Weekend Book Giveaway: Real Barbecue
Posted by Ed Levine, October 20, 2007 at 7:12 AM
Until almost twenty years ago, I still thought barbecue was the steak my dad grilled for us every Sunday in the summer (the side dish for that meal was pizza, but that's another story). Then I read Vince Staten and Greg Johnson's thoughtful, comprehensive, and passionate national guide to barbecue, Real Barbecue, and that got me hooked on 'cue. I knew then that the pursuit of serious barbecue would be a lifelong one for me. Sadly, their book went out of print, and my only copy is now so dog-eared and barbecue sauce-stained it's falling apart.
Last week a friend told me that Staten and Johnson had put out a revised edition this summer. Sure enough, when I logged on to Amazon, there it was. And thanks to the good folks at Globe-Pequot Press, we're giving away five copies of Real Barbecue.
To enter to win just tell us the name of your favorite barbecue joint.
Winners will be chosen at random from among the comments, and the contest will close Monday at 6 p.m. ET. The usual Serious Eats contest rules apply.
Comments are closed: 71 Comments:
Jack Stack's in Kansas City - to die for!
mrsadm at 7:31AM on 10/20/07
Jim Neely's Interstate BBQ in Memphis...It's the BEST!
Erinay77 at 9:02AM on 10/20/07
For pulled pork sandwiches I agree with Erinay77, it's Interstate BBQ in Memphis, both the original location and in the airport. For ribs, Central BBQ also 2 locations in Memphis. For something unusual the Cornish Game Hens at Cozy Corner, also in Memphis.
memphish at 9:29AM on 10/20/07
Gotta be the Georgia Pig in Brunswick, Georgia.
1stmakearoux at 9:49AM on 10/20/07
Pardner's BBQ in Piney Flasts, TN BBQ at it's best!!
LauraWilliamsMusings at 9:53AM on 10/20/07
strange little place on Haight Street in San Francisco - Memphis Minnie;s.
good pulled pork - Anchor Steam beer
suegsf at 10:27AM on 10/20/07
The Q Shack in Durham, NC. Amazing sauces, and a beef brisket to die for!
DuncanHusky at 10:30AM on 10/20/07
Mr T's on 23rd street in Midwestcity Oklahoma, the ribs are awsome!!
Markbb at 10:34AM on 10/20/07
Brothers Barbeque in Denver is very good.
komdat at 11:14AM on 10/20/07
now if they'd just release a revised edition of New York Eats
norman at 11:26AM on 10/20/07
I haven't had much experience with real BBQ on my part, but at least more places are popping up on Long Island whenever I get home.
As such, I really enjoyed City Grill in Bloomington, IN when it was still open. They weren't in a great location downtown for students (or for the hotel crowd , even though room service was provided through them even though they were down the road) but my word they could cook up some succulent ribs and brisket! Their sauce was absolutely delectable too and the prices? Insane. I fully endorse full, delicious racks of ribs for $10.
May the place rest in peace, it really was a gem.
First Chair at 11:43AM on 10/20/07
Rudy's in Austin TX
jdestes at 11:47AM on 10/20/07
Blackwater BBQ in Orlando, Fl. Formerly, they were a cue competition outfit, now It's all about the ribs.
rje77 at 11:58AM on 10/20/07
R.U.B. in New York.
foodinmouth at 12:09PM on 10/20/07
We gravitate toward the Famous Dave's in North Toledo, although City BBQ's whole hog pulled pork is incredible. They just reach in through the skin flap, grab some, throw it on a plate with some sauce and hand it to you.
LunaPierCook at 12:21PM on 10/20/07
Fat Matt's Rib Shack in Atlanta
fredmurphy at 12:28PM on 10/20/07
Rib & Loin in Hixson TN. They are good !!
AshleyR at 12:34PM on 10/20/07
Angelo's in Fort Worth
DonaRae at 1:03PM on 10/20/07
Black's in Lockhart, TX.
I was lucky enough to find a copy of this on alibris.com several years ago. It's a terrific book.
Cathy at 1:21PM on 10/20/07
Lechonera Los Pino in Guavate Puerto Rico.
Don Luis at 1:23PM on 10/20/07
phil's original bbq in toronto.
lexophile at 1:39PM on 10/20/07
Hoggy's BBQ in Ohio, ribs and cornbread to die for!
bobcatsteph3 at 1:49PM on 10/20/07
I love eating at Shyler's in Evansville, Indiana.
LilacButterfly at 2:12PM on 10/20/07
Sonny Bryant's, Dallas Texas is what I am craving at the moment.
outsidecounsel at 3:04PM on 10/20/07
New Zion Baptist Church in Huntsville, Texas, also known as the "church of the holy smoke." Walking through the clouds of bbq smoke as you go inside the trailer outside of the church "baptize" you... there is nothing else like their ribs and sausage! vegetarians go there just for the potato salad!
wrenling at 3:14PM on 10/20/07
L.C.'s BBQ in Kansas City
spanklin at 3:45PM on 10/20/07
Only one favorite place? Houston has so many good places, but I've yet to eat really good barbeque here in Dallas. My Houston faves are Jim Goode's place. Everything is good here. Sit outside at a picnic table and get to know all the nice folks sitting next to you. Otto's is across town and is a favorite of George Bush Sr., but don't let that deter you. Skip the sides here and just go for the meats.
nellopea at 4:25PM on 10/20/07
Don Murray's in Raleigh. Love it.
FoodBoy at 4:29PM on 10/20/07
Georgia's Eastside BBQ on Orchard and Houston St.
Lower East Side New York
Great Baby Backs and Fries and an excellent tangy-spicy sauce
NYC Eats at 4:45PM on 10/20/07
Podnah's Pit BBQ, Portland, OR.
Eilen at 5:30PM on 10/20/07
Russell Street Bar-B-Que in Portland, OR
Scoggdog at 7:29PM on 10/20/07
As much for the name as for the food:
Dr. Hogly Wogley's Tyler Texas BBQ, in Van Nuys, CA
Bria at 7:59PM on 10/20/07
The Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas. Can I go back now??
LoDega at 8:11PM on 10/20/07
Ditto on Salt Lick.
Jeana at 8:29PM on 10/20/07
Grandps Fred's BBQ in Woodland Hills, CA. Hogly Wogley is good too, but they don't have the fried okra side.
LearP at 9:24PM on 10/20/07
I'll second Georgia's, but for the pulled pork.
bluebird at 9:25PM on 10/20/07
Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse, NY.
marianne215 at 11:00PM on 10/20/07
Interstate bbq in memphis...Love the bbq spagetti
malenky at 11:29PM on 10/20/07
Speedway in Lacey, WA.
palatineboor at 1:34AM on 10/21/07
Rodizio in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires...traditional Argentine parilla with a great salad bar, excellent service, all you can eat from blood sausage to lamb,chicken,beef all for $12 per head. A must when in BA.
berthirsch at 7:42AM on 10/21/07
Lark's BBQ & Hand Car Wash in Benton Harbor, MI
running26 at 8:15AM on 10/21/07
Ditto on the Dinosaur BBQ in NY
zekks at 8:43AM on 10/21/07
There's a place in Memphis* that very few and, at the same time, a lot of people know about called the Germantown Commisary. One location only, in kind of an old rustic shack. Been there for years, with pictures of all sorts of high profile types on the wall. Incredible Q, plus everything from their own Bar B Q potato chips to killer banana pudding. It's a must eat!
*Home of the Memphis in May Bar B Q contest-the granddaddy of them all, where real barbecuers make their bones, so to speak.
rscott at 10:17AM on 10/21/07
KC's Rib Shack Barbecue, Manchester, NH
nikki57 at 10:56AM on 10/21/07
Short Sugar's in Reidsville, North Carolina
Oklahoma Joe's in Kansas City, Kansas
Central BBQ in Memphis, Tennessee
jebphillips at 12:19PM on 10/21/07
Redbones in Davis Square, near Boston
jpark107 at 7:40PM on 10/21/07
Love Moe's BBQ in Pismo Beach, CA. Excellent with a Fat Tire ale...
louie734 at 7:56PM on 10/21/07
Philadelphia is severely lacking when it comes to yummy authentic BBQ.
So when I must have some, I go to Pheobe's.
Ludichrissy at 8:15PM on 10/21/07
Pappy Po's Pull Pork BBQ in Juneau, Alaska. Doesn't have a restaurant, just a stand he puts up at every event that happens in the city. One of the best BBQ i have ever had.
inthepit at 9:02PM on 10/21/07
the rib hut in el paso texas circa 1992. i have no idea if its still there.
anado at 9:59PM on 10/21/07
Rockland's BBQ in Arlington, VA. So good it'll make you wanna smack your momma.
phattymatt at 10:45PM on 10/21/07
Gorilla BBQ in Pacifica, CA. Renovated Railroad car full of stainless steel commercial kitchen....and a great smoker unit. Huge portions, good sauce.
coastalvicar
coastalvicar at 12:49AM on 10/22/07
The Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse, NY is amazing not just for the slow cooking. The dark meat on the chicken they serve is clearly dark, meaning a) you can taste the difference between a leg and a breast, and b) it's a bird that has actually run around while it was alive. It reminded me of the chickens my parents used to raise on our farm.
lawforfood at 7:59AM on 10/22/07
Fat Bob's - Buffalo, NY.....we don't have alot of bbq places around here....but their mac n' cheese is to die for!
mepolo at 8:14AM on 10/22/07
17th Street Bar and Grill in Murphysboro, Illinois.
deeoh1 at 8:33AM on 10/22/07
Rockwood's in Rockville, MD. It's the best place around here.
mrsbao at 8:43AM on 10/22/07
We don't have much bbq around here, so we end up at good ol' Famous Dave's!
kelwick at 8:45AM on 10/22/07
Muddy River Smokehouse in Portsmouth, NH.
happybites at 9:25AM on 10/22/07
Boston is hardly BBQ country, but we have our share of decent joints around. However, my favorite is one that doesn't exist any longer: Jake and Earl's of Inman Square, Cambridge. It was the BBQ take out window of the East Coast Grill, where you could get killer burnt end sandwiches, pulled pork, as well as rice crispy squares the size of your head.
The East Coast expanded to take over the space, and still sells good BBQ, Jake's is in Waltham now, and is damn good, but I miss my local take out joint.
dikaryon at 9:28AM on 10/22/07
Texas: Black's, Cooper's (the one in Llano), Louie Mueller, Smitty's, Salt Lick, Artz Ribs, Southside Market, Sam's, City Market
North Carolina: Allen and Son's, Wilber's, Cook's, Lexington #1, Hendrix, Parker's, Skylight Inn, B's Barbecue, Barbecue Joint
intheyearofthepig at 10:13AM on 10/22/07
Short Sugar's in Reidsville, NC
My favorite "pit" stop on the BBQ trail - pun intended!
crafty at 10:46AM on 10/22/07
Bubbalou's Bodacious Barbecue in Orlando, FL.
jkiller5150 at 11:32AM on 10/22/07
Bubba's BBQ, Cape Hatteras, NC
sjwoodin at 11:37AM on 10/22/07
The Cookhouse in New Milford, CT
gratefulted at 12:01PM on 10/22/07
My very own kitchen,
Pierogi at 12:08PM on 10/22/07
Ditto my own kitchen. It's hard to find good barbeque in Seattle.
ConschBTJ at 1:10PM on 10/22/07
I'm at a loss for an answer here because it's pretty hard to find a good BBQ joint in the kosher world. Having grown up with the treif-tacular options, nothing has been able to soothe that hole in my soul reserved for ribs, cornbread, and spicy beans. There's either the place where you can pay $50 for a steak or the cheaper place where you take your life (or at least your stomach) in your hands with every bite of burger. I hear there's a place that opened up in Jersey. I'll keep high hopes until confirmed.
Stufsocker at 1:22PM on 10/22/07
If I'm not smoking it at home, I'd eat it at City Flame Smokehouse in Manchester, NH.
HeyCarl at 1:35PM on 10/22/07
Rudy's, San Antonio, Texas.
Kimc54 at 2:18PM on 10/22/07
Jacks BBQ in Nashville - delicious pulled pork and great sauces
Marty Boom at 3:03PM on 10/22/07
Thanks to everyone for commenting and congrats to our winners:
mrsadm
palatineboor
lexophile
rscott
Cathy
roboppy at 9:30PM on 10/22/07