Nick Bennett, Briana Pryor and CJ Pryor staff the Up in Smoke booth at the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market. (photos by John Gregory)
Up in Smoke: meat and more
Those who enjoy smoked and barbecued meats have a real treat waiting for them in the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market at the Up in Smoke booth.
This business that started in 2012 is based on the motto, “A meal without meat is a meal incomplete.” Sure enough, it features smoked pulled pork, smoked beef brisket and barbecued chicken sandwiches served on French roll bread. The most popular items are the pulled pork and brisket, according to Up in Smoke owner Nick Bennett.
But the most unique item has to be the Stack O’ Meat plate which consists of applewood smoked potato chips topped with cheese, pork, brisket, chicken, salsa, black beans and homemade ranch dressing. This dish will “stuff” about two or three people.
“It’s almost like nachos,” Bennett said. “It comes in a container and it’s over the top of our potato chips.”
The smoked potato chips are also a unique item that Up in Smoke makes and serves. Bennett created a special contraption just for the potatoes.
“I actually smoke the potato chips,” he said. “I have a device that I drew up in diagrams. I hade a metal fabricator build it for me, and that’s what I use for smoking the potato chips.”
Bennett said he makes his own rubs for the meats and he makes his own barbecue sauce. This attention to detail in the preparation of his meats really pays off in flavor. His creativity comes through in the taste and sets his smoked and barbecued items away from the rest.
“Stack O’ Meat is something nobody else has. Smoked potato chips, nobody else has,” he said.
Bennett got his start when people who sampled his food liked it so much that he was encouraged to turn his talent into a career.
“I guess I was just making barbecue for my friends and everybody said, ‘You should be selling this,’” he explained.
Besides being available at a variety of farmer’s markets, Up in Smoke sells its items from a food truck and offers catering. Learn more about Up in Smoke at smokedfood.net.
Look for the Up in Smoke booth at the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market, which is open for shoppers from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every single Saturday at 10380 Spring Canyon Road, in the Innovations Academy parking lot. Visit srfm.org.