Tales from the Road, Part 4(?)

or five, I lost count

so anyway, this past Tuesday I found myself in Howell, Michigan as part of my ongoing job search. I had finished my job search business around 11:00 AM and started scouting around for some lunch. As I was cruising down Grand River, I saw a pink sign with the words "Dig the Pig" and I knew I had found my next meal. I slid the Fusion "Dukes of Hazzard" style into the lot of TJ's River BBQ and went inside.

First off, you gotta love a BBQ joint that has a sign on the front door that says "Hippies Use Backdoor. No Exceptions". (It was raining, so I didn't get any pictures.) Second, they had some solid blues playing, and the walls were decorated with show-bills from blues reviews of the days of yore. So, they've got the "BBQ ambiance" thing goin' on.

Solid menu, reasonably priced. They cover all the bases: brisket, pulled pork, ribs (St.Louis style), sausage, and chicken. I got a serious chuckle when I read the menu listing for Chicken Strips: "(we) Hate selling these but everyone else does".

I had their "Okie Dokie" sammich: half brisket, half pulled pork with sauce, along with collard greens and red beans and rice. It was all good. Their sauce was a little sweet for my taste and could use more "bite", but I'm not complaining. Silly me, I forgot to try their cornbread, as per my usual standard. Maybe next time.

All in all, a good BBQ experience. I hope I can make it back to Howell soon to dig a little deeper into their menu.

More Tales from the Road

Yes, BBQ is involved. Why do you ask?

so anyway, Wednesday found me again in the thriving environs of Benton Harbor, Michigan for a "fact-seeking" trip to the Plant(s). Work wise, is was smooth. I told them what I needed, they handed it over; we all had a good laugh. Tell me again why I had to get up at a quarter to dawn and drive two+ hours to get this done?

Lunchtime rolled around and my fellow worker-bee (and fellow blogger) and I started wondering where we'd go to eat. A quick check of the inter-web net-tubes thingies and we had our answer: Charlie's Piggin-n-Grinnin. The name alone sealed the decision.

So we went, and it was good. I had the brisket sammich and the rib tips, along with the baked beans and cornbread. Mo had the smoked turkey sammich, which he said was "very good".

A few notes: the cornbread was good, texture-wise, but needed more sugar. The brisket and the rib tips were very good, Charlie's BBQ philosophy rings true: cook it low and slow.

Over all, a very good BBQ experience. If you're in Benton Harbor and happen to be hungry, Charlie's Piggin-n-Grinnin is a good choice.

There was more to the story, but that was days ago and it's late now. More soon.

Tales from the road

I'm off on another adventure for the Stoopid Business

so anyway, I'm on the inaugral trip of the 2008 Southern BBQ Tour; although my boss thinks I'm visiting suppliers to find cost reduction opportunities.

You've heard the song before: up early, to the airport, the flight, the rental car fiasco, drive then drive some more, the plant tour, the endless meeting, drive some more times, etc. None of that matters, now.

Yes, children; I have had quite possibly the best BBQ and catfish EVAH. Long time readers know of my affinity for good BBQ and catfish, I have had some of the very best. I have a new Gold Standard for the genre.

He was happier after we ate

The Little Dooey in Starkville, Mississippi. Absolutely outstanding. I had the aptly named "Super Combo Plate": a quarter chicken, a quarter of a rack of ribs, a quarter pound of pulled pork, turnip greens, and baked beans. I bartered with my travelling companions to sample the catfish and hush puppies. All of the above were fabulous.

If your travels take you within 100 miles of Starkville, Mississippi, you owe it to yourself to make the short detour to The Little Dooey.

I'm planning on going back tomorrow.