​The Smokehouse at Collies & Co.

On March 23rd 2020 new Government restrictions came into effect due to the global pandemic COVID-19. Restaurants and cafes were no longer able to offer dine in food or drink, but could remain trading as a takeaway and delivery food service. This changed everything for us at Collies & Co. Our currently menu was heavily focused on all day breakfast and limited burger options. 
We met together as a team and started to talk about ideas for a new menu and a new direction for Collies & Co. It was during this meeting that Chef Anthony was asked what his strengths were, and what was his passion?
"Low and slow."
And from this, The Smokehouse at Collies & Co. was created. 

Chef Anthony.

Chef Anthony Mills, who was raised in South East Brisbane, was inspired from a young age by his father's old saying that "There is no better smell than the one of meat cooking on a open fire.''

Anthony's experience of Smokehouse cooking started at one of his first jobs in a restaurant, located next to his family's shop. There, the head chef was really passionate about the grill and a big enthusiast of slow and low cooking. He became familiar with American smoke style snacks such as the Philly Cheesesteak, the Boston Butt and the Po' Boy, as well as the process of perfecting dry rubs and authentic sauces to compliment the smoked meats.

Millsie, as he is affectionately known, took his new found love for "low and slow" home when he decided to get his first smoker BBQ in his late teens. From there, he started experimenting with several cuts of meat, wood chips and cooking times, while starting out in his career in the hospitality industry.

Chef Anthony has worked professionally for multiple smoke houses and now has over 25 years experience in the low and slow cooking technique. His skills and expertise have been used to transform many restaurants with modern Australian menus, like Collies & Co.,  into smoke houses.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Chef Anthony in our kitchen, and we are very excited to showcase his talents with our new Smokehouse menu.