Bring on the Smoke Show

Those looking for a little smoke and fire with great quality in the Valley can now find it right in Saratoga. The Malt recently added barbecue to its menu, including the Smoke Show Plate.

Before buying the Smoke Show there are some things to know. It's a big plate with a lot of food that can be shared with two people. The plate has pulled pork, brisket, ribs, a hot link, and barbecue smoked chicken. It also comes with house-made biscuits and house-made pickles. Customers can also pick two side orders for their plate. Your choices are baked beans, fries, coleslaw, macaroni, and cheese. I picked the fries and coleslaw.

After trying the Smoke Show, I must say I am impressed with how it came out. Everything was made to perfection, the way barbecue should be. It is a Southern-style barbecue that makes taste buds sing.

The chicken skin was nice and crispy and I can’t say enough about the ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and hotlink. The ribs are nice and tender and come off the bone easily. The brisket had a nice, smooth, tender taste. When I cut the brisket I could tell how well it had been cooked. Upon the first chew, one can taste the hardy mustard flavor in the meat.

The pulled pork is nice and moist and fits well on the biscuit and makes a great small sandwich. When eating the elk hotlink one can taste a tiny Louisiana spice kick.

The Malt also offers different sauces you can use for your smoke plate. Your server will bring them to your table. The price is fair at $39.99 and you get a lot of food on your plate. You can not beat the quality, taste, and preparation.

Malt Chef Kari Davi said she wanted to create a barbecue that can be put on one plate.

“We started smoking all the food and we wanted to put it all on one plate,” Davi said. “The Smoke Show is a popular item on our menu and we sell quite a few every week.”

Davi said prepping everything on the plate is what makes a great barbecue.

“The ribs and the pork get the same rub when it is made,” Davi said. “We prepare it with chili powder, paprika, garlic, onion, salt, pepper and cayenne.”

Davi also talked about what preparation she does for the brisket and chicken. She said using a mustard rub is what gives the brisket a mouth-watering taste.

“The brisket gets a mustard rub with salt, pepper, and garlic,” Davi said “ The chicken gets a 24-hour salt and sugar brine then it gets smoked. The wings get a different rub.”

The Malt is open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For additional information visit their website https://themaltburgerbar.com/.