The small town with insane savoury doughnuts
This all started the moment I got off the plane in Nelson. The rental car lady proudly proclaimed it was World Doughnut Day, and that to celebrate, I must head to Motueka.
All the hype became clear when I got to this little cafe that looks like it’s straight from Melbourne’s high street. For doughnut lovers, The Smoking Barrel is of biblical importance.
The flavours are extraordinary. We’re talking R18 Naughty Snickers with bourbon salted caramel, Bounty Bar, vanilla cre` me brulee, Caramilk deluxe, and salted caramel popcorn creations, to name a few.
Then there are the breakfast doughnuts, like bacon and eggs benedict. It’s miraculously, all packed inside the dough – cut it open, and a perfect egg is inside.
The Smoking Barrel is run by husband and wife team Josiah and Rachel Smits. The talented pair started the cafe with a focus on slowcooked barbecue meats, but in recent years the doughnuts have proved enormously popular.
So much so, the cafe makes around 400, and are usually sold out in about three hours.
I happened to land at the shop the moment its new cheeseburger doughnut was being released. And what a treat I was in for.
From the outside, the only indication something unusual was going on was a little mustard drop on the top. Take a bite into it, and my mind started to bend. It tastes exactly like a hot cheeseburger – except – it’s all sealed up in a round doughnut. How on earth is that possible?
Josiah explains, ‘‘We fold our handmade dough around a grilled New Zealand beef pattie with a couple of dill pickles, prove then fry. Once cooled we inject with American mustard, signature housemade BBQ sauce and gooey cheddar cheese sauce. Glaze and top with sesame seeds.’’
It looked so good, I broke a fourweek detox to give it a try. It was almighty; I could have been eating a New York burger.
I understand some will argue burgers and doughnuts shouldn’t mix. And for those people, The Smoking Barrel has a never-ending rotation of sweet flavours to pick from.
So, doughnut lovers, it’s time to plan a trip to a glaze-covered Nirvana and experience the best of small-town New Zealand. Motueka is waiting.
More information: Doughnuts are served Thursday to Sunday, to see what options will be available check The Smoking Barrel on Facebook.
The author’s trip to the region was supported by NelsonTasman.nz