Slow Smoked BBQ and Wood Fired Pizza
By Maggie Caldwell
How many times have you driven past Sid’s Smokehouse, located on the Soquel Frontage Road next to the Freedom exit? Dozens? Hundreds? Next time, make the time to stop in for a beer and appetizer to check out the football scores, to bring your family in for pizza night, or catch up with friends over a BBQ feast. Sid’s Smokehouse boasts the only 100% wood smoked menu in the county, and “slow and low” is their motto, the key to their tender and juicy meats.
The smoker goes all day and night, fueled with a special mixture of oak and almond woods to infuse a distinctive flavor and aroma to their meats, which are smoked anywhere from 6 – 12 hours to perfection… and Chef Samy Villalobos makes Sid’s sauces with his own recipes.
“Some restaurants just add a few ingredients to premade sauces to save time,” explains Jenny Rutherford, Marketing and Events Manager. “Our chef makes everything from scratch.” Chef Samy’s recipes are top-secret, but here’s a hint: the addition of chipotles in the sauce helps create a rich, smoky flavor that’s a perfect complement to the smoked meats.
Meats and More
Sid’s is a meat-lovers paradise where you can put together your favorite combo of succulent smoked BBQ chicken, brisket, pulled pork, and St. Louis Style pork spare ribs, which are brined and then treated to a dry rub, giving them a caramel crust.
Each combo is served with corn bread muffins and two sides, and the choice of side dishes is just as mouth-watering: Fuji Apple coleslaw, potato salad, smokehouse beans, simmered greens, garlic mash, onion rings, regular, garlic or sweet potato fries, even mac ‘n cheese.
Those same meats are incorporated into hearty sandwiches like the pulled pork topped with slaw on a whole wheat bun or the Reuben with house-cured and smoked pastrami, topped with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing served on marbled rye. And the burgers! Smokehouse burgers come Big Kahuna-style with pulled pork and pineapple or Western style with cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, and an onion ring.
You can even change your Smokehouse burger into a “Bull Dog” burger, a 50-50 blend of smoked bacon and Black Angus beef. Chili con carne is savory and chunky, made from the smoked brisket, and weekend specials vary, including such favorites as seared ahi, wood-fired salmon, whole trout, New York Strip Steak and a smoked beef rib. “The beef rib is huge – it looks like a steak wrapped around a dinosaur bone,” says Jenny.
Appetizer highlights include the bacon dates, a salty sweet nibble that’s always popular. Sid’s wings are a heartier starter, a full pound of juicy wings tossed in your choice of sweet or spicy BBQ, Buffalo or Thai sauces. And for when you’re feeling spicy, try the firecracker prawns stuffed with jalapenos, wrapped in bacon and deep-fried.
Wood-Fired Pizza
Sid’s has a wood-fired pizza oven that uses the same mixture of oak and almond woods as their smokehouse. Pies are fired at 600 – 700 degrees Fahrenheit, so they cook quickly and evenly with a bit of a crunch to the crust. Pizza selections celebrate the best Sid’s has to offer, like the very popular Smokehouse: smoked chicken, bacon, mozzarella, Fuji apples, green onion, and BBQ sauce. The Aloha Mr. Hand pizza incorporates pineapple, pulled pork, cheese and green onion on sweet chili sauce, and the BBQ Meat Extravaganza is served up with pulled pork, chicken, brisket, salami, pepperoni, and sausage.
Even though it’s a meat-lovers paradise, Sid’s is a great place for your vegetarian friends. The Margarita pizza, with roasted garlic, basil, tomato, cheese, and extra virgin olive oil is a delicious vegetarian choice, as is The Greek pizza: artichoke hearts, feta cheese, kalamata olives, roasted garlic, basil, and pesto sauce. For those with lighter appetites, whether vegetarian or not, the meal-sized salads like the House, Greek, or Avocado salads are made with fresh ingredients and homemade dressings.
Brand-new at Sid’s is the Sunday Brunch menu, served from 10am – 2pm. In addition to breakfast burritos, omelets, and two eggs any style, you can try a pulled pork scramble, bacon waffle, or brisket and eggs. “We have the full NFL package and eight big screen TVs, so you can watch all the games while enjoying great food,” says Jenny.
The wine list at Sid’s features reds and whites from area wineries: Alfaro, Storrs, Morgan, and Cinnabar Vineyards. In addition to a variety of domestic and imported beers, Sid’s offers a rotating selection of craft beers from West Coast breweries like Firestone and Green Flash. It’s a great place for any sort of party – from birthday bashes to rehearsal dinners – and they offer catering for any size event. There’s something for everyone, so be sure to stop by soon!
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Sid’s Smokehouse is a family-friendly restaurant located at 10110 Soquel Drive in Aptos. Call 831-662-2777 to place a To Go order or book a party. Stop by for one of the $10 Specials ‘til 3PM, a lunch entrée with a beer or glass of wine that changes daily. Visit Sid’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SidsSmokehouse to check on current specials and craft beer selections. Website: www.sidssmokehouse.com