A Side Of Sass With That Order, Sir?
I love it! Superb…read morewood-smoked barbeque, served by nice people, with just a touch of sass into the mix (Hailey's words).
Movin' Maxwell's Barbeque and Smoke House is a family owned and run barbeque here in Silver City, New Mexico. Chef Ian Maxwell does the cooking, and his wife Hailey does everything else.
They opened in December last year, and have already built up a steady and loyal clientele.
OK, I gotta say right up front: I love barbeque, especially ribs. I have eaten barbeque in Kansas City, both the Kansas and Missouri sides; several places in Texas, several places in California, where I'm from; and several places in New Mexico.
Some has been good, some has been very good, and some is best forgotten. And Maxwell's is right up with the very best I've had.
It seems to me that cooking barbeque is as much an art form as a skill. And the folks at Maxwell's have this absolutely nailed. A lot of people, including some businesses, seem to not understand barbeque. Grilling meat and then slathering on sauce is not barbeque. It's just grilled meat with a sauce. True barbeque requires a lower heat for a longer time; low and slow, as one chef put it.
And on the subject of sauces, you probably know that there are regional variations. A lot of the sauces in the Southeast, for instance, are molasses-based, and have a sweet pungency that goes well with ribs, pork, and burgers.
Kansas City sauces are tomato-based, and are thicker and sweeter; good on ribs and pulled pork.
Some folks prefer the chili pepper infused sauces, with Scoville ratings bordering on thermonuclear.
The Southwest sauces are spicier, and not as sweet. And that's what Maxwell's offers; as a side, of course. The slight touch of vinegar fits my palate perfectly.
My advice for eating Maxwell's offerings is to go easy on the sauce, if you use it at all. Savoring the textures and flavors of the meats is a celestial experience by itself.
Parking for Maxwell's can be problematic. You can get a picture of this by looking at our town webcam, Livefromsilver.com. The camera looks north down Bullard (which doesn't run up hill; that's just the camera angle). Maxwell's is 6 blocks up, on the left. This is the older section of our town, and a lot of the streets are older than cars; therefore, narrow. You might have to park a couple of blocks away, but the food is absolutely worth the short hike.
There is no indoor dining; the building is tiny. But it's located in a nice plaza, and there are benches and tables around. Also, Big Ditch Park and Main Street Plaza are nearby for outdoor dining.
Maxwell's also offers a good selection of sides, desserts, and beverages.
And if you drop by on a Saturday, there's a chance you'll get to meet their adorable rug rats.
Great food, generous portions, reasonable prices, nice people.
Can't beat it.