Over the past couple of weeks, I have been craving authentic barbecue, which seems to be a lost cause in the middle of the Pacific Northwest. It was incredibly fortuitous then that I stumbled across Miss Huddy’s Barbecue food truck. Even more so because Miss Huddy’s Barbecue only serves a few times a month.

Miss Huddy’s is located right in front of the Paradise Creek Taphouse, and even if the taphouse may be easy to miss, the truck is not – nor is the line of cars that were parked around in anticipation of the food truck opening. Miss Huddy’s only serves food twice a month. The next cook is scheduled for March 13.

Open from 11 a.m. to whenever the truck sells out, it is absolutely vital that you get there early. Even though my group was among the first in line and the truck hadn’t opened, people were already queuing up in masses behind us. Don’t delude yourself into thinking they won’t sell out either, on Feb. 27, they sold out near completely at 2:30 p.m..

To keep updated on the menu, time and location, it is best to look through Miss Huddy’s website for more information.

The owners, Molly and Tim Schotzko, are Pullman locals and are deeply involved in the community. Molly teaches classes within WSU’s Murrow College, and Tim currently teaches metal shop at Pullman High School. Both see the food cart as a great way to reach the community.

“We love it here. We may be able to go to other places, but our first few cooks were friends and family,” Molly said. “There has been just an outpouring of support from the community. That’s why we wanted to do it in the first place.”

While one of the focuses of the cart is on building a community around the food, another is providing and sourcing the best quality product they can, said Tim.

If the continuously-growing line was any indication, I would say they succeeded in this regard.

As the cart opened, I was faced with the momentous decision of what I was going to try. I chose the pork short ribs and the pulled pork. You know a menu is a good one when you don’t regret what you order, but do regret not getting another option on top of it.

With a smile, they handed the food out through the window, and I felt the weight of the portion even before I could see it. Opening the box revealed an absolute mass of delicious-looking food that made my mouth water. It took all the self-control I possessed to not eat it on the spot and get back to my car.

Oh. My.

Let me first preface this by saying I like to think I am a stickler on what is “good” barbecue. The Pacific Northwest is not known for providing the best fare, and I have had my share of bad pulled pork or ribs. I can earnestly say that Miss Huddy’s is not among those.

Biting into the perfectly seasoned ribs brought me back to all of those good barbecue experiences I have had; a perfect mix of tastes and smells. The ribs didn’t need the two barbecue sauces that were provided to be tasty but tasted uniquely good with either of them.

The pulled pork was no different, nor was the beef brisket my friend offered from their plate. Each offered a unique experience of joyful eating and flavor different from the last. Rarely have I been as excited or impatient to go back, eager as I am to try out the rest of the menu. 

The serving sizes, prices, taste and friendly atmosphere all aligned together to make an amazing experience. The only critique may be the long line, though I chose to see that more as a testament to the shared experience of great food.

“Our goal is to keep serving this community,” Molly said. “A lot of people need joy right now, and food helps bring that joy.”