Bar-B-Q Thread

[Zzzptm]

Almost put this in the "Life, Universe, and Everything" section, but I know not everyone on the board takes BBQ as seriously as others.

Some important notes -

Although "barbecue" or "barbeque" can be used to describe an outdoor grill or the act of grilling meats over an open grill, that's not what serious BBQ discussion is concerned with. Properly, that kind of activity is "grilling". True BBQ involves prepping the meats beforehand, smoking them for an extended period of time, tending the meat as it smokes, and then providing a finishing sauce in many cases - but not all.

In the USA, there are regions that are clueless about BBQ or that have no established traditions. They are free to adopt methods used in other regions, but if they ever refer to grilling slices of eggplant as BBQ, then they're not to be taken seriously.

As for the regions that take it seriously, there are fierce proponents of each regional variety. Some varieties deserve the excitement and hype, others are abominations in the eyes of rival regions' supporters.

Kansas City, Memphis, and Texas styles tend to have sweeter, tomato-based sauces when sauces are provided. If not, they're still usually sweet in the preparation and cooking of the meats, along with other savory notes.

Alabama has a white sauce. It's horrendous to see. Mississippi's red sauce runs a risk of being ketchup-based, unless one is up close to Memphis, then it's all right.

South Carolina has a mustard-based sauce that I will send back if offered me. Eastern North Carolina has a sauce that's pretty much pepper flakes and vinegar that's OK, but I prefer the tomato-y Western North Carolina variety.

Pork and chicken dominate BBQ across the South, but in Texas, beef takes the top spot - brisket the shining star.

Selection of woods for smoking is critical - I prefer Mesquite-smoked meat, with Hickory a close second.

And now we can discuss the matters at hand...

[Zzzptm]

Personally, I do enjoy KC, Memphis, and Texas BBQ. I've had a little of KC, some great Memphis, but truly excellent Texas.

Of Memphis, Corky's on Poplar, the original location, is the best in the game. Ribs so good if you put a plate of them on your head, your tongue would knock your brains out trying to get at them. They can be served dry or wet - a waiter suggested have them delivered dry and I can put as much wet on them at the table, as the sauces are right there. I took that advice and never looked back. Fantastic food, will eat there again if I'm ever back in Memphis.

In Texas, Lockhart is my destination of BBQ heaven. Four BBQ joints in that town, every one of them world-class in terms of their offerings. Of the four, I love Black's the most. They have a beef rib that is perfection, and I ate there over the 20 years that they developed the sauce they have that is perfect with their meat. Kreuz Meat Market is just across the way from Black's, and they have a strict no sauce at all policy. They meat there is great, but I like to sneak it out and pair it up with a cup of sauce saved from an earlier visit to Black's.

[Zzzptm]

Then there's smoking meats at home. An excellent and tasty pastime, with great rewards.

The trick is to have a good smoker - there are small units, but it's the ones that are about 6' (2m) wide or wider that can smoke the best. There are gas smokers, but I prefer charcoal, as the wood burns directly and I don't have to mess with smoking pellets or any of that nonsense.

Once the meat has a good crust on it, or "bark", it can be finished in the oven if it's not yet up to temperature and everyone's hungry and ready to go. No shame in that.

[Vyn]

I've eaten at Corky's and Kreuz Meat Market (not at the same time!) and your description was my experience at both places - but there was no sneaking involved lol. Amazingly I have not eaten at Black's. I recall we planned on it but for whatever reason it didn't happen.

I had mentioned Bryant's in the NFL thread, and my comment was more jest and recognition of the special military operations that sometimes get created when arguing over BBQ. They used to be my favorite, but once the place's namesake passed away it started going down hill. It landed not too far from where it started on that hill, but far enough that they lost something. When Arthur Bryant died, there was a bit of a dust-up regarding who was going to own and direct the business, and his sister won out. I stopped paying attention after that (which was decades ago) and have no clue about who runs that show currently.

For the non-aficionado, it is very good eating if you like a more bitter type of sauce. Their sweet sauce is nothing to write about.

Q39 is the current BBQ darling in KC, and it is pretty good. But it suffers from more style than substance - no doubt good for reeling in the uninitiated, but they aren't fooling anyone else.

Joe's Kansas City is well worth the visit. They used to be Oklahoma Joes, but they took off into the stratosphere with everything on their menu and KC being what it is couldn't have a world-class BBQ joint with Oklahoma in the name. So Joe made the smart move and changed it lol. It is run out of an old gas station, and anything they offer is on-point.

Another place that is sometimes mentioned outside the local geographic are is Rosedale's. This is more about how old it is than how good the BBQ really is, because it isn't all that good. Serviceable, reasonably priced, but very middle-of-the-road.

A place that is on-par with Joe's is Wabash BBQ. They aren't in Kansas City proper, about a 30 minute drive NE. They aren't as highly regarded as Joe's because their ribs don't stack up. Pulled pork? Brisket? Burnt ends? Heck yeah.

Gates is and has been a big name in town, and they are good, but I don't feel they live up to the hype. Several locations and depending on who is working the equipment you might get something from heaven or something they scraped out of the back alley. Fun fact - Gates and Bryants, for years and years, were the two big shots in BBQ town, people picked sides, and if you were caught at the opposition's venue or stuffing your face with their BBQ, you lost so much BBQ cred as to basically become a non-person. They took it seriously.

Smokehouse is another multi-location BBQ place. It is really good if you like the sweeter side of things. Their Super-Crispy sandwich and their beans are better than anyone's anywhere. The rest is good, but nothing special.

Jack Stack is another good BBQ place in KC that if it was in Dubuque would be the best in town. Sometimes you might hear it referred to as Fiorella's, but it's the same place.

Lots of small BBQ joints are all the time popping up for a year or so then disappearing back into the mist.

[Zzzptm]

We just had a good BBQ go under near us, Sugarfire. Location probably to blame.

My favorite local joint here is Pinche Smokerz, it's a BBQ with a Tex-Mex kick. Totally legit smoking, and their sauce carries a real Mexican spiciness in it. They've sponsored several KNON events, so I get to enjoy them when I'm at those.

There's a place on the west side of Fort Worth I used to eat at when I worked all the way over there, Woody Creek. 100% legit, local, and tasty.

For the chains, there's Spring Creek and Dickey's in the area. They're always at least adequate and often good.

But the BEST BBQ in town, when I can get it, is when my wife gets a wild hair and starts up the smoker. She's got the magic touch.

[Zzzptm]

Hilarious BBQ-related humor. 

[Vyn]

VEGAN BBQ! AHHHH! lol

[Zzzptm]

I am totally with the angry guy in this one.

Note also that the "proper" fellow is saying "BBQ" while the "screw-up" is saying "barbecue".

[Vyn]

I was giving crock-pot boy the benefit of the doubt until he mentioned jackfruit and then he was all on his own. haha, although this was obvious made in jest, it bothers me to think there are actually some folks out there who think that's a great idea.

They should be allowed to voice their opinion so they can then be rounded up and sent to a colony, like lepers. Except I don't think anyone would have any moral quandaries to work out with this one

[Zzzptm]

Yup.

My daughter and her friend are planning a road trip, their first one on their own. I had to talk to them about the difference between BBQ and Barbecue and how to find a good place to eat on the road.

PRO TIP: BBQs with animals on their signs are better than those without.

BBQs with animals that are smiling are better than emotionless depictions of animals.

BBQs with animals in chef costumes, enthusiastically cooking fellow members of their species for your enjoyment are the best of all.

[Vyn]

Hahaha, that's awesome!