135174 Wed Mar 21 15:49:26 -0800 2001 27 11 South 0 726281 I'm planning to take the trip Cathy talked about earlier. I've been using all the posts to put together a rather comprehensive list of prospects. My plan is to take two weeks and drive from Atlanta (where I live) into the Carolinas, across Tennessee, through Missouri to Kansas City, then back, probably through Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama. I plan to leave in a couple of weeks, once minor league baseball season begins. Rather than recreate the already-existing and very informative posts, I'd just like to ask for suggestions of must-sees, must-avoids, and lists of any places that are definitely open only on certain days. I'm armed with my copies of "Eat your Way Across the USA" and "Southern Belly." Also, I'd like to stay at as many 'cool' or 'vintage' motels along the way as possible. Any suggestions? I'm having a hard time finding any good lists. I can stay at Budget Inns, etc., but where available, I'd rather experience Americana. Wed Mar 21 15:49:26 -0800 2001 0 DaveR 1 726285 I'm familiar with the more popular: Rendezvous--Memphis--must eat ribs Dreamland--Tuscaloosa, AL--must eat ribs and a couple of not so well known: Dixie Pig--Blytheville (chopped shoulder w/ vinegar based sauce--get a pig plate with blue cheese...spice up the bbq, cut up some fresh onion, mix onion and some bbq with salad..mmmmm) Red Gill's--Blytheville, Arkansas--really good ribs. As far as I can tell, do not bother with Atlanta BBQ. Thu Mar 22 18:38:44 -0800 2001 726281 0 Tater 2 726287 Well, if you're going to be anywhere near Atlanta, hit the Fresh-Air BBQ just south of Jackson. But right in Atlanta, Harold's has some of the best Brunswick stew I've found. There is a lot of mediocre stew out there. Thu Mar 22 22:32:22 -0800 2001 726285 0 Bob W. 2 726289 I've been to RendezVouz and Corky's, and I do really like dry rub. But I want to try something different this time when in Memphis. And I'm not going to eat BBQ in Atlanta. I live there, so I can eat it anytime. As it stands now, I plan to be in Lexington, N.C., and Bluff City, TN., on a Sunday. Does anyone know if Lexington and Ridgewood are open on Sundays? Fri Mar 23 17:49:27 -0800 2001 726285 0 DaveR 3 726290 Corky's touristy and not great. Best I found in Memphis, by far, was Interstate. I've been gratified to find, since my visit, that some local cue-heads agree. Fri Mar 23 17:53:42 -0800 2001 726289 0 Jim Leff 3 726298 I think this post will help Dave but I hope it will help others experience outstanding barbecue as well. I just got back from a quick trip to Concord, NC (just north of Charlotte) with one of my four-legged hounds. This requires me to travel I-85 from Petersburg Va. to Concord. This may be one of the finest barbecue highways in the US. There are gems at many exits in NC from the VA border to the SC border, some less than a mile from the off ramp. And yes, the one's I've tried all observe one of the preeminent barbecue hounding rules: The good places don't need to advertise on interstate "Food" signs or billboards. Now, on to the 'cue! Friday afternoon I was looking forward to a stop at one of my new favorites, Nunnery-Freeman in Norlina (exit 233 heading south). I found out about this place from an article in the Charlotte Observer in which the writer listed his ten favorite barbecue spots in the state. This was number one, so I'd say it was worth a stop. I had hit it on an earier trip (see my post about South Atlantic Chowhounding), but as so often happens, I screwed up and missed the exit. This place is right off Route 1, not I-85, and I was in a hurry so I didn't feel like wasting time backtracking. So, wanting to make sure I got at least some cue on the way down, I stopped at Bob's Barbecue at Exit 191 (Creedmore-Butner). For this place props to Bob Garner's book North Carolina Barbecue: Flavored By Time. A great resource, and still in print I'm sure. Bob's is less than a mile from the exit. Good tender piedmont chopped cue (pork shoulder), with a nice crunchy white slaw (a nice change from Eastern yellow slaw and Lexington red slaw). The hush pups were good, I think. I seem to have an increasingly low tolerance for hush pups. (My dog liked them, but he liked the cue more). Bob's sauce is a very interesting thin dark brown concoction that you can apply yourself. Similar to the sauce (AKA dip) up the road at Nunnery-Freeman. Anyway, I devoured a tray (cue + slaw) in what seemed like seconds. My blunder was not getting a piece of the sweet potato pie, which I learned later from going back to Bob Garner's book is legendary. Damn! Bob's also scores points for being named for a real person. Bob is the now-deceased founder. His daughter is now in charge. Bob's is not well known outside the area (I'd say it's 20-mile barbecue) but it's a great resource for travelin' chowhounds. Open 10-8 daily, but closed Sundays, like many cue joints in NC. OK, back into the car. Time's a wastin', since I didn't know what time Lexington Barbecue closed. On I-85 I passed exits (Greensboro, Burlington, etc.) that I knew had good cue, but when you've been to the mountaintop, you always go back if you're in the area. So even though I really wasn't hungry again, I took the I-85/29/70 business loop and sure enough, the lights were on at Lexington Barbecue. This place certainly doesn't need any more kudos, so let's just say the coarse chopped brown cue is as good as ever. I got a large tray of some of the most succulent meat I know I have ever eaten. The brown edges provide a really nice smoky chew, like skin, but it's all lean meat. Tasty red slaw and a generous portion of pups. And my order was handed to me by none other than Mr. Barbecue himself, Wayne Monk. Lexington Barbecue opens early in the AM and is open until 9:30. Closed Sunday. If there's 100-mile barbecue, this may be it. My next taste of cue was a special treat. If you ever get invited to a barbecue hosted by the Cabarrus Beagle Club, go! These ole boys know cue as well as they know beagles. Very lean chopped cue, an unusually tangy slaw (more of a clear sauce, yet another variation), and a fabulous hot dip. Need I mention that Carolinians have the best slaw in the world? East or west, theirs is best. No gloopy slop down there. Anyway, after some tiring dog events Sunday, time to make the return trip. Now here is where research really paid off. Thank's to Bob Garner's book, I knew that Jimmy's Barbecue (yes Jimmy is the owner, and no, they don't have a sign on the Interstate) in Lexington is open on Sundays. They're closed Tuesdays. Now, that is very important info for chowhounders. :>) And thanks to Bob Garner, and old Phyllis Richman article, and an article I found on line called The Lexington Six-Pack, I knew that Jimmy's is uniformly regarded as being damn close to Lexington Barbecue in the pantheon. 75-mile barbecue? So here is another gem located right off the highway, but if you didn't know about it, you'd go to someplace called Porky's that had a big sign on I-85. Jimmy's is about a quarter mile from Exit 91 (Lexington-Southmont). Since I promised Mrs. W. I would bring home some cue, I forced myself to just get a large chopped sandwich and a small order of hush pups. OK, I would have gotten an order of their famous pork skins, but they don't have them on Sundays. Double damn! I rushed out to the car without even bothering to apply some of Jimmy's highly regarded dip to my sandwich. Didn't matter. That meat was so tender I could have just shoved that bad boy in my mouth all at once. Not only that, but the roll (they use Flowers rolls; southern bakers know from rolls) was outstanding. The sandwich (large, $3.25) was so big I could only force down a couple hush pups. They also have some very good sweet tea. Oh, Jimmy's opens at 6 AM! They close at 9 PM, I think. The trip may be over, but there is a quart of Jimmy's barbecue (plus a pint of their good red slaw, a half pint of dip, and twelve of those luscious rolls) waiting at home for supper! Mon Mar 26 12:29:01 -0800 2001 726289 0 Bob W. 4 726299 Thanks Bob. This is, indeed, helpful for my trip. Since I may be rolling through the Lexington area on a Sunday, I may miss Lexington, but I'll be able to hit Jimmy's. But I may need to shift things around so as to not be in N.C. on a Sunday. It'd be a shame to miss Lexington. Mon Mar 26 15:25:01 -0800 2001 726298 0 DaveR 2 726300 That Dixie Pig description is driving me crazy! I can't get the idea out of my mind! I'm gonna need to fly back to GA just to try that! Mon Mar 26 17:25:56 -0800 2001 726285 0 Chris O 1 726286 I don't think Leatha's-- now in Hattisburg, MS not Foxworth as when Southern Belly was written-- was talked about much in the BBQ trail discussion. But I did talk about it in my Mississippi post from the beginning of the year. Defintely a place to check out if you make it that far south. Thu Mar 22 19:28:43 -0800 2001 726281 0 Carter 1 726304 OK. Here it is. The working draft of my schedule is below, and I'm inviting comments for the next week. I'll be out of town this weekend, but will be able to consider changes when I get back. Thanks for your input. Saturday, April 7 Lunch at Brushy Creek BBQ, Powdersville, S.C. (west of Greenville) Dinner at Lexington Barbecue, Lexington N.C. R.O.N. Charlotte or Gastonia? Sunday, April 8 Lunch at Bridges Barbecue, Shelby, N.C. Asheville Tourists v. Wilmington (2 p.m.) Dinner at Ridgewood Barbecue, Bluff City, TN. R.O.N. Johnson City, TN. Monday, April 9 Drive to Lynchburg, TN, tour Jack Daniel's Distillery Lunch TBD Drive to Jackson, TN. Dinner TBD West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx v. Tennessee (7:05 p.m.) R.O.N. Jackson, TN. Tuesday, April 10 Drive to Memphis Lunch at Cozy Corner Dinner at Interstate Barbecue R.O.N. Memphis, TN. Wednesday, April 11 Graceland Lunch TBD Dinner TBD (Rendezvous?) Memphis Redbirds v. Calgary (7:05 p.m.) R.O.N. Memphis, TN. Thursday, April 12 Lunch at Hog Heaven, Dyersburg, TN. Drive to St. Louis Casino Dinner TBD R.O.N. St. Louis, MO. Friday, April 13 Drive to Kansas City Lunch TBD (Columbia?) Dinner TBD R.O.N. Kansas City, MO. Saturday, April 14 Lunch TBD in Kansas City Drive to Joplin (150 miles) Dinner TBD R.O.N. Joplin, MO. Sunday, April 15 Lunch at B&B Bar-B-Q, Fayetteville, AR. Drive to Little Rock Dinner at Lindsay's BBQ or Walkers Bar-B-Que Company (North Little Rock), Little Rock R.O.N. Little Rock, AR. Monday, April 16 Drive to Tunica R.O.N. Tunica, MS. Tuesday, April 17 Drive to Tuscaloosa Dinner at Dreamland, Tuscaloosa. R.O.N. Tuscaloosa, AL. Wednesday, April 18 Drive to Birmingham Lunch at Johnny Ray's, Birmingham Birmingham Barons v. Orlando (time TBD). R.O.N. Birmingham Thursday, April 19 Lunch at Ollie's, Birmingham Drive to Atlanta Tue Mar 27 14:52:18 -0800 2001 726281 0 DaveR 2 726305 Dave: sounds like a great trip. I'm a minor league baseball lover too. One question more than a comment: which Bridges Barbecue are you going to hit in Shelby NC? Amazingly, there are two, Alston Bridges and Bridges Barbecue Lodge. The proprietors aren't even related! Both are supposed to be excellent. Tue Mar 27 15:27:07 -0800 2001 726304 0 Bob W. 3 726306 I was thinking of Bridges Barbecue Lodge. But I'm not sure I was aware of another, so I'm glad you asked. I've heard Bridges Barbecue Lodge is supposed to be great, so I had it in mind. Tue Mar 27 21:23:09 -0800 2001 726305 0 DaveR 4 726308 Bridges Barbecue Lodge is the one to visit. Bridges Barbecue cooks over electricity and then puts the meat to the pit. What a shame... they used to be extraordinary. Still make great hushpuppies. Tue Mar 27 22:41:48 -0800 2001 726306 0 Jim 2 726309 Brushy Creek is a great choice !!! It's not widely recognized but excellent ! Tue Mar 27 22:46:10 -0800 2001 726304 0 Jim 2 726310 When I was in Joplin on business several years ago our host reccommended a place several miles south of town on Rt 57. As I remember it they were very good, but I can't remember the name or exact location. You might check with the locals when you get to Joplin to find out more and whether the place is still there. As memory serves me, it was well known among the locals. Hope you have a good que'in trip. Wed Mar 28 08:48:47 -0800 2001 726304 0 Allan Wilkinson 3 727459 there is no rt 57 south of Joplin Thu Apr 04 17:50:37 -0800 2002 726310 0 Sam 2 726368 Follow along with David's expedition, via the link below (note: if you don't scan the "What's New" column on our homepage, you'll miss updates like this!) Link: http://www.chowhound.com/writing/ragals/ragalsbbq.html Fri Apr 13 23:15:33 -0700 2001 726304 0 Jim Leff 1 726363 After a small delay, I'm heading out on my trip tomorrow morning. I'll be following more or less the same schedule I already posted and will be sending updates and pictures along the way. Thanks to everyone whose input (knowingly or not) helped me put together this trip. Thu Apr 12 16:56:05 -0700 2001 726281 0 DaveR 2 726370 Friday, April 13 Lunch at Brushy Creek BBQ, Powdersville, S.C. (west of Greenville) Hwy 81, three miles from Hwy 153, close to Powdersville – 803-269-0155 Dinner at Lexington Barbecue, Lexington N.C. Hwy 29/70 S – 336-249-9814 Winston Salem Warthogs v. MB (7:15 p.m) Business I-40 to Cherry Street North through town to Deacon Blvd. Right on Deacon to stadium R.O.N. Winston-Salem/Lexington Saturday, April 14 Lunch at Bridges Barbecue, Shelby, N.C. Hwy 74 – 704-482-8567 Early dinner at Ridgewood Barbecue, Bluff City, TN. 90-minute drive to Kodak, TN (Kodak) Tennessee Smokies v. CHT (7:15 p.m.) I-40 at Hwy 66 (right off exit 407) R.O.N. Knoxville Sunday, April 15 Drive to Lynchburg, TN, tour Jack Daniel's Distillery – 931-759-4221 Lunch TBD Drive to Nashville, TN. Nashville Sounds v. Tacoma (3:35 p.m.) R.O.N.Nashville, TN. OR Drive Hwy 64 West toward Memphis R.O.N. TBD Monday, April 16 Drive to Memphis Lunch TBD Dinner at Interstate Barbecue Tuesday, April 17 Graceland Lunch at Cozy Corner 745 N. Parkway – 901-527-9158 Dinner TBD (Rendezvous or Corky's?) R.O.N. Memphis, TN. Wednesday, April 18 Lunch at Hog Heaven, Dyersburg, TN. Drive to St. Louis Dinner @ Ropers, Phil's or Mama's Coalpot? AND/OR St. Louis Cardinals v. Arizona (7:10 p.m.) R.O.N. St. Louis, MO. Thursday, April 19 Drive to Kansas City Lunch TBD (Columbia?) Dinner Arthur Bryant's, Kansas City. R.O.N. Kansas City, MO. Friday, April 20 Lunch L.C.'s, Kansas City Drive to Joplin (150 miles) Dinner TBD R.O.N. Capri Motel, Joplin, MO. Saturday, April 21 Lunch at B&B Bar-B-Q, Fayetteville, AR. Drive to Little Rock Dinner at Lindsay's BBQ or Walkers Bar-B-Que Company (North Little Rock), Little Rock R.O.N. Little Rock, AR. Sunday, April 22 Drive to Tunica Monday, April 23 Drive to Tupelo Visit Elvis Presley Birthplace 306 Elvis Presley Drive – 662-841-1245 Drive to Tuscaloosa Dinner at Dreamland, Tuscaloosa. R.O.N. Tuscaloosa, AL. Tuesday, April 24 Drive to Birmingham Lunch at Johnny Ray's, Birmingham Drive to Atlanta Sat Apr 14 08:43:08 -0700 2001 726363 0 DaveR 3 726375 I tell yew what! I vote for Rendezvous for dinner April 17. How 'bout a before and after picture? Or a daily belt-notch tracker? Mon Apr 16 08:06:45 -0700 2001 726370 0 Spaceboy 3 726729 Among life's solo "B-road" trip guilty pleasures, pit BBQ and fresh fish fry...on a recent trip north from the Raleigh-Durham triangle, I tripped over Gary's...a spit and polish clean friendly spot 1/2 mile off I85, exit 212, open 8am-9pm T-Sat, 8am-8:30pm Sun. There are clearly marked signs that take you off the main road at the hospital turn-off to the restaurant. They have sides like potato salad, pickled beets, green beans, etc, and fresh non-greasy hot hush puppies. Even the tartar sauce squeeze bottles were super clean and kept in the frig. Generous portions of sweet fresh crispy fried fish and seafood and they even cheerfully rigged an ice packed rack of tasty ribs for my cooler for the trip home. I stopped in at 10am...what a luxury... They also told me a former partner has a restaurant called Nunnery-Freeman BBQ on Norlina Road, take I85 to 158 West, make a right and it's on the left. Gary's sells bottles of Nunnery-Freeman BBQ mustard, hot and mild BBQ sauce, a thinner, not-too-sweet, trio of sauces. Wed Jul 11 19:03:46 -0700 2001 726370 0 Claire G. Spector 1 726640 The best barbecue I have ever ate in my life is at a dive in Blountville, TN called Ridgewood Barbeque. The outside doesn't look like much, but people come from everywhere to eat there. Sun Jun 24 23:33:27 -0700 2001 726281 0 Amy 2 727237 When I was a little girl growing up in Kingsport, TN, my mother told me that Ridgewood started making BBQ to cover up the bootlegging. True or not I have traveled most of the US and I miss Rodgewood BBQ more than anything down here in FL. Fri Dec 07 12:50:46 -0800 2001 726640 0 Michelle Ballard 2 731523 I had the good fortune to eat at Ridgewood for the first time Friday afternoon May 16, 2003. I enjoyed it and plan to eat there many more times after I move from South Carolina to Kingsport TN. later this year. I liked the taste so much I bought a jar of their sauce. Mon May 19 15:13:45 -0700 2003 726640 0 John Rogers 2 731711 I grew up in Bristol and lived there for about 22 years. I now live in Charleston, SC. Nothing here compares to it. Ridgewood still reigns supreme as far as BBQ goes. The beans are great too! It is located in Bluff City rather that Blountville, which was stated in a previous e-mail. I eat there everytime I go home to visit. Thu Jun 05 15:07:52 -0700 2003 726640 0 Marcus Rhymer 2 733183 actually, Ridgewood is not in Blountville, Tn. It is between Piney Flats and Elizabethton. Hardly a dive. More of an old southern diner. The barbeque is good Wed Aug 20 16:15:26 -0700 2003 726640 0 doug mitchell 2 738248 Found this place in while in college in Johnson City in 1976. Now live out of the area but every time I'm back, I make sure to make at least one 30 mile drive to re-visit. Beef or pork, you can't go wrong. Delicious. Wed Aug 04 18:15:45 -0700 2004 726640 0 Frank T 1 727117 It's true. Ridgewood BBQ is the best in the world. It is a must. BTW, it is closed on Mondays. Sun Sep 23 00:27:13 -0700 2001 726281 0 Rachel