I had a little road trip this week and was fortunate enough to eat at two local BBQ joints in North Carolina. They do pig a little different than we do over here in our state, but it was good stuff. The taste at one place reminded me of my childhood in southern Virginia.
Per my last post, one place was in a old gas station and they claim they have added on to the building six times over the years. I loved that you could blow your horn for curb service. The other place was in a large building actually built as a restaurant and meant to resemble a barn. This was cause for concern. Last year I posted how to spot a good BBQ joint and this place looked a little too refined to be the real deal.
Looking at the menu at the second place I saw that indeed while they were a hometown success, they were in danger of losing their BBQ roots. They had way too many things on the menu that did not reflect what should be, needs to be, served at a true BBQ joint. Yes, my friends, I am saying a look at a tray, plate, or menu will tell you if the shack is the real deal.
Today I am not here to argue the merits of pulled pork, chopped pork, ribs, brisket, Brunswick Stew, sausage, or any other meat option. I simply offer up this handy reference of what a real joint should serve with your meat choice along with an extra pointer or two. Enjoy.
1. Slaw. There is no need to call it cole slaw. It's just slaw.
2. Beans. They are baked. They may have a little meat and BBQ sauce in the bean sauce.
3. Other sides. A few others are acceptable, but let's not get too carried away. Do you really need anything besides beans and slaw? Really?
4. Tea. If you say "tea" it means sweet tea. If you don't want sweat tea you should say "unsweet tea". They will serve this to you after providing a pitiful look. The best joints provide it in a styrofoam "to go" cup which will be refilled right before you depart the establishment. This allows you to sip slowly and fondly reflect on your meal for the next several hours.
5. Soda. If tea is not your thing you can go with a soda. Demand dictates soda as an option, but really tea is built to go with BBQ. Be careful, my friend.
6. Beer. The joint may or may not be licensed to serve beer. Either is OK, but if they serve beer it should be classic American stuff like PBR or Miller High Life because you are eating uniquely American food. To all you light beer drinkers I simply ask how much you are saving compared to the chow you are partaking? Was it worth it? And to be clear, there is not room in a BBQ joint for imported or micro-brew beer. Save that for someplace else!
7. No french fries or onion rings! Come on, folks, you can go to The Dixie for a burger if you want fries or rings. Many a BBQ institution has fallen into this trap. Focus, people, focus!
8. Bread options should be squishy white buns or rolls, texas toast, cornbread, or hush puppies. That's it. You can leave that whole wheat and multi-grain stuff across the street at the twigs & berries cafe. The primary function of the bread is to handle clean up operations on the plate and your fingers towards the end of the meal. Pace yourself and do not fill up on the bread too early.
9. Two sauces (when we say "sauce" we mean "BBQ sauce", but we should only need to say "sauce"). One should be tomato based and the other a regional standard (it might be mustard or vinegar based). This sauce should be house made by the establishment. If you really like the sauce buy a bottle and take it home with you. A bottle of branded hot sauce or pepper sauce riding shotgun is just fine (in our part of the world it is best if it is Texas Pete). You should seriously question the establishment should catchup or mustard be seen anywhere on the premises outside of the kitchen. It's OK if seen in the kitchen since it could be an ingredient in the sauce, but it should not be made available for direct placement on food..
10. Banana Pudding. The kind with Nilla Wafers. Here is the original recipe. Don't get suckered with cake and pie options. Real joints offer real banana pudding if they the have any dessert at all. After all, if the BBQ is good enough you likely with be out of room, especially after clean up operations with your bread (see above).
There you have it. I hope this handy little reference guild helps you in pursuit of perfect, or just plenty good 'Cue! May your days be filled with a great need for paper towels and wet naps!
