Advertorial: Barbecue Provision Company is a treat for the senses

SMITHFIELD — Five steps away from the door of Barbecue Provision Company, a visitor's nose lets him know exactly where he's heading.

The smell of smoked meats greets newcomers outside, and grows stronger when they pull open the door.

Southern Smokehouse BBQ is the restaurant half of the business, and it's the source of the aforementioned aroma.

It has a simple menu, naturally built around smoked meat.

“It's all top of the line meats, nothing boxed, cooked low and slow,” Barbecue Provision Company owner Patrick Harris. “No corners are cut in this kitchen. A lifetime of effort goes into every dish.”

The “low and slow” part is the key, Harris added, with cooking times for each item ranging from 14-17 hours.

“If you're looking, you ain't cooking,'” he said.

The selection is straight forward enough, but with the aroma affecting the decision making process, the Smokehouse Sampler proves to be a good place to start for the would-be diner.

Why choose between sausage, smoked turkey, pulled pork and brisket when you can get them all on the same tray? Complete with baked beans, jalapeño bacon macaroni and cheese and a fluffy cornbread muffin, it makes a meal that lets the taste buds be as happy as the nose already was.

Like most family-based ideas, the birth of Barbecue Provision Company happened around the kitchen table. Harris and his wife, Victoria, started out with the “company store,” which is next door to the restaurant.

They had “Sample Saturdays,” where they made some food to showcase the rubs, sauces and other products available at the store. The food stole the show, and the idea to add the restaurant came to fruition in March 2020.

Even with the opening coinciding with the early part of the COVID-19, the restaurant has been well received by locals and visitors alike.

“We've been blessed,” Harris said. “We really have. People have really supported us.”

The store is a good place to spend a few minutes while your food is being prepared. Whether you just need a good Texas-style rub to finish off your brisket, or you're looking to get your own grill, Barbecue Provision Company has you covered.

“There's a million ways to do it and what tastes good to you should be the way that you do it,” Harris said of cooking. “In this area, we have so many disagreements with pulled vs. chopped, red sauce vs. vinegar sauce and Eastern vs. Western. (We can) accommodate everyone.

“The first question that we'll ask someone who comes in looking for help is what do you want to cook, then, do you like spicy or not. Then we go from there.”

Barbecue Provision Company is also the home of Victoria Ltd. Gifts, which features handmade soaps, jewelry, candles and more.

“It has a Charleston/Savannah feel with boutique items,” Harris said. “It's more of a shop for everyone. Victoria has been very involved from the design to buying to the concept.”

Friendly faces provide the finishing touch for diners and visitors, which Harris believes is an important detail.

“We are very fortunate to have some excellent people on our team,” he said. “Samantha Clifton, our general manager, has been here since the very beginning. She's shown a real interest in the business and it has turned out to be a perfect fit for her. Her customer service skills are outstanding, and she and the staff make sure that the customers have a great experience above everything else.”

The visitor, with a bag of wing sauce for later in hand, had exactly that. And, as he walked away, the now familiar smell said goodbye out on the sidewalk.

To learn more about Barbecue Provision Company and Southern Smokehouse BBQ, drop by their location at the Carolina Premium Outlets or visit www.barbecueprovisioncompany.com.