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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2016)
12 Wednesday, August 17, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Smokehouse opens doors in Sisters By Jim cornelius News Editor “Our overall goal was not to piece this together but to do it right,” Jeff Johnson, presi- dent and CEO of Sisters Meat and Smokehouse told The Nugget last week. They did, in fact, do it right, if the reaction of the Sisters community is any gauge. Sisters Meat and Smokehouse opened its doors two weeks ago, and the cus- tomers came flooding in. Sandwich-makers kept their hands flying to keep up with orders for everything from turkey sandwiches to a spicy cotto salami sandwich, and the smoker and meat-cutter worked long into the night to keep the meat case stocked with fresh cuts of premium meats ranging from beef to lamb, pork, poultry and wild game. “We carry local if we can find it,” Johnson told The Nugget. Their beef comes from Symon Beef Co. near Madras, and it’s hormone- and anti- biotic-free and grass-fed and grain-finished. “The lamb is from a ranch six miles out of Sisters (Cascade Mountain Pastures),” Johnson noted. “In Central Oregon, people want to buy local,” he said. Local sourcing also allows the Smokehouse to keep close tabs on quality and purity. “We have direct access,” Johnson said. “We can put eyes-on.” Attention to detail is evi- dent in every aspect of the operation, from selection of product to its handling to the temperature of beer glasses and the length of tap hoses dispensing an array of brews. The opening demonstrated some things that required quick changes, which Johnson and his crew — largely a fam- ily affair — have jumped on immediately. “Our lunch business is far stronger than we expected it to be,” Johnson said. So the Smokehouse is Sisters woman honored for volunteer work We i b i M a r c o u x h a s been named the Council on Aging’s August Volunteer of the Month. She has been coming to the Sisters Senior Luncheon since shortly after it began, regularly helping to set up the tables in the morning and greeting everyone at the front table. She’s always upbeat and participates in as many activities as she can — senior stretches, out- ings to visit other lunch sites, Park and Rec field trips, etc. Marcoux was presented with her plaque at the Sisters luncheon luau celebration. photo by JiM corneliuS Jeff and Kay Johnson with Wade and Brody Waller are operating Sisters’ new smokehouse and eatery. converting a drygoods room into a kitchen to move sand- wich prep out from behind the counter and create enough space to keep up with the demand. The family nature of the business is evident through- out the operation. Jeff’s sister- in-law Susie Johnson (wife of Sisters Fire Chief Roger Johnson), did the interior design. The corrugated metal siding evokes her grandfa- ther’s butcher shop and deli, touching upon a family tradi- tion in the trade. Her cousin Brody Waller is the “man- aging partner and smoked- meat genius,” Jeff says, and Brody’s brother Wade is the expert meat-cutter. Jeff ’s wife, Kay, is co-owner of the business, and other family- members are also involved. Family history is what led to the creation of Sisters Meat and Smokehouse. Jeff recalled that Brody would put together holiday gift baskets with meat recipes that bowled family and friends over. The quality got Jeff’s business-oriented mind going. For Jeff and Kay to open a smokehouse in their home- town might, on the surface, seem like an unusual career move. After all, Jeff’s pro- fessional acquaintanceship with “smoking” comes from an entirely different direc- tion: He is a retired fire chief and is CEO of the Western Fire Chiefs Association. Yet that background comes into play at Sisters Meat and Th ank you, locals and visitors, for making us #1 on Yelp for breakfast & brunch Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 7 days a week 403 E. Hood Ave. | 541.549.2699 cottonwoodinsisters.com Smokehouse. “My specialty is building a service culture,” he told The Nugget. “That’s my contribu- tion here.” There is a deep sense of pride in craftsmanship asso- ciated with the selections Sisters Meat and Smokehouse offers to the Sisters public. “The cheeses are ours and we smoke ’em,” Jeff Johnson said. “The meats are ours and we smoke ’em. So you get a very special prod- uct you can’t get anywhere else.” Sisters Meat and Smokehouse is located at 110 S. Spruce St. For more infor- mation call 541-719-1186 or visit www.sistersmeat.com. photo provided Weibi Marcoux, right, is a regular at the Sisters Senior Luncheon. REALLY FRESH MEATS • CHEESE • EATERY • DRINKERY • Meats are hand-cut and smoked onsite • Emphasis on local sourcing, hormone- and antibiotic-free • Beef, lamb, chicken, pork and more • Northwest craft beers, cider, and wine • Great meals for here or to go 110 S. Spruce St. | Open every day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 541-719-1186 | www.sistersmeat.com
