Rooftop, Weber, and Grilled Meats on a Stick – Sweet

I have always owned a BBQ grill. Living with my parents when I was younger, I grew up summers cooking food over the fire while camping and through out the years grilling in the back yard or in the streets with the neighbors. When I moved out, I bought a grill and had owned one in South Bay, Central Coast, and in Southern California, finally selling it on craigslist before moving to NY.

It’s probably the primary form of cooking I miss the most, so when I hear even a whisper of a BBQ, I’m either invited or finding a way to get invited to cook and enjoy some grilled meats. This summer, we had the opportunity to grill on the roof deck of several friends in NY and I hope that doesn’t end anytime soon…

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.”

Austin Vegas’s Day Off

Last weekend we hit a trip into the city of Chicago. I woke up this Friday morning and really just didn’t want to go into work today *cough, Cough*. My woman just happend to be out to Chi-town for work and I hop the first flight out so to get a chance to cruse this new-to-me city for two days.

Unfortunately for us, there are plenty of conventions in town the weekend of the 19th so we’re forced to have a room with the Christian Womens Movement at the Hyatt Regency O’hare. The rate wasn’t bad, the room was big with full office capabilities but it was 45 minutes by the blue line to the city and if we had to take the red line, it was even longer with the back track. Although I didn’t get to recite “Danke Schoen” on a float there were plenty of highlights of my weekend.

Friday was opening night for the MBL Hometown series as the Chicago White Sox were hosting the Cubs. Tickets for the game were sold out months before I even knew of the trip but StubHub had a few options not too far off face value. We missed a little tailgating and because we had to pick up the tickets off the parking lot, we didn’t get to our 300 level seats till the bottom of the 2nd. Still hovering over home plate, the view was great even if we missed some fireworks and spinning wheels (home run celebration at US Cellular field).

Being at the home town field, we were out for the former Series Champs and they didn’t disappoint. Maddux was flustered all day and the Sox came out on top with a 6 – 1 win over the cubs. I guess the tension was eminent as the follow up game at Wrigley field was a dog fight literally and an altercation at the plate caused the benches to clear. We were at a bar when this incident happened and Chicago lit up with fire, one way or the other…

After the game there wasn’t much planned so we too to the trains get out downtown and see what happens. We pop out of the Red line at the Chicago to the appearance of a huge tent and blue music filling the streets… A parade? No, but it was the Weber Grill Restaurant – BBQ Block Party. A yearly celebration and firefighter grill cook off, with beers, wine, BBQ and blues for 8 hours. Koko (of “Wang Dang Doodle” fame), Lonnie Brooks and Dave Specter and the Bluebirds featuring Tad Robinson performed. Lonnie Brooks (pictured) was off the hook rocking back n forth on the stick and getting the mildly liquored crowed going. Not bad on the BBQ but the kicker was the great weather and a few local brews for $3 ea.

Playin tourist on Saturday we walked downtown, Millennium Park, and Millennium Mile, took a bike tour of the lake and surrounding museums including the Married w/ Children intro fountain: Buckingham Fountain, and experienced a great tourist tour by taking the architecture cruise of the Chicago river ways. I snapped some shots around the river. Rather than wait in lines all day for the Sear’s Tower view, or paying the 10 clams for the Handcock center, we took the elevator shot up to The Signature Room, for a few NY priced Martinis…

Check out some photos and I could update this, sometime later:




















The full gallery of Chicago architecture and other photos