The Great BBQ Tour
Trigger warning. Vegetarian and vegan readers will want to avert your eyes. This content is not non-meat eater approved.
Barbeque. This is not a universally understood term. It is a concept; a form of regional or, perhaps more accurately, a hyper-local expression of the neighborhood one has found herself.
Years ago I decided that someday we would travel throughout the Southeast by way of BBQ joints, connecting one meat and three plate to another in an effort to see and experience parts of the South I wouldn’t have otherwise seen. Also, I love ribs. Finally, 2020 presented an opportunity for a…er…version of what I expected for the E + B Great BBQ Tour.
I know what you’re thinking. What about the meat sweats? A serious concern, no doubt. This interstate ingestion challenge is not for those with weak constitutions.
The Rules (eh, guidelines):
We must order at least two meats and two sides
If ribs are on the menu, I’m going to order them
If potato salad is on the menu, I’m going to order it
If there is more than one sauce available, we should order all of them
Blake will always order sweet tea, and remains the unilateral authority of the quality of such thing
If we only get one meal in a city, it should be BBQ
Take out or patios only
Rivertowne BBQ; Ozark, Arkansas
As a general rule, I think one should not rely on billboards to guide one’s bbq destiny. But Rivertowne BBQ, as advertised by a substantial I-40 adjacent advertisement, is a fine spot to fend off the hangry on a road trip. Sleeper dish to order - the green beans! So good.
Jones Bar-B-Q; Marriana, Arkansas
Arkansas’ James Beard Award Winner, Jones Bar-B-Que is thought to be the or one of the oldest African American owned restaurant in the US! Housed in a no-frills house in a small neighborhood, Mr. Jones sells pork sandwiches on white bread until he sells out. He was all closed up by the time we rolled through, so this spot holds the top spot on the BBQ bucket list!
Cozy Corner; Memphis, Tennessee
BEST RIBS AWARD. Hands down people! Give me those spicy smoked ribs on the banks of the Mississippi River and call me Huck Finn! DO NOT go to Memphis and miss out on a meal from Cozy Corner.
Golden Rule; Birmingham, Alabama
The Golden Rule is “do on to others as you would have done unto you,” and praise be, the great pit masters of Golden Rule in Birmingham have assuredly secured a lease up in heaven after having blessed the meat eaters of this world with their smoked chicken and sliced pork. Amen!
Wood’s Chapel BBQ; Atlanta, Georgia
It’s a hipster paradise at this new Summerhill haunt, but don’t let the tiny cycling hats and beeswaxed mustaches inhibit you from ordering a pile of pulled pork from the dudes and dudettes at Wood’s Chapel. These millennial meatheads have the chops to serve up some tasty smoked delicacies for all you city dwellers out there. S/O to my other fave ATL bbq spots - Pig N’ Chick Express; Fox Bros.; and The Greater Good.
Edley’s BBQ; Chattanooga, Tennessee
What does one do after an afternoon climb up and down Tennessee’s beautiful Signal Mountain? Get a giant plate of smoked-then-fried wings and beers, duh! As far as I know, D-town Chattanooga may be best enjoyed on the sunny patio at Edley’s, chowing down on the most succulent wings, sippin’ on some sour beers, and eavesdroppin’ on a couple that maybe works together and is seemingly trying to navigate the rules of decorum; but you may want to refer to the chamber of commerce for other suggestions.
Gardner’s; Rocky Mount, North Carolina
There are two things on the menu at Gardner’s drive thru - barbeque and chicken. That’s it. That’s the level of detail you’re entitled to. You can order a barbeque sandwich, you can order a chicken sandwich; you can order barbeque and chicken, but you can’t ask questions. And as it turns out, there’s really no reason to.
Order the barbeque sandwich - it’s a slow cooked, tender pulled pork with the BEST BBQ SAUCE that’s classic North Carolina, spicy and vinegar based. And if you don’t know, now you know!
Maverick’s Smokehouse; Durham, North Carolina
We ate almost all the smoked wings before I remembered to take a pic! A good sign. Willing to share the carrots and celery with any takers.
MeatBoss; Mobile, Alabama
A very close second for the best ribs award! Meatboss in Mobile is must drive to destination if you’re cruising on I-10. Endure just a few minutes of suburban hell and you’ll be rewarded with tender pork ribs, savory pulled pork sandwiches, saucy mac n’ cheese and some high quality potato salad to wet your whistle. High praises from our resident Sweet Tea Connoisseur for anyone who’s thirsty out there.
Don’t waste your time talking to the interns - make an appointment with the boss!
DB’s Rustic Iron BBQ; Terlingua, Texas
We had to drive across Texas. I wish there was a font to express the bouts of disdain I had for such a journey. But Texas is self aware enough to know that the weary traveler should be rewarded for her endeavor. The state’s apology for being so ungodly big came in the form of some of the BEST BRISKET I’ve ever had in my life at the roadside stand known as DB’s Rustic Iron BBQ.
Thank you DB - Texas, you are forgiven.
