Tips for Grilling with Fruitwood & Charcoal We received a lot of questions about using charcoal, wood chips and wood chunks. I prefer to use natural hardwood charcoal, lit in a charcoal chimney without lighter fluid. I use fruitwood, such as cherry or apple, when grilling or smoking chicken, fish or fruit. Soak wood chips… Read More →
Revival St. Paul This town was a barbecue waste land, until my friends Thomas Boemer and Nick Rancone opened their second location of Revival in St. Paul and decided to add classic smoked meats to the menu, celebrating Boemer’s southern roots. The fried chicken and burger were reason enough to battle the crowds getting their southern comfort… Read More →
Highlights from the Southern Barbecue Trail I’ll line up at Aaron Franklin’s a thousand times to eat his brisket, but traveling through Georgia and the Carolinas along the Southern barbecue trail was truly unforgettable. Barbecue has humble beginnings. It’s essentially American, a meal for gatherings that has a diverse range of styles, techniques and influences.… Read More →
All-American Road Trip In the all-new season of Bizarre Foods, I’m exploring America’s rich history and diverse cuisine along the country’s most famous historic routes. For me, traveling in the USA is all about the legendary trips that define our culture, from de Tocqueville to Huck Finn to Kesey’s Merry Pranksters. Our history can be defined by… Read More →
Kansas City Competitive Barbecue Once known for its stockyards, Kansas City is still famous for its incredibly diverse barbecue scene. It’s a barbecue obsessed town, with dozens of restaurants serving amazing ribs, burnt ends, pulled pork and brisket. But I found that some of the best barbecue is in the backyard smokers getting ready for the competition circuit. Here,… Read More →
La Barbecue’s Top 5 for Austin In the crowded, competitive and often ruthless Texas barbecue scene, La Barbecue sits among the best of the best. Sure it helps that owner LeAnn Mueller hails from barbecue royalty—her grandfather founded Taylor, Texas’ Louie Mueller Barbecue in 1949, a temple of smoked meat that never fails to impress.… Read More →
Championship Quality Barbecue Once known for its stockyards, Kansas City is still famous for its incredibly diverse barbecue scene. It’s a true melting pot of meat, with barbecue restaurants incorporating styles and traditions from all of the country, and doing it exceptionally well. One of the city’s newer establishments, Q39 was opened by CIA graduate and national… Read More →
Feeding the Fire When Joe Carroll opened Brooklyn’s Fette Sau in 2007, he was among the very first pioneers to bring legit barbecue to New York City. A couple years ago, the New Jersey-native expanded his operation to Philadelphia, adding a second Fette Sau to his roster of restaurants (which also includes the neighborhood steakhouse… Read More →
Barbecue Royalty Of course no one agrees on who serves the best barbecue in Kansas City and with over 100 restaurants touting the city’s claim to fame, we’re not going to try to discern who makes the best pulled pork or burnt ends. But one thing is for certain, a trip to Kansas City is… Read More →
Koreatown Barbecue This stretch of 32nd Street in Manhattan is known for round the clock Korean-style revelry, with great and often gritty restaurants, karaoke bars, lots of flashing neon lights and 24hr spas of all types. When it comes to the Korean food in this animated neighborhood, one of my regular spots is New Wonjo.… Read More →
Perfect Peking Duck By Bob & Sue In between our memorable meals at Alinea and Grace, we enjoyed Sun Wah’s perfectly prepared Peking duck with soft buns. This informal north side neighborhood restaurant attracts large crowds of appreciative diners who also enjoy the delicious egg rolls, barbecued pork, and Singapore style rice noodles. Contact 5039 N Broadway Chicago, IL… Read More →
Amazing Barbecued Pig Snoots Otis and Earline Walker first opened Smoki O’s in the Soulard Market in 1997. The barbecue carryout joint known for incredible pig snouts and rib tips soon gained a following, outgrew its market stall and moved to its current home in north St. Louis, just a few minutes from downtown. Pig… Read More →
Killer Mutton Barbecue When Catherine and Pappy Bosley bought Moonlite Bar-B-Q back in 1963 it was just a small roadside restaurant. Four generations later, the family-run company has grown to a multi-million dollar empire, churning out thousands of pounds of mutton for the successful 350-seat restaurant and huge catering business. From the bone-in ribs to… Read More →
Everything’s Made From Scratch Nick Pihakis and his father, Jim, opened the first Jim ‘N Nick’s barbecue joint more than 25 years ago in Birmingham, Alabama. Known for a commitment to quality and an everything-made-from-scratch philosophy, the barbecue chain has now grown to more than 30 restaurants. Barbecue purists may scoff at the idea of a multi-unit… Read More →
Pit-Smoked Perfection Open since 1984, Miss Myra’s serves real hickory-smoked barbecue, cooked in a custom-built brick pit, alongside a killer line-up of homemade Southern desserts. It’s still a family-run restaurant and a favorite with locals, with fantastic chicken, ribs, pulled pork, legendary “white sauce” and a slew of home-style sides such as green beans, coleslaw,… Read More →
Alternatives for the Grill Step away from the traditional burgers and brats, and celebrate the unofficial start of summer with one of these recipes. Grilled lamb is a favorite in my family, it reminds me of little taverns all over Sardinia that serve perfectly charred, herb-infused lamb lollipops. Or get adventurous and try the rich… Read More →
Barbecue Pork Heaven Deep in rural Low Country, Scott’s Bar-B-Que is my favorite barbecue joint in America. You won’t see gas or charcoal at this roadside shack, just pigs, wood and smoke. The Scotts opened the place in 1972, using cooking methods passed down through generations. Pit–master Rodney Scott (who cooked his first pig when he… Read More →
Exquisite Korean Barbecue With the largest Korean population in the country outside of Los Angeles and New York City, it makes sense that Baltimore is home to great Korean restaurants. Just west of downtown in Ellicott City, you’ll find Shin Chon Garden, one of the top ten Korean barbecue joints in America. Expect a communal,… Read More →
The world’s live music capital has a gourmet side. Austin’s quirky vibe and come-as-you-are attitude seems to attract a lot of creative talent, especially when it comes to food. From barbecue and tacos to food trailers and world-class Japanese restaurants, the Texas capital has a place for everyone. Here are just a few reasons I… Read More →
The world’s live music capital has a gourmet side. Austin’s quirky vibe and come-as-you-are attitude seems to attract a lot of creative talent, especially when it comes to food. From barbecue and tacos to food trailers and world-class Japanese restaurants, the Texas capital has a place for everyone. Here are just a few reasons I… Read More →
Alabama’s Barbecue Kingpin Nick Pihakis and his father, Jim, opened the first Jim ‘N Nick’s barbecue joint 25 years ago in Birmingham, Alabama. Known for the slow-hickory-smoked pork and an everything-made-from-scratch mentality, the meaty empire has now grown to 28 restaurants across the South (even the James Beard Foundation has taken note, consecutively nominating Nick as… Read More →
Alabama’s Barbecue Kingpin Nick Pihakis and his father, Jim, opened the first Jim ‘N Nick’s barbecue joint 25 years ago in Birmingham, Alabama. Known for the slow-hickory-smoked pork and an everything-made-from-scratch mentality, the meaty empire has now grown to 28 restaurants across the South (even the James Beard Foundation has taken note, consecutively nominating Nick as… Read More →
Milwaukee’s Best In 1956, owners Betty Gillespie and Leonard Partee opened a barbecue joint with their family’s secret recipes, and after gaining a reputation for their sauce and quick service (hence the name Speed Queen), they moved to their current location and built the biggest barbecue pit in the city. I love the pulled pork… Read More →
Milwaukee’s Best In 1956, owners Betty Gillespie and Leonard Partee opened a barbecue joint with their family’s secret recipes, and after gaining a reputation for their sauce and quick service (hence the name Speed Queen), they moved to their current location and built the biggest barbecue pit in the city. I love the pulled pork… Read More →
Kansas City’s Barbecue Guru Ardie Davis, PhB (doctorate in barbecue philosophy), founded the American Royal BBQ Sauce, Rub and Baste Contest, has written nine barbecue cookbooks and is a backyard meat-smokin’ professional. We chat with Ardie about the country’s best barbecue, the competition trail and tips for championship-quality ribs. For your own taste, head to the American… Read More →
Kansas City’s Barbecue Guru Ardie Davis, PhB (doctorate in barbecue philosophy), founded the American Royal BBQ Sauce, Rub and Baste Contest, has written nine barbecue cookbooks and is a backyard meat-smokin’ professional. We chat with Ardie about the country’s best barbecue, the competition trail and tips for championship-quality ribs. For your own taste, head to the American… Read More →
