Celebrate ten years of SMOKESTAK at its summer street food party

With the indelible mark that SMOKESTAK has left on the London restaurant scene, it’s hard to imagine that only ten years ago it had only just started out – slinging brisket buns and pork ribs out of a van at festivals, food markets and in car parks. And although some things have changed in these ten years, like moving into its full-time home in Shoreditch, the SMOKESTAK ethos instilled by barbecue-obsessed David Carter prevails. A risk-taking, meat-smoking beacon that serves up some of the best flame-kissed and smoke-licked meat fibres in the capital.

To celebrate this decade-long legacy, Smokestak is hosting a birthday party, taking over the car park opposite the Shoreditch restaurant to pay homage to the early festival days. In true SMOKESTAK style, four wood-burning smokers are being imported from all corners of the UK for the party, including the restaurant’s beloved trailer-mounted Ole Hickory.

Meat smoking maestro and founder of SMOKESTAK, David Carter

The street food festival will feature classic dishes from the SMOKESTAK early days

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The food will pay tribute to classics and dishes from the early days, including brisket buns, pork rib tip burnt-ends, grilled greens with tahini and pomegranate, and malt ice cream soft serve with a cornflake crumb for dessert, alongside one-off dishes from some of the team from over the years. This includes Joshua Moroney, co-founder of British-Afghan BBQ joint Cue Point, who will be putting his own spin on a ribwich with smoked and grilled pork belly rib, herb slaw, honey mustard, and hot BBQ crackling in a hot dog bun; and Elliot Cunningham, founder of live fire pop-up Lagom and Eld Pizza, who will serve birch-smoked chicken with white BBQ sauce, SMOKESTAK chillies and pickles.

SMOKESTAK brisket buns

And a birthday party wouldn’t be complete without a few drinks, so Ben Dargue, the creator of SMOKESTAK'S original cocktail list, will be heading up the bar in a double-stack, 40ft shipping container. He’ll be mixing up classic drinks from across the 10 years, including Tommy’s margaritas and rhubarb sours, while 40 Ft Brewery is creating a special SMOKESTAK 10-year anniversary canned beer exclusively for the summer street food feast.

With the bartenders slinging drinks, tunes pumping, and fires burning, guests can join in the fun throughout the afternoon, as well as late into the evening when the sun sets and the festoon lights come on. It’s going to be one hell of a birthday burn-anza.