Southern Soul is Southern Taste!

I have to say that I love Savannah and St. Simon.  I had to go there for work this week.  The geography here is just beautiful.  Quick side note, Savannah is a very cool town from the architecture to the history.  Could spend a lot of time in Savannah just studying. Luckily, the food is just as beautiful.  

I went to a well known place called Southern Soul.  It is in St. Simon and has just a cool and funky feel to it.  It has been on several food shows on TV so I of course had to check it out.  I went there this afternoon and tried the sampler platter.  I asked the young lady what they are famous for and she of course said, wait for it, ........the pulled pork!  I got pulled pork, ribs, sausage, fried okra and potato salad.  The food was all very good.  I think the sausage was best.  The pork was excellent.  Tender and juicy.  I will say, as with a lot of pulled pork, you need the sauce to really give it the kick you want.  The sauce was excellent.  They had a spicy mustard based sauce that was really good with just the right amount of kick.

Overall, I would say you can’t go wrong with some Southern Soul!!  Now, they do have some other things besides BBQ, like some very unique sandwiches.  If you find yourself in St. Simon, stop by.  You will be glad you did!!!

Keep on Smokin, ya’ll!!!

Birmingham BBQ!!!

Faithful readers, you all know I travel for work, a lot.  The travel does get a bit old for a lot of reasons but there is one good thing about it.  I get to try a lot of BBQ!!  I am in Birmingham, Alabama today.  I spent this evening meeting with a bunch of CIO's and of course I wanted to find out where I should eat.  They definitely provided plenty of options but the leader was a place called Jim -n-Nick's.  So you can just guess where I went tonight.  Yep, McDo....I can't even finish that.  I made a bee line for Jim -n- Nick's.

One thing I love about eating in the "South" is the prominence of pimento cheese.  I love pimento cheese!  I mean really love pimento cheese.  I tried the appetizer plate they had and it was awesome!  I mean who wouldn't love pimento cheese, cheese biscuits and hot links?  The pimento cheese had big chunks of pimento peppers and the perfect mix of mayo and cheese.  The hot links were 2 full sized sausage links.  Biggest appetizer you can imagine.   I asked the bartender Chris what I should get.  He knew I was from Texas (is that really a surprise?) and suggested the brisket and I told him, "thanks but I would like to eat what you are famous for" and he immediately said two types of pig!  Score!  I got the pulled pork and baby back ribs.  The pulled pork was very good.  Very moist.  Very flavorful.  They put the exact right amount of sauce on the pork.  They didn't drown it, which was great.  The ribs were good with a good flavor.  They were a bit dry but the flavor was good.  I did like the way they put a couple of pickles on top of each piece of pork.  

Chris did a great job of selling the desserts and while I am sitting here typing this I really wish I would of got some of that banana pudding to go!

Jim-n- Nick's is a must stop when you are visiting Birmingham.  I really liked it and the service was awesome.  So if you are wanting some BBQ and a good time, stop by.  You will be so glad you did.  

Tell me about your favorite BBQ place on a road trip.  Thanks for listening and Keep On Smokin'!!!!!

Game Day!!!

Hook Em!!!  Texas! Fight!  The eyes of Texas!

No BBQ review here today.  Just a brief word about today.  Today is the Red River Rivalry or Shootout or whatever is politically correct this year.  Big day in my household.  I will be hunkered down watching the game, tending the smoker while my brisket and ribs are going.  Waiting for the perfect meal to hopefully end a perfect day with a Texas win!!  BBQ and football just go together.  Today is just a great day. 

Today also makes me think of something else.  Today is not only Texas-ou but it is my dad's birthday.  My dad, my grammy and myself really had fun with today.  On the rare occasion when Texas would lose my grandmother would be the first to call my dad and tell him that ou won because they had better Texas boys than the Horns had.  Yes, I will admit here and in public.  I am 100% Texan but I do have okie blood as my dad was an okie.  I know, I know.  So Dad, I know you will be up there rooting for your sooners and I will be rooting for my Horns and I will miss you and Grammy and I just hope she doesn't elbow you and say, "You're Texans were better than our Texans."

I love you and miss you both and I will keep on smokin today thinking of you two.

The Pit Ain't the pits!

I have spoke many times about the beauty that is Texas BBQ and it will always be my favorite.  I do however appreciate almost all BBQ.  Each region has their own style and flair.  Well, I have always heard about how great Carolina BBQ is and I finally found out this week.  

I went to a place a local Raleigh resident told me I should go.  Stand back, he's going to The Pit.  The Pit is a great place in downtown Raleigh.  As soon as I walked in I could smell the smoke.  Oh what a smell!!  When in Rome right?  So I ordered the pulled pork and ribs.  The pork was great without any sauce and when I added that classic Carolina mustard vinegar sauce, it was off the charts.  The pulled pork is done old school.  It is truly a pig pikkin! I moved on to the ribs and they were amazing (The Pit beat Bobby Flay in a throw down).  Carolina style ribs are a little bigger and meatier.  Trust me, you will love them.  I got sides of mac-n-cheese and fried okra.  Don't know why because I only ate the meat!!  Yes, the meat was that good.

BBQ is a cultural thing and each culture has their own tastes and likes.  I love Texas BBQ but that doesn't mean I don't love Carolina BBQ too.  If you want to taste some great authentic Carolina BBQ to see what I mean, stop by The Pit in Raleigh, North Carolina.  You can't go wrong there.  Even the fried pimento cheese was great!!  (you are in the South remember!)

Enjoy some pulled pig and keep on smokin!!!