Bacon Bash is again here, and who better to take a bigger than life role than a BBQ eatery that has — what else? — bacon infused throughout its multi-faceted menu. And not to be bashful about catering to many hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors.
Smokey Treats Fusion BBQ claims to bring the best of all worlds, from around the world to its offerings, perfect for this weekend’s activities that have a strong tourism base and bring revelers from all over the globe. (Note that, my many Chicago readers and beyond who love their bluesy BBQ, as the Smokey Treats are globally- and regionally-inspired but still use the freshest local ingredients).
There will be pigs and such in plenty of places during the annual River Falls fest, in the park, positioned along the historic Kinni trout stream, and even flying and/or in the form of pig wings to eat, if you open your mind to the possibility. Along those lines, find the golden pig on the hunt for an added prize, one pig/prize per person. And one of the bands on the bill for Saturday afternoon, is fittingly named Feed The Dog. (For more of the weekend’s revelry, even up to the north, see Picks of the Week). And feed you too. For there’s many a restaurant waiting for you. And your beverage-challenge vote, boasting local bartenders concoctions, as to wash it down.
But it all starts Friday afternoon with bacon, included in all manner of size, around a dozen different ways by Smokey Treats, to accompany its classic pork pulled and/or hand-sliced after being slow-cooked for 12-14 hours, then add numerous sauces and flavors and rubs, and veggies and cheeses (some in the form of fried curds) and the whole nine yards. (Several other local eateries also chime in, most within a several block area).
— Here goes with the good stuff from Smokey, and not smoke and mirrors, or as they say, blowing smoke: Pulled pork topped with bacon and a full sliced bratwurst and beer cheese sauce and jalapeno coleslaw and sweet and smoky sauce on a pretzel bun, and those things on a hoagie with the added ham slices and swiss cheese and pickles and Dijon mustard, and the Bacon Me Crazy BLT with a full six slices of the B and a drizzle of pesto and garlic aioli and dusting of garlic jalapeno … —
The Smokey Treats staff says that their venue housed in Riverwalk Square but accompanied by a traveling food truck that’s as decked out as their interior, (described as fun and trendy), is supplying most if not all the bacon for the overall bash. That’s got to be about the same amount of food value as the GNP, in agriculture at least, of Iowa and Illinois put together (OK I embellish). But there’s still that hungry dog, and people too. And bring that hunger to the Smokey Treats pair of eating contests, one for kids and one for adults, starting a 2 p.m. Saturday.
This is a blow-by-blow account, bacon-wise, of what Smokey Treats provides, in no particular order as the menu is huge and multi-ingredient: Classic Ellsworth cheese curds with maple syrup to accompany its bacon bits, seasoned fries smothered in country gravy and of course chopped bacon, bacon or pork (smoked) mac and cheese, mixed green salad that includes bacon bits with pineapple Habanero sauce and also veggies, peanut butter and jealousy burger with strips of the stuff …
But here goes with the really good stuff: Pulled pork (half-pound) topped with bacon and a full sliced bratwurst and beer cheese sauce and jalapeno coleslaw and sweet and smoky sauce on a pretzel bun, and those things on a hoagie with the added ham slices and swiss cheese and pickles and dijon mustard, and the Bacon Me Crazy BLT with a full six slices of the B and a drizzle of pesto and garlic aioli and dusting of garlic jalapeno (whew!).
And many more food and drink options that even go beyond the bacon. Some of this is made possible by partnering with various other local food purveyors. (“Croix Valley Sauces and Seasonings, Ellsworth Creamery and Lift Bridge Brewing are just some of the neighborhood businesses we work with to bring people together through food.”) And isn’t that what such a bash in all about?
So if you want to sit down and have your bacon and eat it too by having it served to you tableside, or flag down the food truck for something you can carry as you go and check out all the other festivities and music, or want to really pig out (in a good way), or just want the bacon-based sandwich version of a traveler steak, you now know how to go whole hog.
There is another newer restaurant serving something special during Bacon Bash. From its base just east of Hudson, Paddy Ryan’s Pub (make mine a Boxty) has also branched out to the south end of downtown River Falls, and will for its first time around for the annual fest, celebrate with an offering of classic meatloaf with beef and pork and cheeses … and of course some bacon. All given its usual topped-off-in-an-Irish-way. But they’ll bring lots of their creation to the main headquarters of Bacon Bash, down in the park, just for this weekend, although staying back at it in their newer location of the former Mainstreeters.