IQALUIT
Brisket fans in Iqaluit will soon have a new place for their fix.

Matti Wilkins, left, poses with Marlyn Wilkins, right, Richard Wilkins and Grace Wilkins, front. Matt is opening a new restaurant, Big Rack's Barbecue, in Iqaluit next month. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Matt Wilkins of mechanical service company G.W. Inc said he's planning opening Big Rack's Barbecue sometime in the first half of December.

"We're still under renovations right now and looking to hire on staff," he said. "We're going to be focusing on barbecue."

Wilkins said the large, made-to-order menu will offer pulled pork, burgers, smoked brisket, chicken and ribs, a full breakfast service including eggs Benedict, as well as pizza, wings, garlic bread and submarine sandwiches.

The company recently finalized its logo and menu last week.

Wilkins said the dream of this restaurant has been in his mind for years, and he's been back and forth with the city since 2012.

"We had to hash out a location first," he said.

After getting a property and development permit, Wilkins said renovations on the Aviq Street spot started in the beginning of October. The work is being done by him and few friends with financing and borrowed equipment from his mechanical services business.

G.W. Inc currently holds the contract with the Government of Nunavut for servicing and maintaining the backup generators for the city.

No easy feat

When asked about the challenges he's faced so far, Wilkins laughed.

"It's been a rough go," he said.

Wilkins said he's had to work through the logistics of trying to make sealift for the delivery of the all the equipment, flying up other items that were missed, figuring out financing and waiting for purchases.

To help with the transition, Wilkins said he hired an award-winning barbecue chef from out west.

"He's coming on to come and train all the staff and launch the restaurant for the first month," he said. "His recipes are dynamite and he's won a lot of awards."

Wilkins estimated he would be hiring 14 to 15 part and full-time staff for the 1,200 square-foot space, which he hopes will have a dining area of approximately 20 seats.

Ultimately, Wilkins wants to give Iqaluit residents another place to go for food.

"There hasn't been a lot of change or a lot of options," he said. "There is no other barbecue place in town. And (the) majority of our menu and what our goal is, is really meat."

Wilkins wants to eventually offer catering and expand the size of his restaurant on its double lot.

He said any vegetarians who come in won't be stuck for menu items either. Wilkins said he plans on offering meat-free items such as mac and cheese, BBQ baked beans and poutine.

"They can have a veggie sub or a veggie wrap, whatever they want, really."

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