Real Pit Barbecue in New York

Big Apple Bar-B-Queue in Madison Square ParkAs you walk up out of the 23rd street station, the flavor of city air changes from the rank humid and stale subway variety to a unique and highly uncommon noise raising mixed aroma of charcoal, beef and spiced sauce. Thousands of people clamored around in Madison Square Park this weekend for the fourth annual New York Big Apple Bar-B-Queue Block Party. Pitmasters from Texas (Southside Market & BBQ and The Salt Lick BBQ), Alabama (Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q), Tennessee (B.E. Scotts Barbecue), Illinois (17th Street Bar & Grill ), North Carolina (Mitchell’s BBQ) and yes even New York (RUB and Blue Smoke) lined Madison Avenue along the park.

Unlike previous years, this time around the organizers added a much needed Beer garden, hosting local brew favorite Brooklyn Brewery. The BBQ starved hordes of New Yorkers came out despite (or creating) the hour long waits for brisket, sausage, rib tips or pulled pork sandwiches. I’m sure there were sides and deserts offered, however, after a brisket sandwich, some ribs and pulled pork I only had beer tickets left to fill the stomach.

There were a few bands, even a Willie Nelson look-a-like. We ended the afternoon, after the last cup topped the keg taps. Excellent work on the Q, yet I still feel my years on the webber can top some of the racks served up this past weekend. Too bad I have to wait another 360 days till the next round.





NY Big Apple BBQ Gallery

“Whole Hawg……From the rooter to the pooter. “
“Vegetarian: an old Indian term, meaning “bad hunter.”

Pizza scandle of San Diego

I came out to SD for my new job training and I decided to extend my trip for Ben’s birth celebration the next week… So in between hotels, I stayed at the cheapest spot in hotel circle, that had internet connection (Gaslamp and downtown hotels were booked solid or garnering 200+ a night, and the circle was a quick 10 minute shot to my office). So I get the Travelodge. A low end housing complex juxtaposed with newly renovated hotels.

I’m greeted by the overly excited hotel clerk (although not necessarily to see me, probably he’d been sucking crack fumes in the back) and got my ground floor room just off the highway. I enter the stale smelling room, forest green carpets, gym style flooring in the bathroom and a newly installed safe oddly placed on the floor under the coat rack. As I roll my golf clubs over 4 flyer/menus entering, I drop my stuff on the bed and pick up the laptop bag to start my search for food when I see these signs…

Consumer Alert!
There are a number of pizza delivery companies pushing unauthorized fliers underneath hotel room doors… Many of these are dangerous to you because they are not approved by the Health Dept. and are “garage” operations illegally operating in San Diego…

Sure enough each flyer has no address, an obscure name and just a phone number. That’s one way for boarder crossers to make a living with out entering “the system”, however, I’d question that a garage pizza operation is any better than a Little Ceasers.

What the Brits think we should all eat before we die…

Some of the world population just need to eat anything so they don’t die Period or you could be a victim of anorexic turned into a gut wrenching sensationalistic story by the INSIDER media whores, but here’s a list of 50 things to eat before you die, created some time ago by the readership and editors of BBC Food.

Australia is well represented (British food as well being a list from Britain) – Interesting list being that its a mix of cuisines and dishes but not one or the other. Chinese food can be covered quite a bit on the list but I think there’s a few foods missing.

What about Indian (or is that covered in Curry?), peanut butter n jelly? Omelets? Creme Brulee? Mouse? (cheese cake is the only desert represented here, which is fine but there are certainly more deserts that could be covered here). Mac n Cheese is not on the list but would that be covered in Pasta? And I supposed Salad or fruit (besides Durian) aren’t top 50 foods that we should all eat before we die – I guess staples of your diet aren’t must haves…

I faired well with having tried 41 out of 50… Here’s what I’m missing I guess:

Moreton Bay Bugs
Cream Tea
Alligator
Kangaroo
Guinea pig
Barramundi
Durian fruit
Haggis
Cornish Pastry