PitMasters Smoked Meat Food Truck in Cape Town

Introducing the new mobile dining option for Mother City meat lovers

We South Africans are smitten with our meat. We love it braaied. We love it basted. We’ll welcome it medium-rare or just partially pink. We’ll take it roasted and served with gravy and potato bake or pan-seared and dished up alongside fresh vegetables and mash.

But the one style of preparation we haven’t quite sunk our teeth into yet is smoking. Now, that’s all about to change thanks to foodie couple Deleen and Wouter Lindeque, who joined the Mother City’s burgeoning mobile dining movement in late April 2014 and launched the PitMasters smoked meat trailer under the Cape Town Food Trucks umbrella.

“It’s right up the alley of all locals who love meat,” explains the friendly face of the business, Deleen. “But it’s also quite a new, unique offering that most South Africans probably haven’t experienced before”.

The duo first decided that Mzansi needed to be formally introduced to this method of cooking steaks, sausages and more while living abroad in Saudi Arabia. As part of a diverse international community residing here, they had the chance to taste culinary delights from all corners of the globe and were sold instantly on sampling smoky Southern United States-style goods.

Since this discovery, the pair has spent years fine-tuning their recipes and honing their fire-starting skills to bring only the best smoked cuts to Mother City dwellers in the most convenient way – on wheels. All the succulent chunks of chuck, pork, beef and lamb are liberally sprinkled with a secret dry rub before being cooked at low temperatures over grapevines, oak and rooikrans (a nice SA twist) for more than 20 hours by Wouter, the bona fide pitmaster (the name given to the individual that oversees the barbecue pit – think the Texan version of the Mzansi braaimaster).

Currently, the food truck’s menu includes pulled beef chuck, pulled pork butt and sliced beef brisket smothered in homemade barbeque sauce, and every dish is served the traditional Southern way on a fresh panini roll with a hefty portion of crunchy coleslaw. And while the van has only been out and about for a few weeks now, the tender, flavourful fare has already got the nod from a number of visiting US citizens, so you can rest assured it’s as authentic and downright delicious as the juicy cuts cooked on American soil.

At present, the PitMasters trailer is only selling its tasty meals on Sundays at the Oudekraal lookout point on the road that winds its way between Camps Bay and Hout Bay, but there are plans to expand to other locations in the not too distant future. Locals lusting after some smoky goodness can saunter past and pick up a quick takeaway or laze a little while on the Arabian-style carpet that Deleen and Wouter spread out for guests just next to the van. Either way, the edgy new truck will surely soon convince Capetonians to add this delectable option to their list of favourite ways to eat meat.

Tip: The PitMasters smoked meat truck is available for hire for any function or event, from weddings and birthday bashes to wine festivals and outdoor concerts. So, simply contact the owners should you want to make use of their services. Aside from the food options mentioned above, the founders will also serve smoked pork belly ribs or lamb shank on special request.

The Bill: Prices are fair for street food. Panini rolls go for R50 and the sliced beef brisket with coleslaw but no roll costs R40.

Opening Hours: Sunday: 11am – sunset

Note: Follow the PitMasters food truck on Twitter (@pitmastersrsa) or Facebook (PitmastersRSA) to ascertain its whereabouts on any given day. Alternatively, you can call +27 (0)81 336 4430.

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You can get giant 1kg beef ribs from the brand new smokehouse in Zonnebloem, Holy Smoke Cape Town. 

Intrigued by the mobile dining concept? Read more about the meals on wheels movement in Cape Town.

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