Southern cuisine lands in northern Saskatchewan

A restaurant in La Ronge, Sask., is offering northerners an authentic taste of the deep south after the owner wrangled a one-on-one training session with one of Louisiana's top barbecue chefs.

Simon Grant recently went to Independence, LA., to get as much information he could from Jimmy Gregory, operator of the Bar-B-Que Station.

His trip generated considerable curiosity.

"News crews [were] coming in from everywhere doing live setups. We had radio stations there," Grant recalled. "All the local people wanted to come to see what a crazy guy from so far north was doing so far south learning about what they do in their backyards every day."

Now back at his restaurant in La Ronge, called Louisiana's Bar-B-Que, Grant is sharing the recipes and techniques he picked up from his training expedition.

The results are fetching rave reviews.

"Awesome. Love the beef brisket, love the pulled pork, love the coleslaw," enthused Caron Giesbrecht.

"I think it's great," Darlene Trumier added. "It's just been so nice to have something new, something different. It gives us a different choice. So loving it."

Grant has also devised a challenge for customers with an exceptional appetite: He has created a massive Ultimate Challenge Burger. It is composed of 1 lb. burger, 1/4 lb. brisket, double cheddar cheese, double bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion rings, mayo, barbecue sauce and surrounded with golden fries and fat pickle. Total plate weight is two pounds or .900 grams.

Anyone who successfully finishes the entire dish gets their picture posted to Grant's restaurant wall.

Distance from La Ronge to Independence:

• 3,633 kilometres (by car) according to Google Maps.