Moonshine BBQ + French-Canadian ingredients
With a smoker more than two-metres tall working long hours cooking low and slow in a building adjacent to the restaurant, Moonshine BBQ Smokehouse has been cranking out brisket, ribs pulled pork and pork shank in Hawkesbury for just over five years.
It’s a family business, according to Fred Beaver who oversees day-to-day operations at Moonshine.
“We started this venture sort of dabbling. It’s a love of ours, a hobby. We ended up catering a few weddings for friends and family and demand grew. So, we decided to give a restaurant a whirl. That was six years ago.”
That business model, shall we say, is a tried and true one for barbecue restaurants, in my experience: smoking aficionados start out with a food truck (Moonshine has truck that heads to various area events) that they take to competitions or for catering, and they evolve their expertise into a bricks-and-mortar restaurant.
Today, the Moonshine menu has about 60 items, including upgrades, sides, a kids’ menu and desserts.
You can find the restaurant by looking for the pink pig inflatable that sits on the roof.
For more of the story, visit Andre Paquette Editions.
