra $600, subject to the venue allowing it. A 50 per cent deposit confirms the booking, orders and dietary requirements are locked in at least seven days out, and the balance is invoiced five working days before the date. Bookings can be postponed up to 14 days beforehand to a date within twelve months. Events quoted more than six months ahead may carry a 10 per cent surcharge. Get in touch on 0413 619 499 or at carolinasmokecontact@gmail.com.

Frequently asked questions

What comes with each package?

All packages start with 400g of meat per guest: 200g of brisket plus 200g of either pulled pork or pulled lamb, with bread rolls and pickles. The Feed includes two sides you choose. The Feast brings a third side and a choice of 4kg of pork belly bites or 8kg of chicken wings. The Banquet tops that with eight racks of pork spare ribs, another serve of belly bites or wings, freshly made banana pudding and southern sweet iced tea. A la carte extras can go on top of a package, but can't be ordered by themselves.

What does it cost?

Per person, it's $50 for The Feed, $65 for The Feast and $90 for The Banquet, and each needs at least 30 guests. Orders must total $1,800 or more, and every package carries a $50 fee for burning materials. A buffet set up at your venue costs an extra $300, and having the smoker at your event for a three-hour grazing service costs an extra $600. Because meat prices keep climbing, orders booked over six months out may carry a 10 per cent surcharge.

How far ahead should we book, and how do payments work?

Your order is only locked in once a 50 per cent deposit has been paid. Guest numbers and dietary needs have to be finalised at least seven days out, the remaining amount is invoiced five working days before, and it must be paid in full by the delivery day. If you cancel with seven days or less to go, the full deposit is kept; with 8 to 14 days, half is kept; with 15 to 30 days, a quarter is kept; and with more than 31 days' notice you get it all back.

How does the food get to us?

You have three choices. With Just Deliver It, the food is cooked and brought to you hot, ready for you to unwrap and serve, and the delivery charge depends on where you are. With Deliver and Serve, the team sets the food out at your venue as a casual buffet in country style, kept warm in bain maries and simply styled, and leaves aluminium trays for leftovers, for $300 more. With The Whole Hog, the smoker comes to your event and keeps cooking while guests graze for three hours, for $600 more, as long as your venue permits it.

Can they cater for dietary requirements?

Yes, halal-certified meat is available if you ask. Two vegetarian sides are offered by the tray: smoked butternut squash topped with roasted walnuts, feta and balsamic glaze, and smoked eggplant parmigiana. The kitchen meets Food Standards Australia requirements, but nuts, egg, dairy and gluten are all used there, so traces can't be ruled out and guests with serious allergies should be warned. Dietary needs have to be confirmed seven days or more before the event.

Areas we service

Eastern SuburbsInner WestNorth ShoreNorthern BeachesHills DistrictWestern SydneySouth West SydneySouthern SydneySutherland ShireMacarthurHawkesburySydney CBD & Surrounds