Mexican + BBQ = MexiQ

BY TAMARA PALMER

East Oakland Smoke is a six-year-old catering company that started serving weekly "MexiQ" lunch and dinners from their family backyard last August. Chef Aaron grew up in the neighborhood surrounded by neighboring Mexican families who became like extended family even though they were the only black family on the block. Once cooking became a professional pursuit and it was time to develop his own ideas, he realized that East Oakland has plenty of places to get barbecue and plenty of taco trucks, but nothing that combined the two.

Today's menu included tamarind-glazed ribs, BBQ mole chicken, tequila-smoked brisket, BBQ carnitas and Soyrizo nepal hash, all available in tacos (three for $6), tostadas (two for $10), tortas ($12) and barbecue platters ($14-17) and served with strawberry horchata or Jamaica lemonade.

Tequila-braised brisket (Photo: Tamara Palmer)

We got down on some brisket tacos and carnitas tostadas and both exceeded expectations developed over the past seven months of ogling delicious-looking MexiQ photos on Instagram.

BBQ Carnitas tostadas (Photo: Tamara Palmer)

Chef Aaron of East Oakland Smoke (Photo: Tamara Palmer)

Check out East Oakland Smoke on Wednesdays from noon to 7 p.m. at 1611 92nd Avenue, Oakland or hit up Chef Aaron on IG for catering inquiries.