The Smoke Joint in Brooklyn

I admit to having high hopes visiting "The Smoke Joint" in Booklyn, New York. I'd been told it was authentic Oklahoma BBQ done by a former Oklahoman. But if that's true, I'm afraid he's lost his memory about what great BBQ really is back home. My first problem was the sweet tea. Ouch. It was really terrible. The waitress apologized and blamed it on the mix, but the second batch wasn't any better. Folks - get your sweet tea right. Second, the hot links were pretty dry. Hot yes, but not very moist, as if they'd been sitting around a long time. We also had pulled pork and it was OK, but not impressive. The one unique thing I liked was their Bourbon collection. In fact, they promote their "Beer, BBQ, & Bourbon." Well, two out of three you got right, now go work on the BBQ. One last thought: Fix the website. Half of it can only be read as a downloaded .pdf. Get it all online so a casual traveler can read it without going through the downloading process.

Hill Country BBQ Market

30 W 26th St
New York NY
United States



That's right it's Hill Country in The Big Apple! If you've got a hankering for some Texas style Que while visiting the big city, Hill Country might just be the ticket.


Grab your Pick meal ticket and order up smoked meats by the pound and sides by the serving.



Texas Que is generally judged by it's brisket and the brisket here is pretty dern good. A nice smoke ring, moist, tender with mild smokey flavor.

Beef ribs are tender and flavorfull. Pork ribs had a spicy rub but were a bit firm for my likin.

Chipotle deviled eggs, yum, mac & cheese was good, made with actual cheese and plenty of it. Creamy style green beans reminded me of the holidays. Ranch style baked beans were tasty with some burnt ends tossed in to add to the flavor. The corn bread was sweet, firm, and moist.


Hill Country also had some foot stompin down stairs.

Good Que

QQQQ

Jack's Bar-B-Que

Jack's Bar-B-Que
416 Broadway # A
Nashville, TN 37203-3931

http://www.jacksbarbque.com/




Smokey goodness hits you hard walking through the door at Jack's. As the great Mike Manning says "you can tell good Barbeque when it taste as good as it smells when you open the door" and that's true at Jack's.



Had the three meat combo: pork shoulder, ribs and brisket. All deliciously smokey and moist.

Classic mac and cheese & green beans and the the corn bread is served thin sliced, sweet and moist.

Multiple sauces: mustard, vinegar & tomato based. All uniquely different and very good.

As you can see, Mike prefers the original sauce.

All in all some great que!

QQQQQ

Holy Smoke: Our New Sacred Book

No BBQ blog would be complete without mentioning the book "Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina BBQ." For all your questions about history, styles, flavors, lore, and more, this is the new field manual. This tells you why N.C. BBQ is known everywhere and why it matters. Here's the summer reading you've been looking for.

The BBQ Song

Two Bros BBQ Market

Two Bros BBQ Market
12656 West Ave
San Antonio, TX



Two Bros is nestled in a shady oak grove just off to the side of the road. An inviting patio area complete with kiddie yard looked great for parties and hanging out but not in this 100+ heat.



Went for the Two Bros special: brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork & sausage with slaw and beans for the 2 sides. I was compelled to try the mac and cheese as well to complete the protein charged carb enriched experience.



First the chicken thigh, smokey, nicely seasoned, dark semi-crispy skin. Wow this chicken was great! Moist and delicious.
The sausage had a nice spiciness with good meat and not too much fat, quite tasty.



Brisket next... Hmmm, nice looking smoke ring & crust but the outer taste was a bit of an acrid, fumey sort of smoke flavor. The smoke didn't seem to work it's way into the meat though so not much flava in there.

Pork spare rib... Hmmm, not much going on there either. A little dry but tender just not much flavor.



The pulled pork... Yea baby! Tasty, moist and tender.

A trilogy of sauces original, sweet & spicy. Vinegar/mustard based, pretty good.

Now the beans, I was hit with a tinge of citrus with bits of bacon peaches, that's right peaches! Tasty.

Slaw was tangy, the mac 'n cheese was good 'n creamy.

All in all, disappointed in the brisket rib department but the chicken and sausage were yummy and the pulled pork was a real winner.

QQQ

Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q, The Worst Bar-B-Q in Texas

No BBQ blog would be complete without Rudy's. This is a San Antonio favorite and many of the people who visit from around the world agree. The Brisket is the highlight at Rudy's.











Rudy's also has Chicken, Turkey, Sausage, Ribs and chop which is a mixture chopped in sauce.

Rudy's is also known for their creamed corn which is to die for. Sides also include potatoe salad, slaw, pickles and jalapenos. Cobbler and Blue Bell Ice cream for dessert.









Rudy's also has great atmosphere as it is part of a gas station.

The BBQ here is so good I don't use the sauce although it is also very good. Got a kick to it.
There are several Rudy's throught the San Antonio area so check it out when you are in town.

http://www.rudys.com/

Rating=QQQQQ

BBQ Kitchen - Atlanta

As a road warrior I am on a constant search for good BBQ. I was in Atlanta this past week, I was waiting on my coworker to arrive I fired up Urban Spoon and found "The BBQ Kitchen" in the College Park Neighborhood of Atlanta.

Barbecue Kitchen offers some very affordable lunch specials, for around $8.00 you can choose an Entree, and 3 Sides. They offered a ton of sides ranging from the standard Coleslaw and Potato salad to some of my favorites from home including Fried Eggplant and something that I have never seen in a Restaurant before, Cucumbers and Onions. I remember this dish fondly from Home and the Barbecue Kitchen lived up in this regard. I chose the BBQ Pork, Fried Eggplant, Coleslaw and Cucumbers & Onions. The BBQ pork was kinda dry and the sauce was tomato based and wasn't as smoky and spicy as I normally prefer. The Sides are really the highlight at Barbecue Kitchen which isn't a good thing for a BBQ place.

Augie's Barbed Wire Smokehouse

Augie's Barbed Wire Smokehouse
3709 N. Saint Mary's St.
San Antonio, TX 78212
210-735-0088

Augie's is proud of their meat, you can just tell by the way they handle it. The Queman even offered up some of their Que techniques, which I found to be a might neighborly.



A delicate touch carefully slicing each portion to order, by the plate or by the pound.

The brisket is mighty fine, excellent flavor with a nice amount of smoke, moist and tender.

The ribs are fantastic; moist and tender as well, but not falling off the bone, nicely done.

Pulled pork very good as well, moist, tender and smoky.

The Barbeque sauce is vinegar based and quite sweet, went very well with the pulled pork, not so much with the brisket.



The Mac 'N Cheese is white and creamy, heart stoppin' creamed corn could use a little kick. The beans were Ok.

And for the vegetarians: green beans enhanced by the presence of bacon (woops, sorry)



I should have asked what the deal was with the big fire painted mushroom thing out front but that will have to be for a Que another day.

Plus on weekends they sport a wine and cigar bar now we're talkin!

QQQQ

Oklahoma Joe's Barbeque

Oklahoma Joe's Barbeque

11950 S Strang Line Rd

Olathe, KS 66062-5267

While visiting a client in Kansas City, I had the opportunity to try out Oklahoma Joe's on Strang Line Road in Olathe, Kansas. Great stuff.

The line went out the door and the pork ribs were outstanding. I'm also a huge sausage fan, which wasn't nearly as good as the ribs, but hey - you can't be an expert at everything. The brisket was really terrific as well. Serving a local brew on draft made it the perfect evening. But the absolutely best thing about the trip was visiting their BBQ store next door.

In Los Angeles, finding a shrine to BBQ like this one is a rare - if not impossible - event. I think I spent more time in the store than I did eating in the restaurant. If you're in KC, check them both out!

The Smokehouse - San Antonio, TX

The Smokehouse
3306 Roland Ave (at Rigsby)
San Antonio, TX 78210

Funky side-of-the-road kinda joint. Looks like it's been here for quite awhile.

Platters or by the pound.

Beef Brisket -
Good meat flavor with nice smoke, slightly dry but delicious.

Pork Spare Ribs-
The best ribs I've had in San Antonio thus far! Juicy and delicious, not falling off the bone but firm yet tender, just right. Nothing stands out with the rub mainly salt & pepper not spicy, offered a nice simple crust.

Sweet vinegar style BBQ sauce went well with the Q.

Great neighborhood BBQ joint, I'd recommend it.

QQQQ

The Barbecue Station - San Antonio, TX

The Barbecue Station
1610 N.E. Loop 410
San Antonio, TX 78209




Located just off route 410 this place looks like it once was a great BBQ joint but the owners lost interest. the upside is it doesn't look like they've changed their prices since they opened so that pretty good.



Brisket was Ok, nothing to get excited about, simple rub was kind of unnoticeable. Ribs were a bit chewy could use more smoke.

Ok if you're desperate for Q but with so many other great joints in San Antone, I wouldn't recommend it.

QQ

Leonard's - Memphis, TN

Leonard's
103 N Main St.
Memphis, TN 38103

The double door entry seals in the aroma which upon entry hits you in the face like a warm summer day.














Ribs thick, meaty and juicy, firm but very tender with a fresh dusting of salt spice rub. My-Oh-My this is some good ribs!

A sauce of sweet vinegar, with lots if chili powder and paprika,.

As you dip the rib into the sauce and taste, the magical combination of the salt spice rib rub mixes perfectly with the sweet vinager sauce for a a combination only the sum if the two parts can create. Sweet start and spice finish

The beans cooked long and creamy with bits of pork, finely chopped mustard cole slaw with red bell pepper, carrot and thick dill

Trimned Ribs, 4" long lightly smoked, great flavor, meat firm but very tender

Fantastic BBQ

QQQQQ

Five Qs for this one!

The Bar-B-Q Shop - Memphis, TN

The Bar-B-Q Shop
1782 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
901-272-1277



The sign in the window says "best barbeque in Memphis", a hefty claim indeed. They were out of ribs, beef and Texas Toast (overheard a waiter saying: "I ain't never seen that happen before!"). It was Memphis in May however so a lot of Que fans in town So tonight it's pork!



We started with the smoked bologna, cheese, crackers & peppers appetizer. I ordered pork half & half dinner: pulled pork, cole slaw, barbeque spaghetti (say what) and Texas toast (came with sliced burger buns).



It may not look like much but yummers, the chopped pork was smoky moist and delicious. Sauce was great with nice tang and intricate mix of spices. Barbeque spaghetti, awesome with a nice BBQ sauce, not overbearing, sprinkled with chopped pork.

I can only imagine the goodness of the ribs and brisket, it'll have to wait till another day, sigh.

QQQQ

Memphis in May

Memphis in May - Memphis, TN

Tom Lee Park
Riverside Drive between Beale Street and Georgia Ave
Memphis, TN

We enter the Mother of all BBQ Competitions, where the visitors are hungry and pigs are scared. Oh boy! this is going to be good! Pork is King!

As we walk amid the smoke and spice we can only imagine the goodness of the tasty swine slowly cooking beyond the barriers of each smoky encampment.




There was a tasting tent but I guess we missed out on that. For the most part tasting is primarily enjoyed by the Judges, Sponsors and Crew. However we were invited into a couple of the claims for some liquid refreshment, these folks are mighty friendly round these parts.

And the Winner is!

The Grand Championship went to the Pork Shoulder entry of the "Sweet Swine O' Mine" team from Memphis, TN.

First Place - Ribs went to "Baby Back Griller Allstars" of Southaven, TN
First Place - Whole Hog going to "Party Que" of Batesville, AK.

A great trip at a great time in the land 'o the pig.

Pig on Beale - Memphis, TN

Pig on Beale
167 Beale St
Memphis TN



This my friends is "pork with an attitude" so they say, fortunately the waitress didn't have an attitude.

Rack of Baby Backs were meaty, tender and quite delicious though a bit dry. Slathered with sweet and tangy sauce. The sauce on the table offered in mild or spicy (really hot). Slaw looked a bit bland but tasted Ok, nothing special. Beans were good with a hint of jalapeño flavor.

A bit of a touristy joint but good, Elvis was there.

QQQ

Martin's BBQ Joint - Nashville, TN

Martin's BBQ Joint
7215 Nolensville Road Nashville, TN 37135

Man O Boy, this is some good eats here. I discovered Martin's BBQ when I stumbled across his blog, documenting the ups and downs of starting his BBQ Joint.

Since we were headed to Nashville, Martin's was a must.

Brisket and Ribs wowee wow.

The Brisket was tender, juicy with a kiss of smoke flavor. Enhanced by a Rub to

The sweet and tangy sauce offered a slight hint of cloves and cinnamon.

Ribs meaty and falling off the bone, absolutely delicious!

I ate here just before starting this blog so details are a bit sketchy, I'll get better, but man it was gooooood.

QQQQQ

The Quest Begins

I have been a fan and admirer of great barbeque from before the beginning.

Now let's get something straight right off the bat, when I say barbeque I'm not talking about grilling burgers, I'm speaking of the indirect heat, smoking, low and slow cooking variety, often involving hunks of wood.

As a young lad, my Father introduced me to "indirect heat" cooking with a Weber kettle back in the 70's. As time went on I discovered a New Braunfels Smoker and life hasn't been the same since.

What I hope to accomplish with this blog is to document and share my experiences of all things barbeque.

I'll offer my experiences of the Barbeque that I partake along with a rating system of one to five Qs, five being good, one being not so good.

I will also be throwing in some recipes and other things that may come along as I see fit.

Rating from one to five Qs

Q - Not so hot
QQ - Luke warm
QQQ - Gettin warmer
QQQQ - Pretty hot
QQQQQ- Smokin!

So I hope you enjoy, let the QueQuest Begin!