Remember my Ride through Hell Recovery Tour? After a devastating barbecue-free drive from Palm Beach to Washington, my doctor prescribed a four-day barbecue fest in North Carolina. I left you in Raleigh after lunch on Day 4, and inquiring minds have wondered, what happened on the way back? Well, I drove on up I-95, and as I got to I-64 I started smelling smoke. Not … Continue reading Two Drummers Smokehouse, Toano, Virginia
A while ago I sent up a flare for help finding good barbecue places in Maryland. The result was a long list of places to eat. I’ve already reported on two very good ones, T & J Bar-B-Que Second Generation and Smokers Delight. Uncle D’s Grill was my third to try, and it’s another winner. Especially in ribs, Southern Maryland seems to be rewriting my … Continue reading Uncle D’s Grill, Lexington Park, St. Mary’s County, Maryland
After I had enjoyed a first lunch at T & J, we took the 13-minute drive to Lunch 2 at Smoker’s Delight. It’s just off US 301 in White Plains, south of Marlboro. You need to keep an eye out for the sign because it’s tucked into the rear of a three-storey building. OK, the photo is tilted. It was raining, and that’s out the … Continue reading Smoker’s Delight, White Plains, Charles County, Maryland
In keeping with my responsibilities with the Campaign for Real Barbecue, I recently sent up a flare asking for help identifying additional barbecue places in Maryland that cook exclusively with wood and, more generally, places that serve real good barbecue. (Often you can’t see how it’s cooked or don’t think to ask, but the Venn diagram of real good and wood-cooked has a lot of … Continue reading T & J Bar-B-Que, Second Generation, La Plata, Charles County, Maryland
I mentioned Martelle’s in my post on H&L’s so often that you must be wondering about the place. Let’s start with this: Martelle’s, formally Martelle’s Feed House Restaurant, is great, just great. Fair enough, but still, how does a restaurant survive in a town of 155 souls and fewer than 4,600 people in the whole county, especially with H&L’s selling pork chop sandwiches just a … Continue reading Martelle’s Feed House, Englehard, North Carolina
There was a time when candidates for office in Virginia wooed Virginia voters with barbecue, beer, and brandy. The voters wisely elected people like Washington, Madison, and Monroe. But where are the barbecues of yesteryear? By the late 20th century, when I moved to Washington, what little “barbecue” there was seemed to be cooked in ovens or crock pots, hardly a diet for another generation … Continue reading Ten Best Barbecue Places in Virginia
I need to get back down to Mississippi more often. Back in my working days, I probably drove on every paved road in the Delta and half of the rest of the state. Recently I’ve lived vicariously through our Senior Mississippi and Idaho Correspondent, Doug Herbert, a son of Mendenhall, Mississippi, home of the legendary Revolving Tables Restaurant. You’ll recall Doug from his report on … Continue reading Pleasant’s BBQ, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
I recently drove down to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to teach an Honors College class for my good friend, Bob McCurley. I do that every year. Usually, I take my time driving down, stop and see family, and Nancy and I join Bob and Babs at an Alabama game. This year, I was a bit antsy about drinking, dining, and just being at close quarters with an … Continue reading Rusty’s Bar-B-Q, Leeds, Alabama
There are things I don’t love about The Original Ronnie’s. Right now, they just have curbside service, so you can’t go inside and sit and eat and talk with the other customers. And, well, that’s about the only thing I don’t love about Ronnie’s. The rest of Ronnie’s is great. You drive up and see a low white building — there are some big cookers … Continue reading The Original Ronnie’s, Henrico County, Virginia
If you want know just how good the ribs at Rolling Rib’s are, just ask Ms. Lily Claire Boyd. Note her concentration — And her reaction — And that was after the ribs had been sitting around for hours, and Lily has a very refined palate for a two year old. These are some ribs — still, the very best in the Washington area! We’d … Continue reading Rolling Rib, Part II, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
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