Tag Archives: BBQ

North Georgia

Posted in Southeast Weekends by

Recently took the opportunity to spend a weekend up in North Georgia and I am so glad I did. Originally went up to celebrate Tom’s birthday and just go white water rafting but then (last minute) we decided to turn it into a FULL weekend.

We stayed at Rabun Manor in Dillard, GA and it was a fabulous Bed & Breakfast. Nancy is the owner and is just too sweet. She called saying she wouldn’t be there when we were planning to arrive and gave us perfect instructions on how to get to our room, which happened to be one of the cottages. The king size bed was a dream and the breakfast delicious. A bowl of fruit and a yogurt parfait were on the table when we got to table both mornings. On Saturday we had peach stuffed french toast with eggs and bacon. On Sunday it was carrot bread, pan-fried potatoes, and bacon.

On Saturday we rafted all day with Southeastern Expeditions in Clayton, GA. We did the class IV trip on the Chattooga river. It was my first rafting trip and I successfully only fell out of the raft once! The rapid was called 7 falls and you fall roughly seven feet (tip: when they say lean right actually lean right). Our river guide was Josh and he was beyond amazing. He told us all about the river, what to expect, and was a history buff so learned a lot about the Chattooga, which I honestly knew nothing about. Most importantly he told us about this BBQ place just over the state line in South Carolina…

I’ve never had BBQ in South Carolina so some might say I’ve never really had BBQ before. There is another saying in South Carolina that the less the place is open the better is it. Brasstown Creek BBQ in Westminster, SC is open 2 days a week for a total of 10 hours. There is no website and it is cash only. Now that I know what BBQ should and can taste like I fully agree that nothing compares. Tom & I shared the pulled pork sandwich with the Carolina mustard sauce, baked beans, apple sauce, and homemade pecan pie. Once we were done we promptly hopped back in line to bring home leftovers.

Our final stop on on the trip was at Fortify Kitchen in Clayton, GA. It is a farm to table restaurant near all the farms; a novel idea I tell you!! Having heard they were known for cocktails Tom and I decided to start with a Manhattan and Old Fashioned and since having BBQ only a few hours before we decided to skip the appetizers and just order mains. I opted for the Duet of Duck with farro and kale sauteed with sun dried tomatoes. Tom choose the 6 oz Filet with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. I ordered a glass of cab-franc for dinner from Stonewall Creek Vineyards in Tiger, GA. And it was really good! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised but I certainly do like local gems. We wanted to check out the winery but it wasn’t open until later on Sunday so this just mean we have an excuse to go back. The dessert was an easy decision, chocolate creme brulee with two Irish coffees. Finishing up the weekend on a sweet (and boozy!) note was really kind of perfect.

Pig n Chick

Posted in Atlanta by

Pig n Chick, North Druid Hills

And the shack strikes again! I’ve driven by Pig n Chick many times, however, I didn’t assume much and now I feel I must apologize. You can get a meal or anything  a la cart. Since I didn’t want two sides I went with a 1/2 pound of Pulled Pork, a 1/2 pound of Sliced Brisket, and a small side of Potato Salad (don’t worry I was planning on enjoying the leftovers)! The meat was great, the pork tender and beef smokey plus their house BBQ sauce had some good spice to it unlike many others around town. I wouldn’t say the potato salad was all too memorable but when I’m craving BBQ I typically don’t just go for the sides. I hear they have a couple of locations and while I assume the food would just be as good I can’t confirm. I would absolutely come back here again for the meat but perhaps I’d choose from the collards or mac and cheese instead of the potato salad again!

 

 

Swallow at the Hallow

Posted in Atlanta by

Swallow at the Hallow, Roswell GA

Ribs are great. If I was writing this post as a younger version of myself I would probably say ribs are a food group and eating them a couple of times a week is a good thing. However, I now know eating ribs multiple times a week isn’t all that good so I now choose to eat them when I know they are going to be good. I heard about Swallow at the Hallow on two different occasions from two different people and both recommended the ribs and both said the drive would be worth it. Since there wasn’t much discrepancy on one rainy Saturday my friend Joel & I drove out of the city, into the burbs, and ordered enough food for a family of four. We first shared the Fried Green Tomatoes and Corn Bread. The tomatoes had an equal breading ratio to tomato thickness so neither covered the other, which I was a big of! The corn bread wasn’t actually on the menu but I asked for it regardless. The server said they did at their other restaurant but didn’t mind running over to get it. I tried telling him not to go through the trouble but I just wasted my breath since it ended up at our table just moments later, southern hospitality at it’s finest! I ordered the Half Rack Baby Back Ribs with Three Bean Baked Beans and the Mac & Cheese. Joel ordered the Chopped Pork with Collards and the Mac & Cheese. Now there was seriously no room at the table. The ribs, which came with the red BBQ sauce were tender and not at all dry. The chopped pork was good and mixing the red and spicy vinegar was a tasty combination!  The mac & cheese was also wonderful and it was very creamy. After eating as much as we could we slowly exited promising to return again.

Heirloom Market BBQ

Posted in Atlanta by

Heirloom Market BBQ, Cumberland

Heirloom was ranked #1 by Atlanta Magazine for BBQ in May 2013 and while I have not tried all of the others on the list I would agree. I have been here for lunch before so I knew to come late in order to avoid the crowd. I ordered the two meat plate with one side; I decided on the Pulled Pork & Brisket with the kitchen sauce and Green Tomato Kimchi. I wouldn’t necessarily say that this joint is Korean BBQ but BBQ with hints of Korean flair. The brisket was heavily smoked and the pulled pork just fell apart, both insanely good. The kitchen sauce was awesome because while it was spicy it wasn’t your typical spicy BBQ sauce, it tasted clean and fresh– if that makes any sense. The kimchi was chilled and crunchy which just added another satisfying texture to the meal. This place rocked but you must order your food to-go and the restaurant itself is very small, I can only hope that with time this place will be able to expand and perhaps relocate so it’s not next to the perimeter.

BBQ

Posted in Atlanta by

Wanting to find the best ribs is not a new goal for me. It think I have been diving in face first to any rib place no matter where I am since I was about 10. For those of you keeping count that means I have been indulging for 13 years now. From California to New York I have been personally responsible for empty plates with nothing but bones left.

When I first moved here I wanted to check out my  new neighborhood and I thought no better place to start than the BBQ joint, DBA. From start to finish I was loving life. I have been back many times and tried the baby back ribs, the wings, the brisket, the pulled pork, the cornbread, the mac & cheese, and nothing disappoints. They have indoor & outdoor seating, you do have to wait a bit on Friday & Saturday nights but it’s worth the wait or you could just be smart and come on a random Tuesday.

After talking about DBA, I was pointed into the direction of Fox Bros. BBQ, I have since been there three times and every time I just wish I was at DBA. The wait takes forever not matter what time of the day and the service just isn’t as good, it’s like they don’t care since they already have the title of “#1 BBQ in Atlanta”, just a major turn off. I will say that their sauce is good but it has to be since the brisket, ribs, & wings have all come out dry and not at all tender.

The establishment that I am most excited about and frequent for a late lunch is Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. This is where I go when I just want ribs and damn good sides (my favorites include the collards, potato salad, and mac & cheese). This place sticks to what they know. The menu is to the point and by the time you get to the counter you better know what you are eating. The place is small but the food always comes out quick and it is obviously hot & delicious! What more could you ask for?