Turning up with a trailer-mounted smoker full of brisket is a strong way to feed a wedding.
The cooking becomes part of the day before anyone has even sat down to eat.
Red Dog Catering is the off-site arm of the people behind Red Dog Saloon, built specifically to take its American barbecue out to weddings and other events. The useful bit is that this isn't just trays of food arriving from a restaurant.
They have smokers mounted on trailers, which can be brought to the wedding so the meat is smoked on site.
That means brisket, smoked pork shoulder and St Louis-cut ribs, with the proper supporting cast of mac and cheese, smoked beans, corn, slaw, pickles and sauces. Food can be served family-style, as a buffet or in smaller formats, and Red Dog says it can build bespoke menus around the event.
For a UK Country wedding, the appeal is straightforward.
The smoker itself brings atmosphere: guests can smell the meat cooking for hours before the brisket comes off the pit.
Slow-smoked American barbecue already sits naturally in the Country world, and here the food is part of the experience rather than something arriving quietly through a kitchen door.
By the time the meat is being carved, the meal has already made its presence felt.
That is what makes Red Dog more interesting than ordinary event catering.
RED DOG CATERING — USEFUL LINKS & GOOD TO KNOW
Before booking: menus, availability, travel coverage, pricing and exactly what can be cooked on site will depend on the event, so confirm the current package directly before committing.