Selasa, 13 Agustus 2013

5 Great BBQ Joint Pictures

Here are five BBQ joint pics to entice you to visit one in your neighborhood this weekend:


Photo of Lockhart Smokehouse Dallas, TX


Photo of Nancys Bar-B-Q Sarasota, FL


Vans Pig Stands Oklahoma


Photo of Sweet Checks Q via Pigtrip.net


Photo of Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew Austin, TX


Bacon Explosion: The BBQ Sausage Recipe of all Recipes - BBQ ... The other day the guys from BaconToday.com contacted me in search for some barbecue bacon recipes. Of course I have plenty of great uses for bacon in a barbecue pit ... Famous Dave's BBQ Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que Restaurants and Catering Famous Dave's official website including menu, locations, catering, shop, and P.I.G. email club. Amazon.com : Maverick Wireless BBQ Thermometer Set - Maverick ... The Maverick ET-732 Remote Smoker Thermometer for high heat monitors internal temperature of meat from 300 feet away!! The wireless receiver with LCD beeps and ... Weber Grills and Accessories Maker of Weber grills, parts and accessories. Features recipes, service and dealer locator. About Barbecue & Grilling - One Stop for All Things BBQ The largest and most complete Barbecue & Grilling information source on the Internet with great recipes, bulletin board, how-to's and information on grills, barbecues ... BBQ Ribs Recipes, Barbecue Recipes, Grilling Techniques, Baby Back ... Amazing Ribs is all about barbecue, grilling, outdoor cooking with tested recipes for baby back ribs, spareribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, barbeque sauces, steaks ... Beer Can Chicken Barbecue by the BBQ Pit Boys - YouTube The BBQ Pit Boys show you how to barbecue up two tender and juicy 4lb. chickens on the grill, Beer Can Chicken Style. And, it's real easy to do. All you ... Beef Brisket Barbecue recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys - YouTube Forget the big old Smoker. Tender smoked Beef Brisket done "Low and Slow" is easy to do on your standard barbecue grill with these simple tips by the BBQ ... Photos The official website of the U.S. Air Force ... Secretary of the Air Force; Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Original Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce - 18 oz: Amazon.com ... Whatever your taste, whatever you?re craving, Sweet Baby Ray?s award-winning BBQ sauce makes it taste better. The taste is thick and sweet with a kick. Fans say it?s ...

Jumat, 09 Agustus 2013

What are the main options for buying a BBQ?

Even though summers been here for a while now, its not too late to start thinking about hosting a BBQ or two. But with disposable BBQs becoming a quick an easy fix for weekend dining, there are a few more options than used to be the case. Here are a few tips about the different types of BBQs on the market to help you decide which one to go for.

First of all, you should consider whether you want to make a long-term investment in your BBQ or whether youd prefer to go for a disposable option. Recent years have seen the popularity of the disposable BBQ rocket as a more flexible, low-cost alternative during the recession. Even across the Atlantic, the UK has seen a big rise in disposable sales, thanks to the surprise heatwave enjoyed there this summer.

When it comes to which type of BBQ to choose, both have their perks. Obviously a disposable BBQ is easy to clean up after, quick to heat and, if youre only looking to BBQ as a one-off, much cheaper than buying something permanent. Theyre also portable, which is great if youre hoping to BBQ on the beach, or if youre heading out camping and want an easy way to heat food.

Most disposables come with a lighter paper that gets them going pretty quickly and theyll usually burn for up to an hour. They also need to be set up on the ground as theyll mark any surface theyre placed on. You need to be extra careful with kids around, and keep them well back from the cook area as the whole tray heats to a high level. When youre finished with the BBQ, be sure to let it cool properly before you throw it away the last thing you want is a fire in the bin!

When purchasing a permanent BBQ, youll have to decide between gas, electric and charcoal. Gas and electric heat up much quicker, but some people are convinced you can get a more authentic taste from a charcoal burner. With all three, you need to consider the extra costs to be incurred gas canisters can be pricey as can top up bags of charcoal. However, once bought, you dont need to worry about spending money on the BBQ itself and over time, these can work out as better value for money, particularly if youre a frequent garden-griller in the summertime!

Really its about finding the right product to suit your needs, but if youre going permanent, make an investment in something you know will last and be a valuable addition to your garden area. For the holiday crowd, or anyone who lives in the city without access to outdoor space, it may be smarter to go disposable for the time being.


The Wild Rose Press, Inc. The Wild Rose Press, Inc. : - GIFT CERTIFICATES Short Stories (Rosettes) Novellas (Miniatures) Short Novels (Rosebuds) Novels (Roses) Suspense Holiday Titles Young ... Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country Pigeon Forge TN Dollywood family amusement park is the top destination for family vacations in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Home Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey Welcome to the home of Jack Daniel's. This isn't a history lesson. This is the Jack Daniel's, story of independence and craftsmanship using years as chapters. Amazon.com: iDevices iGrill 7685-IGLK Grilling/Cooking Barbecue ... With its unique design, 200-foot Bluetooth connection and free accompanying app, iGrill is revolutionizing the way we cook and grill today. This sizzling, one-of-a ... Walthers Model Railroading - main page A large selection for the model railroading enthuiast, including a 70,000+ item searchable catalog and on-line ordering from local hobby shops. Big Green Egg - The Ultimate Cooking Experience Posted by BGE on 21 June 2013. Operation BBQ Relief. On Sunday evening, May 22, 2011 a massive multi-vortex EF5 tornado plowed through a southwest Missouri community ... Beer Can Chicken Barbecue by the BBQ Pit Boys - YouTube The BBQ Pit Boys show you how to barbecue up two tender and juicy 4lb. chickens on the grill, Beer Can Chicken Style. And, it's real easy to do. All you ... The Roof Gardens Home One and a half acres of themed gardens, situated on the 6th floor some one hundred feet above Kensington High Street. Details of the restaurant, nightclub, booking ... Pulled Pork BBQ in the oven Recipe : Taste of Southern Follow our step-by-step, photo illustrated instructions for making delicious Pulled Pork BBQ in your oven. Were using a dry rub to give the outside a bit of that ... Memphis Spare Ribs recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys - YouTube Forget the barbecue sauce! It's all about the dry rub for these Tennessee style Pork Spare Ribs. And it's real easy to do "low and slow" on the old ...

Sabtu, 03 Agustus 2013

Virginia Willis My Favorite BBQ Joints Volume 34

I dont know whats harder for me to fathom. The fact that Ive been corresponding back and forth with THE Virginia Willis for a couple of months or that she actually agreed to participate in one of my favorite features on my site, My Favorite BBQ Joints?

Virginia Willis is a food icon. Truly. To pin her down to just one hat would be a sin, so know that she is all at once a chef, food writer, spokesperson, and extremely prolific blogger. She also is a culinary TV producer, a professional recipe developer, and social media food authority. Her legion of fans love her knack for giving classic French dishes a down-home Southern feel and re-imagining homey Southern favorites en Franaise. Shes definitely an authority of food (more specifically Southern Food), but what makes me proud is her devotion to BBQ.


Here are Virginia Willis favorite BBQ joints in her words:

Current Faves:
Heirloom BBQ Atlanta, GA
Smoky wonderful goodness. Located in the other half of a convenience store, this BBQ spot has exploded onto the ATL dining scene. Its a perfect mash-up of hillbilly and haute cuisine. Both of the owners, a husband-wife team, have fine-dining backgrounds. Jiyeon is a trained pastry chef and Korean, so there are also Korean influences that are surprising and wonderful. Its not fusion in the train-wreck sort of way. Its works. The Korean Sweet Potatoes are absolutely addictive.


Photo courtesy of Becky Stein Special

Fox Bros Atlanta, GA
Its the best place for Texas style BBQ in Atlanta. They like to call it Texas with a Southern influence. The meats are smoked over hickory and its nice to see the smoke when you pull up in the parking lot. Theyve got really good vegetables, and use only seasonal and local farmers. Ive taken out of town guests here and met with great success. Its the place for brisket in Atlanta.


Photo courtesy of Kevin Pang & Keith Claxton BBQ Road Trip 10

Fat Matts Rib Shack Atlanta, GA
This is where I take the uninitiated for real Southern style BBQ. Theyve got meaty, thick, rich Brunswick Stew, one of my favorites. Its thick enough to hold a spoon straight up. This is the close as it gets in Atlanta for a real BBQ joint. The collard greens are tender and suspended in smoky, salty pot likker.


Photo courtesy of Yelp

Community Q Decatur, GA
Dave Roberts, the former chef de cuisine under Gunter Seeger now is a pit master. His attention to detail is awesome. Homemade, amazing food. No gallons of pre made corn-syrup fake smoke sauce will be found here. The pulled pork is sweet pink and smoky. He sells local seasonal vegetables out front and its truly a local, community place.

Follow her on twitter HERE
Catch up with her on Facebook HERE

Check out Virginias blog HERE


Horse Supplies Horse Tack & Horse Equipment - Horse.com Horse.com is the source for everything equine. From tack to horse supplies and accessories, we have what you need at the lowest prices, guaranteed! Official Site of Felipe Esparza "What's Up Fool?" I am really glad I have found this info about Official Site of Felipe Esparza What&. Nowadays, bloggers create article about gossip and it is really irritating. Full text of "Catalog of Copyright Entries 1949 Books Jan-Dec 3D ... See other formats. Full text of "Catalog of Copyright Entries 1949 Books Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 3 Pt 1A" Full text of "History of West Virginia, old and new, in one volume" Full text of "History of West Virginia, old and new, in one volume" Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter Fonseca. Este 6 de Agosto estare en el Concierto de Conciertos-Medelln! Junto a Marc Anthony, Juan Gabriel, Andres Cepeda y Pipe Pelaez. Nos vemos en la Feria de ... Apple - Start Apple hot news, launches, apple events, movie trailers and iTunes this week. Full text of "History of West Virginia, old and new, in one volume ... Full text of "History of West Virginia, old and new, in one volume, and West Virginia biography, in two additional volumes" 80's Commercials - YouTube 80's Commercials Volumes 1-199 ... 80's Commercials Vol. 1. by 80sCommercialVault 416,556 views A bunch of commercials that aired on NBC primetime on September 7th, 1986. Football Fanatics - Sports Apparel, NFL Gear, Fan Shop, Jerseys ... Shop Football Fanatics for sports apparel and fan merchandise! Our ultimate sports store features NFL Apparel, Sportswear and Gifts for every team. Get College ... Full text of "Catalog of Copyright Entries 3D Ser Vol 18 Pts 3-4" See other formats. Full text of "Catalog of Copyright Entries 3D Ser Vol 18 Pts 3-4"

Jumat, 02 Agustus 2013

Erni Walker & Chris Cantey Meat Week Co-Founders My Favorite BBQ Joints Volume 35

Every week is unofficially meat week for me, but it took two forward thinking co-workers, Erni Walker and Chris Cantey, to create an entire week long event devoted to specifically to meat, and more importantly, barbecue. Per their site, Meat Week is a national holiday that started in 2005. Each January, for 8 consecutive nights, people across the country gather over piles of BBQ. In every participating city, there is a devoted Captain who creates the schedule of restaurants. Each city develops their own traditions, but Meat Week typically focuses on good ol American BBQ: Pork, ribs, brisket, barbecued chicken, and anything else you can smoke and smother in sauce.

I had the pleasure of meeting the two of them last year at Smoke City Market and this year I plan to hit up at least three of their stops. Meat week begins Sunday January 27th in cities across the United States. If youre reading this, you like BBQ, so you pretty much have to go to at least one night. You can find your local chapter HERE.

So here are Erni and Chris favorite BBQ joints in their words:

When we moved to Los Angeles, people said there was no way wed scrape up enough restaurants to have an entire week of BBQ. When we came up with more than enough, they said none of them would be any good. We beg to differ! Most of the BBQ on our list comes from L.A. and the surrounding areas, because even though we grew up in the south, we have felt like we hit a huge payout at castlejackpot.com with some of our favorites right here on the west coast. Very happy. (Granted, some of them are southern transplants, but still) Meat Week and all its cross-country chapters has proven to us that BBQ isnt relegated to one region. Where theres a person with a meat smoker, some patience, and a special touch, there will always be great BBQ.

Moms BBQ House Van Nuys, CA
The food, atmosphere, and service at Moms makes this our favorite in LA, hands-down. The first time we went here, our minds were blown, and weve never had a less-than-incredible experience. The ribs fall off the bone, the pork is amazing, the linksmy god the links! This BBQ has a real weight to it, in a good way. Its usually smothered in sauce, but somehow the flavor of the meat shines through, and the sauce becomes an aftertaste.
But fighting for the spotlight in this show, is the mac and cheese. Theres a sweetness to it that makes it totally unique. We have friends who hoard it for weeks after our visit. They even know to make excess when were coming. Mom and family are from Louisiana, so they put some swamp flare into the food. Greens, fried chicken, and gumbo are also menu favorites. Our group is too big to fit in their tiny storefront, so every year they open up the storage room next door and let us set up tables and chairs! Its amazing, eating between shelves full of Crisco and cake mix. It creates a special atmosphere that no one else gets to experience, and thats southern hospitality at its best.

Hambones BBQ and PoBoys Bellflower, CA
Last year was our first time visiting Hambones, and it couldnt be more worth the drive! There is some kind of magic going on in that kitchen that weve been thinking about all year. The Combination Platters are the best way to experience everything here. Theyre basically catering tins full of links, pulled pork, ribs, and brisket, all swimming in delicious, slightly-sweet sauce. Bring your friends, pitch in, and go to town! The meat has some very special flavors that captured our memories, but the peach cobbler was almost the most unique. Its like the best Georgia peaches youve ever tasted got together with a cinnamon roll and created a delicious, gooey baby. Its addictive. They have a big back patio with heaters and televisions, great for watching football. Just when we thought it couldnt get any better, they switched on the radio and cranked some Mariah Carey slow jams. Heaven truly is a place on earth.

Kansas City BBQ Company North Hollywood, CA
This place (formerly located in Toluca Lake) is run by brother and sister Nabeel and Shireen Kort. Theyve been at the Magnolia location for a few years now, and are constantly improving the place. The bar they added on makes it a great hangout for locals. Most importantly though, the food and service are amazing. Ive never seen slow-cooked food move so fast! A lot of BBQ fanatics look down upon the humble sandwich, but these guys do it right: Sliced pork layered between three (three!) pieces of good ol white bread, stacked high and spiced just right. All of their meat has a spiciness to it that can take a back seat to sweeter sauces, but theyve found some magical algorithm for combining sweet and spicy perfectly. The hot links get special mention here, because they up that spicy quality without sacrificing flavor.

Sonnys Real Pit BBQ Southeast Region
Okay, so Sonnys is a chain. But its also the birthplace of Meat Week itself. Sonnys first opened up in Gainesville, Florida, and then spread throughout the state, and eventually up through Georgia and a little beyond. Both of us grew up eating at Sonnys once a week or more, and it really fostered our BBQ obsessions from an early age. When we met at college in Tallahassee, we both missed that warm feeling of gathering over great BBQ and bonding with friends and family. Thats a big part of what spawned the whole Meat Week idea, so naturally we began our holiday at the birthplace of our love for BBQ: Sonnys. Although the menu is ever-expanding to include new sauces and different rubs, the sliced pork and sliced beef at Sonnys are the standouts. Theyre so tender, full of smokey flavor, and always sliced perfectly thin. Pile em on the garlic bread with Sonnys Sweet Sauce for a flavor explosion thatll make you slap your mama. Theyre experimenting with some new rubs, but their classic pork ribs have a flavorful stickiness to the bark that lingers long after theyre gone.

And the sauces. Oh, the sauces! Theres Original Mild, Smokin, Mustard, Sizzlin Sweet, and the mother of all: Sonnys Sweet Sauce. This is the sauce that haunts our dreams. Since we cant get to Sonnys out here in Cali, we buy gallons of Sweet Sauce from their website. Its measured out and treasured for as long as we can make it last. Its a holy grail constantly sitting on the counter, reminding us of what awaits us on our next trip back south.

Low Country Dining Marion, NC
This is Chriss fathers restaurant, which he opened in 2010 after years of making BBQ for other people. Mike Cantey has been in the restaurant and catering business with the rest of the Cantey family for decades, and BBQd meats have always been at the core. Western North Carolina knows him well.

Mike is inventing new types of brisket over here, including a garlic and rosemary brisket. The meat just falls apart and melts in your mouth while delivering a complex, amazing flavor thats just outside of the usual range of BBQ tastes. His pulled pork is classic North Carolina style, with a sweet vinegar kick and just as much tenderness as the incredible brisket. All of the sides here are to die for, including the fried green tomatoes and tomato pie, made with fresh local tomatoes. An important addition and HUGE seller recently added to the menu is the banana pudding, based on Chris Canteys own personal recipe! Chris has been making this banana pudding for years, and we cant keep it on the table. No matter how much he makes, it disappears in no time. Like BBQ father, like BBQ son!

Follow Meat Week on twitter HERE
Get a cool Meat Week t-shirt HERE


Roz designz christian web design company Think PINK! Contact roz for an affordable website package customized especially for you. What's New? Ecommerce-get your store online today!

Kamis, 06 Juni 2013

BBQ Infographic: Girl vs Grill

Weber Kettle Grill Whats more important to you, your significant other or your grill? The answer might not be so obvious for true BBQ Addicts. Luckily our friends at BBQ Guru put together a slick infographic that compares personal/intimate relationships to the relationship that people have with their grills. While intended to be light-hearted, the stats really do show that grilling is an important part of many peoples lives. How do you stack up?

Girl vs Grill


BBQ Outfitters - BBQ Grills, Gas Grills, Charcoal & Electric ... Grills & Smokers . Gas Grills . On Cart or Stand; On Post; Built-In Gas Grills; Portable; Parts/Installation; Gas Grill Accessories . Carts and Bases; Charcoal and ... BBQ Ovens & Stainless Steel BBQ Grills - Bubba's Ovens Gas grill for outdoor BBQ's. Made of stainless steel. Memphis Spare Ribs recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys - YouTube Forget the barbecue sauce! It's all about the dry rub for these Tennessee style Pork Spare Ribs. And it's real easy to do "low and slow" on the old ... St Louis Style Barbecue Spare Ribs by the BBQ Pit Boys - YouTube Grill up some real delicious, and real tender, "low and slow" barbecue Spare Ribs with this easy to do St. Louis style Pork Ribs recipe, as shown by the ... Electric Grill Outdoor Electric Grills & BBQ Smokers Electric Grills, Electric Smokers & Outdoor Kitchen Accessories at Electric Grill Depot.com. Electric Grill Depot offers a great selection of outdoor electric bbq ... Gas Grills, BBQ Grills, BBQ Smokers, Outdoor Kitchens and More. Gas grills, BBQ grills and BBQ smokers available from BBQ Island. Huge savings and free 24 hr shipping on many brands including Sure Flame, Delta Heat, Twin Eagles ... BBQ Addicts - BBQ Blog - -- Smoke It, Grill It, Roast It, Eat It -- Ever since the EAT Barbecue sauces and rubs made their way into our warehouse last week, Ive been anxious to give them a test run. Their arrival just happened to ... BBQ Pits by Tejas Barbecue Pit Smoker Barbecue Grill Houston ... Tejas manufactures fine barbecue pit smokers and bbq grills. Tejas is the perfect barbecue pit smoker or bbq grill whether you call it a barbecue pit, bbq pit, smoker ... Bandits Grill & Bar - Welcome Bandits Grill & Bar Website ... We've just made it easier to send your friends and family the greatest gift of all, a Bandits' eGift Card. Charcoal Grills Buy Charcoal Grill Smokers OnlineCharcoal Grills ... Charcoal grills and outdoor bbq charcoal smokers available at Charcoal Grill Depot.com. Our bbq grills and outdoor smokers come in a variety of sizes including ...

Wayne Monk and Lexington Barbecue BBQ Joint Review

With the nights long and the earth warming up around us its apparent that its finally (and officially) grilling and barbecue season across the nation (and world). I have another great BBQ joint below, but if youre looking to purchase a grill in the near future (and really who isnt), you should check out the range of BBQs. Now on to the review of one of my all time favorite BBQ joints:

If Arthur Bryants BBQ was the first place I learned what real BBQ could be, then Lexington Barbecue was where I was indoctrinated into the cult of BBQ. I was changed forever.

Wonderfully, we have an incredible guest review of Lexington Barbecue by Dave Raymond from Sweet Baby Rays. He himself has two BBQ Joints in Wood Dale and Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Its a bit longer than most of our reviews, but once youve read it, youll realize not only the passion Dave has for BBQ, but also what a great establishment Wayne Monk has created.


Photo courtesy of Mukur H. Yelp

We went to meet Wayne Monk and of course eat his Lexington Barbecue. The group was Duce, my nephew and business/competition barbecue partner, Ron Nunes, our friend and competition barbecue partner, and my brother Larry, who is the chef who created Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce (and Ducess father).


Photo Courtesy of John B. Yelp

I had read in Mike and Amy Mills book Peace, Love, And Barbecue as well as John T. Edges Southern Belly: The Ultimate Food Lovers Companion to the South how great Lexington Barbecue was as well as seeing Wayne, his family, and his operation on the Food Network. We sell regional barbecue at our place and I am always interested in learning more about bbq, meeting bbq folks, and of course eating barbecue with my friends.


Photo courtesy of Buffetbuster via Roadfood.com

For some background, I believe I am well on my way to an excellent bbq education. I have been to the barbecue belt in Texas two times, to Memphis and KC multiple times all just for barbecue. In addition to as operating two barbecue restaurants and two catering companys we also compete in KCBS competeitons and with the ribbers at Naperville Ribfest. I have been to the Jack in Lynchburgh, Tennessee with the 17 ranked team in KCBS Shigs and Pit. I have been to The Big Pig Jig in Vienna, Georgia as a spectator as well as many other competitive barbecue events. We have attended KCBS classes taught by Myron Mixon of Jacks Old South as well as Rod Grey and Jonny Trigg of Pellet Envy and Smokin Triggers respectively. I am fortunate enough to have lots of excellent barbecue friends who are barbecue experts and the tops at their craft. Basically, what I am trying to say is I know barbecue, but after visiting Lexington Barbecue and meeting Wayne and his team I know so much more!


Photo courtesy of Michael Stern via Roadfood.com

Mike and Amy Mills refer to Wayne as a Living legend of Barbecue Having now met Wayne and some of his family and seen his operation first hand (and after eating his BBQ) I say can say, Living legend, you bet! I say, Wayne Monk: Family Man, Business Man, and Barbecue Man. I do not believe you can have or make or eat better pork barbecue anywhere that would be as good as Lexington Barbecue. Why is that? I have a few thoughts on that I will share with yall.

First off, I have always thought that the best barbecue people were not restaurant people. It was my opinion that the best barbecue people were ribbers because they cook so much barbecue (up to 300-600 cases) over a long weekend (4-5 days) and up to 32-36 long weekends a year for the top ribbers. I know a lot of competition guys who feel they are the best ribbers. They are precise and some are great, but in the end I did not think that they have cooked nearly as much as ribbers and barbecue restaurants. Barbecue restaurants like all restaurants have so much going on I did not personally believe that they could possibly have the best barbecue. And the fourth category for barbecue people is the backyard barbecue folks. While they are the largest segment and offer the greatest potential by sheer numbers to have the next great barbecue person, it has not been my experience that they are on the level with other folks I know who barbecue.


Photo courtesy of Buffetbuster via Roadfood.com

I called in advance to inquire about meeting Mr. Monk and see his operation. When I called I spoke with Bubba, Waynes son-in-law and one of the managers at Lexington Barbecue. My conversation with Bubba went very well. Bubba was gracious and agreed to get us a behind the scenes to look at Lexington and if I came Friday or Saturday morning we would have a chance to meet Wayne. Deal! We set a date and time and it was Game on. I had read about North Carolina barbecue and the difference between East Carolina Barbecue (whole hog chopped together served with a vinegar sauce that has no catsup or sugar seeing as Eastern Carolina style bbq is so old, when tomatoes were thought to be poisonous) verses Piedmont or western style or Lexington style as it is referred to in some places. Lexington style barbecue is pork shoulders not the whole hog served with a vinegar sauce that has some sugar and tomato.


Photo courtesy of Farm Table Catering Barbecue Inspiration

We checked our schedules, got permission from our wives and bosses (for me one and the same), made our plans, and hit the road. I think we pulled into Lexington around 9:45am on Friday. I saw the famous Lexington Barbecue sign first then the next thing I see is a guy carrying a box of barbecue, helping a lady put the box in the back of her car. It was Wayne Monk himself. I could not believe it or even stop myself. I rushed up and introduced myself unable to contain my enthusiasm, saying something about why he was carrying a box to the car. Wayne replied that he was working (clearly leaving the impression that this was nothing out of the norm, kind of like he had been doing it for 60 years or so).


Photo courtesy of BBQ Illuminati

As we entered Lexington it was kind of surreal, a little like stepping back in time and place. In the nicest way I want to say that it was like Mayberry in the Andy Griffith show. The place was clean and neat, nice but not fancy, warm and friendly. We found a table in the back (there were already a few tables with guests (friends) who were allowed to enter thru the back and sit and have coffee and chat about the issues of the day). A few minutes later, as we were sitting at our table looking over the menu I saw Wayne take a seat at the counter and begin eating the first of two pork sandwiches (48 years in one location and the guy is still eating his own barbecue. Wow I thought to myself). Wayne later told me that it was a result of a late breakfast. We found out our lovely waitress Sallie had been working at Lexington Barbecue for 36 years, her brother who passed away 6 months ago was there for 42 years, and her son has been working there 23 years. I was beginning to understand that I was in a special place with extremely special people. When it came time to order we of course wanted to try everything. At Lexington Barbecue that means pork shoulder, chopped or course chopped, or sliced and white or brown (white being the inside white meat and brown being the outside dark smoked meat). It also means red cole slaw (very small amount of catsup), hush puppies, french fries, and fried pork skin (takes some getting used to as people either like it or dont), and sauce and hot sauce all served with warm buns. I started with a hush puppy (it was perfect crispy, flavorful, and light for a hush puppy) as I began preparing my sandwich. Then I began by adding some brown and white chopped pork on my warm bun, followed by some barbecue sauce, then I added some hot sauce (just a tad), some red cole slaw, and put the top on it. It looked great. I had high expectations and it tasted even better. I was instantly sure I had never tasted better pork barbecue. We kept eating and as we began talking it quickly became apparent that we all felt the same way. Damn was it good, excellent, I mean it was really, really good. The best I ever tasted and I know I have tasted a lot.


Photo courtesy of Michael Stern via Roadfood.com

So I was content and we were all happy eating barbecue with friends, which is my idea of a good time and we/our very high expectations were exceeded. It would be fair to say that I was in Hog Heaven. In addition to our waitress being sweet I observed the other staff smiling and enjoying serving their customers which I am sure in a lot of instances was their friends and neighbors. When we had eaten too much knowing we would be going to other barbecue places (the true definition of great barbecue: when you are completely full and tired of barbecue and you still eat more barbecue that is great barbecue) it was time for our behinds the seen look at Lexington Barbecue and the tour was given to us by Wayne himself.


Photo courtesy of Buffetbuster via Roadfood.com

Well let me tell you this is where it really got interesting. Someone asked Wayne how many shoulders he was smoking today and in a week. He said 70 today and about 380 in a week. These are picnic shoulders we are talking about, not butts, so they are twice the size (about 16-22 lbs. each would be my guess). Wayne asked one of the pitmen to show us inside the pits. Lexington Barbecue has three pits and they make their own charcoal by burning logs in one pit and taking the red ash and shoveling it under the pork (in another pit). They then cover the shoulders with 3 large pieces of cardboard to keep the ashes off the meat. We asked how long they cooked them for and were told around 9 hours over hickory and oak coals. As the shoulders got turned Wayne explained to us that they only use salt to season and they did not baste which was true Lexington Style Barbecue. Then the pit master pulled off a piece of meat with the salted skin. Incredibly it was better than the pork we had inside the restaurant.


Photo courtesy of 3rd Degree Berns Barbecue Sabbatical

We were then treated to watching the two pitmen Rick and Rick aka The Missing Link break down the cooked shoulders with the greatest of skill and ease. This comes from doing it for the past 20 years, 11 hours a day. They were nice fellas who were very proud of what they doas would I be if I made the best pork barbecue on the planet. I also met Bubba in person for the first time in the back of the restaurant. No offence to the name Bubba, but Bubba did not look like or act like Bubba to me. He was a very nice man, who in addition to his barbecue skill and acumen is an accomplished wood craftsman (most guys I hang around with burn hickory sticks, but Bubba carves them as well as making some impressive cabinetry). If I had to guess I would say he was trained by Wayne himself, which somehow I get the impression that Mr. Monk still has a lot to do with what goes on at Lexington Barbecue. But to me it is the job he has done in his barbecue career (60 years, 48 at this location) operating his place and training his staff that makes Wayne Monk the living legend in barbecue that he most certainly is.


Photo courtesy of BBQ Illuminati

I have had the good fortune to know some successful people and successful barbecue people as well. While we are all different there are lots of common threads to their greatness and Wayne Monk and Lexington Barbecue personify many of those traits. I felt there was a purity and simplicity to Waynes operation as well as his obvious love for what he does combined with the notion that he has been doing if for 6 decades with a very high level of expectation and performance. I say it is hard to beat the combination of experience and commitment. It is easy to see that Wayne Monk is a thinking man and in fact I would say businessman. Our waitress used the phrase he is particular and I would say that was an understatement. Here was a man who figured it out early on with not just barbecue but with life. He is a man that is respected and admired by all who come in contact with him. No rush, no fuss, no mess, just right, now and every time. It kind of seemed to me that Wayne earned his way in life and he was doing exactly what he wants to be doing. In doing so he was setting the highest of standards for his staff, team, and family to follow and aspire to and in turn raised the bar for all of us who barbecue. I know I will. I was truly honored, humbled, and proud as can be to see, meet, and eat at Wayne Monks Lexington Barbecue. It was equally great to do it with my friends and family because at the end of the day to me that is what barbecue is about. Eating food that has been smoked with your friends.

Wayne Monk told me the truth and he bragged to me a bit. He bragged that the highway had been changed 3 times and it hasnt affected his business. Wayne told me the truth when I said to him that we wanted to check out and understand the difference between Eastern and Western Carolina Barbecue. Wayne said I might as well go to try some Eastern Carolina barbecue because I would find nothing better around here. Believe that!

So we did. We drove another 5 hours to eat some East Carolina barbecue. We went to a very publicized, long time family owned place. I will only say this place had the name and had the reputation, but they no longer had the Love of the game if I can quote one of my favorite people from North Carolina. Sad to say the were missing almost all of what Lexington Barbecue offered that makes it great: Focus, attention to detail, commitment, and the very serious commitment to a great food and business culture that Wayne Monk and Lexington Barbecue lives every minute of every day.

Our experience with East Carolina barbecue was not a fair way to judge East Carolina barbecue, but it was a most excellent way to compare a man and his business.

Check out Lexington Barbecue for yourself here:

View Larger Map

Lexington Barbecue on Urbanspoon


Welcome to Urbanspoon Choose a city to find everything about local restaurants. See restaurant menus. Read reviews and recommendations from critics, foodie blogs, and all your fellow diners. Peace, Love, & Barbecue: Recipes, Secrets, Tall Tales, and ... PEACE, LOVE, and BARBECUE is an extraordinary behind-the-scenes journey into the world of barbecue with Grand World Champion pitmaster Mike Mills as your guide. Join ... Intuit: small business, personal finance and tax software Start your small business with QuickBooks accounting and financial software from Intuit. Tackle tax, budgets and personal finance with TurboTax, Quicken and Mint. Lexington Barbecue - Lexington, NC (336) 249-9814 "A Lexington icon, Lexington BBQ is not to be missed! You sure won't miss it from the road, it's a huge building visible from 85 Business ... Roy Honcho Gregory Facebook Roy Honcho Gregory is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Roy Honcho Gregory and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the ... Toronto Restaurants Toronto restaurants. Reviews and photos of Toronto Italian, Chinese, French, Sushi and other restaurants. Payne's Bar-B-Que - Memphis, TN (901) 272-1523 ""Hole in the wall" is definitely how you would describe this place. Fantastic is how you would describe the BBQ. Sure, the Rendezvous is ... The 10 Best BBQ Joints in America Intelligent Travel In the land of the free and the home of the brave, nothing tickles the taste buds quite like barbecue. BBQ capitals like Kansas City and Memphis are well represented ... Richard E. Horne Facebook Richard E. Horne is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Richard E. Horne and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world ... Man Up: Tales of Texas BBQ Reviews, locations, news, and photographs of Texas barbecue restaurants.

Rabu, 05 Juni 2013

Response to Huffington Posts Healthy BBQ Eating Tips

The Huffington PostThis morning I was sent an article from Huffington Post entitled 5 Tips For Eating Healthfully At A Cookout. Simply reading the title made me want to report the sender to my ISP for violating spamming regulations, but for some reason I felt compelled to click on the link to see what kind of shenanigans the folks over at Huff Post were spewing. What I found was a list of ridiculousness that was more absurd than anything I could have ever imagined. Somehow they managed to suck the heart and soul out of Americas only true cuisine just before the weekend we pay homage to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. And as such, I feel compelled to respond from the perspective of an overindulgent meatatarian who embraces and celebrates the barbecue lifestyle.

Fill Up Before You Go: Go ahead, ruin your appetite before heading to the barbecue bash. You need a snack that provides satiety so you dont show up half starved. And certainly dont hold out on eating beforehand. Fasting all day in prep of a big barbecue is the worst thing you can do. Youll slow down your metabolism and wind up overeating a double whammy!

The only time that youre allowed to pre-eat before a barbecue is if youre pulling a Joey Chestnut style warm-up to stretch out your stomach to make room for more barbecue. Otherwise starving yourself ahead of the feast is an absolute must-do step in the pre-barbecue routine.

Assess The Situation When You Arrive: Sometimes, your attitude going into the meal can make or break your barbecue experience. If you see spinach dip when you enter, you may think, Theres nothing healthy here, and I might as well pig out. Then you notice chicken skewers, shrimp cocktail, crudit and way more. Be patient, scope out the scene and then use what is available to create as proportioned a meal as possible.

Backyard BBQReallyspinach dip?!?! Thats the bellwether for what type of food is being offered up at a cookout? Your assessment should be focusing on the number of pork products being served: ribs, pulled pork, sausage, bacon-wrapped anything

Try To Skip That First Drink: When you have your first drink before you even say hello to the guests, youre probably off to an overindulgent night. Youll end up consuming too many calories from alcohol, and then the effects of said alcohol may inhibit your willpower and make you consume too many calories from food, too.

The whole point of having a barbecue is to bask in the glory of an overindulgent night. Protocol demands that you greet your guests at the door with ice cold adult beverages, and promptly direct them to the buffet line. The only willpower you need is suppressing the meat sweats for as long as possible!

Fill Your Plate Once: Take one serving of lean protein just one! Go for barbecue chicken or fish, which are usually the leanest options. Fill the rest of your plate with other healthy foods, such as grilled vegetables, roasted corn, tomato slices and salad. Enjoy that first plate, but then stop eating and enjoy the people not food around you.

Of all the tips in this article, this one is by far the most atrocious. Fill your plate only once?!?! I deploy a very specific buffet strategy that requires multiple trips to the food troughs. The first pass is dedicated to filling a plate with one-bite samples of everything available, that way I can quickly identify the standouts. Pass 2, and sometimes 3 and 4, focus on quantity of said standout items. Then the final pass is strictly for desserts. The only possible way I could deviate from this strategy is if the plates are replaced by cafeteria trays.

Host A Healthy Barbecue: If its your turn to do the hosting, serve delicious and healthy options for your guests. Instead of those heavy, saucy chicken wings, try this recipe for almond-crusted chicken skewers. Light and satisfying, these skewers are the perfect blend of sweet and savory. And unlike some traditional barbecue fare, this refreshing dish wont leave you feeling overstuffed for the rest of the party.

If I invited my friends over and served up almond-crusted chicken skewers with a light and refreshing fruit salad, then Im pretty sure Id be forced to cough up my Kansas City Barbecue Society membership card right there on the spot. In my world, chicken wings slathered with BBQ sauce are the light and refreshing starter for a barbecue while the big meats (brisket and pork shoulder) slow roast inside the smoker.

BBQ Ribs


Huffington Post (HuffingtonPost) on Twitter The latest from Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost). The Internet Newspaper - Curated by @lauralizhibbard, @beccabigwords, @kerstinshamberg, @deanpraetorius BBQ Addicts Facebook BBQ Addicts. 7,064 likes 528 talking about this. Health.com: Fitness, Nutrition, Tools, News, Health Magazine Get healthy now with energizing moves, easy recipes, expert tips and tools, and advice on losing weight and feeling great. Find out how to manage conditions like ... Health: Pictures, Videos, Breaking News Big News on Health. Includes blogs, news, and community conversations about Health. Open Pit Roast Beef by the BBQ Pit Boys - YouTube Welcome to Summer north of the equator! Get your Barbecue shoes on and join us at the Pit because we're kicking back and cooking up some low and slow beef ... St Louis Style Barbecue Spare Ribs by the BBQ Pit Boys - YouTube Grill up some real delicious, and real tender, "low and slow" barbecue Spare Ribs with this easy to do St. Louis style Pork Ribs recipe, as shown by the ... Free Healthy Recipes, Easy Diet Recipes, and Healthy Cooking Tips ... We have healthy recipes, healthy cooking tips and a lot more. Free healthy recipes to make healthy eating quick and easy all at FaveHealthyRecipes.com. Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post The destination for news, blogs and original content offering coverage of US politics, entertainment, style, world news, technology and comedy. BBQ Addicts Home Page EAT Barbecue: Championship BBQ Rib Recipe. Ever since the EAT Barbecue sauces and rubs made their way into our warehouse last week, I've been anxious to give them a ... SELF Magazine: fitness, nutrition, health and beauty advice: Self.com SELF Magazine: fashion, beauty, health, sex advice, news