Question of the Day ??
The question as been asked on DannyG's blog. And Mark Winter has given his form of an answer on his blog. And it just wouldn't be right if we couldn't argue about it here, seeing as I've been a part of the great theological debate on these other two blogs. I am ashamed that we can't all get along, but when "they're" wrong, "they" are just plain wrong.
So I ask the question in two parts. What makes up real BBQ? Pork or Beef? and Where is the best BBQ found?
In the immortal words of Mr. Winter over on his sadly misinformed blog "Can I get a witness"...from the Memphis Pig folks????????
posted by Greg Hazelrig @ 9:02 AM
19 comments
19 Comments:
PIG!. NO BEEF, NO LAMB, NO DEER, NO CHICKEN, NO Nuthin else!
BBQ is PIG! Those people in Kansas City are idiots. Beef BBQ, YUK!
The best BBQ is found in the Memphis Mid-South Area. Basically, you draw a 100 mile radius around Court Square in Downtown and that is the BBQ capital of the world. At one time, Leonard's on Belvue was the best BBQ sandwich with onion rings around. Leonards still has a resturant out in the Hickory Hill area. Pig and Whistle is darn good BBQ. Lewis' in Moscow, TN was awesome as well, but they closed when they four laned Hwy 72 through Mississippi and the Hwy 57 traffic to Pickwick Lake dried up. I loved it because the sliver dollars grouted in the floor tile that I always tried to get up when I was a boy.
Coleman's is still pretty good as far as sandwiches go. BTW, a real BBQ sandwich has CHOPPED PORK BBQ, Cole Slaw on the sandwich, and RED Sauce.
You also need onion rings and lemon icebox pie and sweet tea to complete the BBQ lunchtime experience.
There is nothing, and I mean nothing more disgusting than Yeller or White Sauce. Yeller Sauce is the spawn of Lucifer, himself.
All I can add to Keith's post is a hearty AMEN...except that I'd widen that circle a bit to include a couple of little hole in the wall joints over around Franklin, TN that make pork BBQ so good that you'll be droolin' and beggin' for more.
Pork.
South Georgia, North Florida.
I'll add that Pig Stand BBQ on US Hwy 31 in Hartselle, AL has awesome BBQ, but they don't have jumbo size buns. I always end up having to buy 2 sandwiches which makes me feel like a glutton. But their pie is awesome.
Man, I'm getting killed over on this post. Where's my Texas backup?
Keith: I never have understood cole slaw on a sandwich. I went to a Memphis-style chain a few years ago (here in Texas) and they plopped a big sloppy pile of that stuff all over my BBQ. I made them take it back, give me a discount and make a public apology. Correction: a real BBQ sandwich has CHOPPED BEEF and RED SAUCE (here we finally agree on something). Add a few raw onions and you got yorself some real BBQ, boy.
I'll back you up, Mark. That tomato-and-cole slaw slop is just disgusting.
I never even knew that BBQ came in non-pork varieties until I moved to Texas. Then like Bartimeus, my eyes were opened, and I felt my stomach strangely warmed.
John,
The only way your stomach will get strangely warmed in Texas is if you get too close to the grill.
SOOOOOEEEEE PIG!
Shalom ya'll
Here's some more Texas backup, guys.
BBQ is beef brisket. Period. Pork BBQ is sausage and ribs. Period.
I ate some of that alleged pig BBQ in Tennessee when my daughter was in college there. Yuck. With mustard sauce. Double Yuck.
For lo, it is written in the Book of Billy Bob--"BBQ sauce is red, smokey, slightly sweet and spicy. Eat not the yellow stuff."
Best BBQ--Goode Company in Houston. Or The County Line near Austin.
John,
Along with the angels in heaven, I rejoice that you have tasted God's BBQ. True enlightenment is only a taste of brisket away.
Steve Heyduck at Everyday Theology wrote a cogent argument over on my blog. He said that the Memphis folk must not have too much confidence in their BBQ if they have to smother it in gloppy cole slaw. Amen, bro!
Quotidian Grace,
Right on, Sister! You speaketh the truth!
Ever eaten at Rudy's? Not a bad BBQ chain. I like Springcreek and Coulter's, too. We don't have too many hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints near where I live.
Don't forget to go to Trenton, TN and try the BBQ across the street from the stock yards. It's great. As for Memphis, there was a little place out on Summer avenue that was terrific, Bryant's BBQ. I don't know if it is still open or not. Also, since I am now in Texas. if Texas BBQ is so good, why are the helpings so small. In Tennessee, when you order BBQ, you get a platter full.
Beef brisquet in Texas. I love it.
In Louisiana we love a combo platter...Beef Brisket and Smoked Sausage. Its the only way to eat!
Boy oh boy!! I agree with you Danny. What a spark of controversy. Will there be a split in our denomination over this???
Now, to the matter of the sloppy sandwiches...Real BBQ is absolutely the best tasting stuff since God created manna (real as in Pork). But just as lots of people stack their hamburgers, lots of people love the combined flavor of the slaw. Now it has to be the right slaw. Too many places can ruin their sandwiches with the wrong slaw. It must be a sweet tasting compliment to the right sauce. Then you have a delicacy.
One more thing this morning. Mark came up with a snappy comeback on his blog by asking WWJE (What would Jesus Eat)?
My response:
Oh how wrong you would be! Jesus is the one who decided it was not what went into our stomachs that made us unclean. The real story behind that is that he saw some Samaritans slow cooking a pig and decided it was time for a change of eating habits after smelling that wonderful aroma.
One more - one more thing this morning. Aint it fun to argue over stuff that in the long run won't actually seperate us or split the denomination. You can be liberal or conservative and still like the same kind of BBQ. Maybe we ought to find the things we have in common a little more often than those things in which we don't.
We're called to love all BBQ eaters. And then we can join together to pray for the rest while inviting them into the fold of true grilling enthusiests. Some of our grills will be on the back porch and some will be in the ground. But as long as we all love to grill, we can all find joy.
Any of this sound like familiar?
God bless. And have a wonderfully blessed day. I know you will if you have a pork sandwich today. ha ha!!
Greg,
Yeah, I thought the same thing, too. The Great BBQ Debate "split" us in a fun way.
I will say this: I noticed some of the posts excluded brisket and other non-pork meats as BBQ. Not very Methodist, wouldn't you agree? Isn't there room on God's table for all barbecued meats?
I believe God's table will have Barbequed Chicken (which hasn't been mentioned) Barbequed Pork, Barbequed burgers, Barbequed steaks and even Barbequed Brisket.
Let us all remember that God loves all BBQ and calls on us to do the same.
Out of the love of BBQ,
greg
:)
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