Joe Haynes, the Godfather of Virginia Barbecue and author of Virginia Barbecue: A History, has been a big help in my efforts to identify places that cook craft barbecue exclusively with wood and charcoal, rather than with gas or electric gadgets. Among other places, Joe pointed me to Shaffer’s BBQ and Market, and I owe him. Nancy and I drove the 90 minutes from our … Continue reading Shaffer’s BBQ and Market, Middletown, Virginia
I got together for lunch with my cousin, Murray Johnston, recently. You remember Murray, Ann Thomas Griffin Johnston’s husband. His children, Murray IV, aka Cuatro, and daughter Griffin, have figured notably in the Blog. When Murray and I get together for lunch it’s usually at a standout sandwich place, like Bub and Pop’s. This time it was the Blue and White on Wythe Street in … Continue reading Blue and White, Alexandria, Virginia
Nancy and I went to the Pottery Barn Outlet in Fredericksburg in search of a low price on some furniture. The place turned out to be mainly an outlet for returned furniture — returned for good reason. We left empty handed and started looking for a place to eat lunch. My barbecue research not having turned up any place that cooks exclusively with wood, we … Continue reading Mason-Dixon Cafe, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Friends, hop in your car right this minute and drive to Richmond while a passenger reads this exciting episode to you. ZZQ definitely is a Top Place. After my delightful if ill-timed visit to SMoHK, I drove around a little to get ready to check out ZZQ. I like to wait at least a half hour between meals. Actually, I’d already stopped at ZZQ to verify … Continue reading ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque, Richmond, Virginia
Hard on the heels of Independence Day, my travels on behalf of the Campaign for Real Barbecue took me to Richmond. My research had identified SMoHK not only as a place that cooks exclusively with wood and charcoal, but also as one of the top barbecue places in Richmond. Serendipitously, SMoHK also played into my decision to research Brunswick stew more carefully, as SMoHK won USA … Continue reading SMoHK Catering and Barbecue, Richmond, Virginia
Here’s the headline: Buz and Ned’s has the best pork barbecue I have tasted so far in the State of Virginia. It was delicious, with that wonderful flavor of hickory-smoked pork. And it’s only 100 miles away. The coronavirus lockdown has seriously hampered my barbecue research. It scotched a couple of planned Virginia trips as well as a trips to Kansas City, upland … Continue reading Buz and Ned’s Real Barbecue, Richmond, Virginia
Sloppy Mama’s in Arlington sells moist brisket as well as lean! I here confess error and hope for your forgiveness. In my otherwise glowing review of Sloppy Mama’s, I groused that, like other Washington area barbecue places, they served only lean brisket. Hard as it may be to believe, I was wrong. Flat wrong. I was extrapolating from the general state of brisket in the Washington area. … Continue reading Moist Brisket in the Washington Area!
Sloppy Mama’s is the best barbecue place in the Washington area — at least in the DC-Virginia part of the area. I’m hedging because there are a couple of new all-wood barbecue places in Maryland that I haven’t tried. so stay tuned. I’m keeping my powder dry, but Sloppy Mama’s owns the DC-Virginia crown. I went to Sloppy Mama’s as part of my continuing efforts on … Continue reading Sloppy Mama’s, Arlington, Virginia
Many Americans are driving to Florida this winter. For those of us on the East Coast, that means a lot of time on I-95, a lot of stops for refreshment, and probably an overnight. You’re pretty much on your own for food recommendations if you’re coming from north of Washington, aside from Forno’s of Spain in Newark. I really would love to have your suggestions — send … Continue reading Where to Eat on I-95 from Washington to Florida: Updated
Purcellville is a nice town of 10,000 in Loudoun County, in the outer Washington suburbs, well past Dulles Airport. It’s in a lovely area of Virginia, and Purcellville enjoys the benefits of the growth of the Dulles tech corridor without being overwhelmed by it. Best of all, Purcellville is the home of Monk’s BBQ, which I can certify is a Campaign for Real Barbecue producer … Continue reading Monk’s BBQ, Purcellville, Virginia
