.jpg "Be Ironic and Organize an Autumn Barbecue")
.jpg "Serious About Fun: Barbecuing in Boston")
.jpg "Good Night, and Pot Luck: A Guide to Letting Your Guests Feed Themselves")
.jpg "Making a Great Pizza: 5 Tips")
.jpg "aliciak"){kind=small}
.jpg "aliciak")
.jpg "Throw a 1950s Dinner Party in New York")
.jpg "Discontinued Food Products :(")
.jpg "The Rainy Day Guide to New York")
.jpg "Ray Schon State Farm Insurance")
.jpg "Dan Tyler State Farm Insurance")
.jpg "Susan Terhune State Farm Insurance")
.jpg "Ben Parsons State Farm Insurance")
.jpg "Awkward Family Portraits will make you say \"WTF?\"")
.jpg "Love is funny: Awesomely BAD engagement photos")
.jpg "Failbook")
.jpg "The Best iPhone Apps For Women")
SPONSORED LISTINGS
Barbecue and New York make quite the interesting couple
- by aliciak
- -
- August 24, 2009
(1)
.jpg)
As I don't originally hail from the South or any authentic barbecue area, the idea of dining on succulent ribs in an urban place like New York doesn't initially seem too far-fetched. But then I recall my days as a teacher here and I remember that the majority of New York kids have never seen a live pig or cow and know next to nothing about farms and where food comes from. Hmm, is it possible then to find good barbecued grub in such a place? I say it is, as long as you don't approach it expecting something identical to that Texas roadside stand you swear by. Additionally, the city has seen an onslaught of bbq joints in the last 5 years or so, some hits, some misses, but all a testament to our collective desire for charred, juicy meat in its many forms.
Where to find good Barbecue
“Star Wars Cooking Team Adjusting Ribs in Smoker for Best Possible Smoke Penetration.” Look at those little guys go!
An Introduction to Barbecue
Barbecue is a tricky subject, with everyone throwing in their two cents about dry rubs, vinegar-based sauces, and what can fall under this food category, in general. I wish I were an expert, but to be honest, I am merely another barbecue lover whose mouth waters at the words, “pulled-pork” and “ribs.” Yep, watering right now!
Here is the basic geographic breakdown:
- Memphis: tomato-and-vinegar sauce
- Carolinas: tangy vinegar sauce, home of the pulled pork sandwich
- Kentucky: dry rubs all the way
- Texas: bbq is about beef, not pork, and relies on rubs, rather than sauces
- Alabama: mayonnaise sauce
- Georgia and Tennessee: pork with sweet tomato-based sauce
Naturally, each state has its own regional breakdowns to further complicate things.
The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party
Multiply these ribs by 1,000, add 10,000 people, and you’ll get a pretty good idea of what the Block Party is like!
The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party Website
The BABBP is one of New York’s biggest summer events, boasting barbecue masters from all over, countless smokers and platters of sizzling meat, and lines, lines, lines! Actual admission is free, but most of us don’t go for the live music or people-watching; plates cost $8 and sides are $4. But seriously, bring a long novel or your knitting like I do (or friends, I guess!), and prepare for epic waits.
This year’s Block Party takes place June 7-8, noon-6pm at the usual spot, Madison Square Park.
Some Big Apple BBQ Block Party Footage
Mike Mills of 17th St. Bar and Grill in Illinois enthusiastically describes his bbq process and the awesome feeling of bringing it to New York…well, except for the traffic! I hope I can meet this dude in person this year.
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Root Beer Pulled Pork Recipe
Two years ago, I decided to try my hand at making pulled pork for a big summer party in Brooklyn. Now, I am inhibited by the fact that it’s illegal of me to be operating a full-blown smoker in the backyard, so I found this crock pot recipe using one of my favorite drinks, root beer! It takes about 10 hours to make, but the actual prep time is minimal.
When representatives from the deep South arrived, I was worried! With my apron still on, watching them chew, the most amazing culinary compliment fell on my ears: “This is the best pulled pork I have ever tasted.”
And to this day, these friends of friends still bring up my famously good pulled pork that rivals all.
Noteable Barbecue Restaurants
Styles and preferences may vary, but I recommend hitting up each and every one of the following venues. Why not, right? Grab a Southerner to accompany you if you can and don’t wear white! On that note, if you’re going the barbecue route on a first date, remember that it will be a messy affair. Hopefully you can get a kick out of wiping sticky sauce off of a potential soul mate.
Hill Country
Hill Country
30 W 26th Street, New York, NY 10010
I will venture to say that Hill Country is as close to “real” barbecue as New York will ever get: brisket wrapped in butcher paper, served up counter-style, with a spacious 250-seat dining room akin to rough-around-the-edges bbq joints.
But, when you wait 45 minutes like I did on a Friday night, it’s easy to remember that, yes indeed, this is New York. The waiting area is small, so I suggest making reservations or avoiding the dreaded 7-9pm dinner time. The upside to Hill Country’s counter service is that as soon as your table is ready, you head up to the food stations and within 2 minutes, your meat, sides, and drinks are ready.
I will venture to say that Hill Country is as close to “real” barbecue as New York will ever get: brisket wrapped in butcher paper, served up counter-style, with a spacious 250-seat dining room akin to rough-around-the-edges bbq joints.
But, when you wait 45 minutes like I did on a Friday night, it’s easy to remember that, yes indeed, this is New York. The waiting area is small, so I suggest making reservations or avoiding the dreaded 7-9pm dinner time. The upside to Hill Country’s counter service is that as soon as your table is ready, you head up to the food stations and within 2 minutes, your meat, sides, and drinks are ready.
Dinosaur Barbecue
Eat some ribs at Southern Hospitality? Do it for Justin!
Southern Hospitality
1460 Second Avenue New York, NY 10021
Justin Timberlake brings the sexy back via smoking hot bbq at his Upper East Side venture. Reviews have been mixed at this Memphis-bbq venue, so if the sub-par food gets you down, at the very least you can drown your sorrows at the beer pong table.
Mmm, nothing like some butt. Pork butt, that is.
Bar BQ
689 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Take a typical Brooklyn dive bar (the real deal, not the cool ironic kind), add a barbecue menu, and you get 6th Avenue’s Bar BQ. There’s Abita beer for those of you drawn to this New Orleans export, but just remember that the pulled pork sauce in bottles is there for a reason! I ate my entire sandwich, finding it not flavorful enough, before I realized it’s up to you to sauce it! Doh.
Also, this is one of the few restaurants/bars where I have dined alone (I hate to!) and I have to say that I enjoyed it. I sat at the bar, to avoid awkwardly taking up an entire table, and had a nice chat with the bartender about their upcoming demos at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Chile Pepper Festival.
Take a typical Brooklyn dive bar (the real deal, not the cool ironic kind), add a barbecue menu, and you get 6th Avenue’s Bar BQ. There’s Abita beer for those of you drawn to this New Orleans export, but just remember that the pulled pork sauce in bottles is there for a reason! I ate my entire sandwich, finding it not flavorful enough, before I realized it’s up to you to sauce it! Doh.
Also, this is one of the few restaurants/bars where I have dined alone (I hate to!) and I have to say that I enjoyed it. I sat at the bar, to avoid awkwardly taking up an entire table, and had a nice chat with the bartender about their upcoming demos at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Chile Pepper Festival.
Too cute to eat…thankfully it’s inedible!
Wildwood Barbecue
225 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10017
This is the newest kid on the block, having entered the competitive barbecue world on April 24 in its “rustic and industrial-chic” digs. Formerly at Hill Country, “Big Lou” Elrose will be managing the invaluable pit, but I have yet to try out Wildwood. Isn’t it funny that a down-home bbq place is on Park Avenue, though? Check out the below link to a very long and detailed review.
White Trash BBQ reviews Wildwood
How can you NOT trust a blog called White Trash BBQ?!?
- |
- |
- |
- |
- share this
.jpg "Hi Liner")
-
I want your guide icon in my belly.
Add Our Widget To Your Site
.jpg)
Discussions