Even after importing my 22.5" Weber Smokey Mountain from the USA, I haven't had a chance to use it. The amount of effort involved in obtaining the meats and the wood, and the time to compile the beast for 16 hours of close observation is something I can't dedicate to at the moment. Nonetheless the day will come when I use my Pitt Cue Co recipe book and try and recreate the magic I miss.
In the meantime, Melbourne has sprung a heap of smoked BBQ places to try and fill that previous void. Le Bon Ton had been on my list for a while, and so considering the unusual location in the dark backstreets of Collingwood, it seemed a much easier option than heading into the city to brave the cold, masses and queues.
- Crab cakes (Gulf style with streaky bacon, bell peppers, onion, celery & Old Bay aioli) $16.5 - remarkably fishy rather than crabby. Quite expensive for 2 pieces given that;
- Chili Cheese Fries (traditional Texas-style beef & bean chili with sharp cheddar sauce on crispy fries) $16.5 - nice thick cut fries topped with a good quality beef chili. Not really hot at all but good flavour;
- Fried Chicken Southern style (buttermilk soaked tenders with cracked pepper white gravy) $16 - decent chicken tenderness but the coating was much too salty to be enjoyable;
- “Shrimp & Grits” (grilled Tiger prawns with cheddar grits, smoked tomato bisque & spring onion) $17 - decent prawns
- Brisket (1/2 lb) (grain-fed Riverina Angus beef) $22 - disappointingly not tender and dry;
- Pork (1/2 lb) (Otway Ranges pork shoulder) $19 - surprisingly good and moist tender meat with nice flavour. I'm not usually one for pulled pork but this was an excellent one;
- Tangy coleslaw With cabbage, carrot & onion $8.5;
- Le Bon Ton Pickles (house mix of radish, gherkin, carrot, baby onion & jalapeño) $7.5.
Next time I would order pulled pork (or pulled pork sandwich) and chilli cheese fries. The other dishes were just too average (and on the expensive side). In the meantime I'd prefer to try other places (such as Meatmaiden) first, but Le Bon Ton at least has the bonus of being away from the masses meaning easy parking and unlikely long waits.