One of the many things this Misplaced Texan misses from the Lone Star State is some good ol’ barbeque. So it is no wonder that when I caught the smell of barbeque wafting through the air in my neighborhood, I followed it like a classic Bugs Bunny cartoon when he is physically compelled to float in midair toward a delicious meal.  Then I saw it: a tiny log cabin of a trailer known as the “Campfire Chuck Wagon” parked adjacent to Lower Queen Anne’s Citizen Café and Bar on the corner of Taylor Avenue North and Roy Street, just north of Mercer Street.

There you will find Stefan Giles, part of the husband and wife duo that launched Campfire For You in 2012, dishing out delicious meats by the pound and prepared slow and low on a wood fire like jumbo beef ribs ($12.50/half pound) reminiscent to those I have feasted on at the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, beef brisket ($17/pound) that is so tender, chewing is optional, and pulled elk ($25/pound) like I have never tasted before.

To keep his patrons guessing, Stefan likes to add “special meat guests” to his menu, like venison racks ($25/pound), elk shoulder ($25/pound), pulled lamb ($17/pound), and dry rubbed, lightly smoked, agave glazed salmon ($17/pound). Note, if your heart is set at trying a particular entrée, get there early since they do sell out of popular meats.

I suggest ordering a meal (starting at $16) that comes with a choice of meat and a generous portion of both vibrant purple cabbage slaw, hearty potato salad made with dill, vinegar, and bacon, and a savory slice of bacon cheddar corn muffin (because the guy loves his meats). Both side dishes and corn bread are a celebration of his mother’s German heritage and his father’s Texas roots. Giles’ barbeque sauces he personally makes from scratch using products from local breweries and distilleries are not to be ignored either: one is a beef bourbon with porter, ancho chile tea, roasted garlic, and sweet onion while the other, my favorite, is an IPA and moonshine with mustard, molasses, and horseradish.

I urge you to not be turned off by these prices because the food is worth every cent and the meals are sharable, or if you are stingy when it comes to your barbeque like me, eat leftovers the very next day (or for your midnight cravings…no judging here). Make sure to hop on over to Citizen Café and Bar and order an adult beverage to accompany your meaty meal to partake of inside or on their deck outside. Their drink menu never disappoints.

Campfire For You will be open at their pop-up location just south of Citizen Café and Bar on Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. or until they sell out of meats. All major credit cards are accepted and cash is also welcome. For now, they will continue their weekend schedule but in the future, they intend on serving this Lower Queen Anne location four to five days a week. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for more information, including updates on new menu items, catering your next event, and where next they will park their Campfire Chuck Wagon.

Campfire For You | 706 Taylor Ave. N., Seattle | (206) 818-5141