The Smokin’ Oak’s food truck is parked at 3Peaks Public House and Taproom in Ridgefield through this summer, joining Pacific Northwest Best Fish Company and Street Dogos.
The Smokin’ Oak first parked its food truck outside of 3Peaks (24415 N.E. 10th Ave.; 360-887-3157) in mid-April, serving brisket, pulled pork, sausage and spare ribs, along with collard greens and cornbread. It’s open 3-9 p.m. (or until sold out) Thursdays through Saturdays.
For years, customers had asked the owners of 3Peaks to work with The Smokin’ Oak, but Papa Joe’s BBQ truck was already a regular. Carrie Beckwith and her husband and co-owner, Kelly, didn’t think their taproom needed another barbecue truck. Then Papa Joe’s owner decided to close his truck to move out of state.
“Smokin’ Oak has a real following, so people are really excited that they’re here,” said Carrie Beckwith. She said her favorite item on the menu is the potato salad.
The Smokin’ Oak truck is typically available for special events, corporate lunches or other occasions to feed large groups from 250 to 300 people, said Patrick Blevins, catering director.
Food is prepared at The Smokin’ Oak’s restaurant in downtown Vancouver, where all of the meats are smoked overnight. Blevins said popular meats have been selling out at the 3Peaks location by 8 p.m., but other items like Frito pie and Texas chili with cornbread are available until close at 9 p.m.
“It’s been great to be at 3Peaks because there’s many people here that haven’t had our barbecue before,” Blevins said.
The truck is slated to be at 3Peaks until the end of the summer, but Blevins said it could stay longer if there’s enough business to make it worthwhile.
3Peak’s guests can also order food from Pacific Northwest Best Fish Company (also owned by the Beckwiths) and Street Dogos, a food truck that specializes in tortas and Sonoran hot dogs.
Pacific Northwest Best Fish Company is known for halibut fish and chips, but the menu also includes salads, chowder and grilled fish tacos.
Street Dogos offers a Sonoran bacon-wrapped hot dog with avocado sauce, diced tomatoes and grilled onions, along with barbacoa tacos, nachos and pastor tortas.
Food from these trucks can be eaten inside or in a large outdoor area.
3Peaks’ list of 16 taps is updated regularly on the DigitalPour mobile app. Recently, food-friendly beers like pilsner from pFriem Family Brewers and Mexican lager from Matchless Brewing were on tap, as well as IPAs from Crux Fermentation Project and Fort George Brewery.
“We enjoy having food trucks here,” Carrie Beckwith said. “It gives our customers variety.”
