The Great BBQ Quest: Quest Status

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Quest Status

After two full years of working on the Quest, it's about time to look back on the achievements, and forward to the things that are left undone yet.

45 BBQ places are in the books, with between 15 and 20 remaining. The actual number is kind of fluctuating, because restaurants close, new restaurants are opened, there are a number of mobile BBQ "restaurants" on the list that may go out of business before I had the chance to visit them, and so on.
But even 20 looks very doable, although most of those are in the western part of the Quest area, so I have to drive an hour or more to go to certain places.
Well, I will cheerily take that burden on me - I still can't get enough of BBQ.
By the end of this year, though, I foresee the Quest to be concluded. But until then, it's: I'll have the pork plate with a side of potato salad and the baked beans, please. And a sweet tea ...

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What I am looking for in a BBQ place ...

First and foremost, its about the food. And although it is certainly a very prominent factor, the quality of the meat is only part of the equation. The sides, the sauces, the hushpuppies (what do you mean, your place doesn't serve hushpuppies ...?!), and the desserts are also very important.
Then there is the question of authenticity and style. Part of every dining experience is the atmosphere of the place you eat the meal, meaning that not only the taste-buds have to be pleased, but also the other senses, too.
Living in the South for quite some time now made me realize that the human body and mind can process a lot more dirt and filth without being harmed then commonly expected, so cleanliness is certainly a virtue, but not a strict requirement. At some places, the mummified flies on the window sills just belong there.
An absolute must is friendly people who make you feel welcome at their restaurant. But that is generally not an issue here in the BBQ Belt at all, for all the rude and brisk folks very seldom seem to cross the Mason-Dixon line.
So, I guess what I am looking for in a BBQ place is what you generally find here anyway. And if your favorite restaurant does not appear on the Dirty Dozen list below, don't fret. This is only my very narrow personal view of things, and your mileage will invariably be different. Just be thankful to live in the promised land of BBQ, and keep on going to the places you like best. Don't mind me at all, I do not have the philosopher's stone in my possession, just a knack for BBQ and Southern culture.

Outside of Northern Alabama

Of those BBQ places I visited that are not in the original Quest area of the Counties of Madison, Limestone, Lawrence, and Morgan in Alabama, these are the ones I like best:

1. Boogie's BBQ, Nürnberg, Germany

2. Corner Pit BBQ, Dellrose, TN

3. Yellow Dog Eats, Windermere, FL

4. Dave Poe's BBQ, Marietta, GA

5. Nolens Barbecue, Columbia, TN

6. Bubbalou's Bodacious Bar-B-Que, Orlando, FL
7. Larry & Harry's Bar-B-Que, Winter Garden, FL
8. Pruett's Bar-B-Q, Gadsden, AL
9. Ken's Bar-B-Que, Oneonta, AL
10. Sparky's Barbeque, Hatch, NM