Food Friday #2 - Best BBQ
When you think of great BBQ, you probably think of Memphis, Kansas City, and the Carolinas. Not too many people think of Southern Illinois, unless they are experts in the industry. If you are looking for great BBQ and find yourself in the southern part of the Land of Lincoln, you are in the right place.
The best BBQ I ever had was at a little neighborhood BBQ restauarant in the mid-1980s on the south side of Mt. Vernon, IL. The restaurant was called King Barbecoa. There was probably only seating for about 10 people. It was very inexpensive, but the guy knew how to make a BBQ that was out of this world. I think he has since passed away and I'm not sure if the restaurant even exists to this day, but back in the day...mmmmm...mmmmm!!!
I guarantee you will find great BBQ at the 17th Street Bar and Grill in Murphysboro, IL. While King Barbecoa is one of those diamond in the rough places that hardly anyone knows about, 17th Street is world famous. The folks at 17th Street are also known as the "Apple City Barbecue" team, the only team to win the Memphis in May World Barbecue Championship 3 times. They retired from competition after their third championship. 17th Street recently opened a new restuarant in Marion, IL. They also operate the Memphis Championship BBQ restaurants in Las Vegas.
At the very southern tip of Illinois, Shemwell's in Cairo (pronounced "care-oh") will satisfy your BBQ cravings. After a meal at Shemwell's, make sure to go to Fort Defiance state park just south of town, where you can stand at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.Outside of the area known as Little Egypt (So. IL has the towns of Cairo, Thebes, Goshen, and Karnak), there is decent BBQ to be found. In Memphis, I like the Rendevous. Down here in Florida, I like Sonny's.
posted by Brett @ 8:37 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Whitt's Barbeque around Nashville is really good. I just had the loaded baked potato at my parent's in Springfield, TN. It was great. Baked potato topped with cheese and their turkey. I like their vinegarette BBQ sauce that you can put on the meat. I wish they had a location closer because I've been craving another one.
http://whittsbarbeque.com/
You Philistine!
Memphis BarBQ is king. All others are paupers. Corky's, Gridley's. Leonard's, and the Rendevous have established the River City as not only king of cotton but of barbeque as well.
Long standing chain, Topps, is a local favorite.
Memphis MUSTs on barbecue:
1. Pork, not beef or any other inferior meat. Sorry, Texans. Don't mess with Memphis!
2. Pulled or chopped pork NEVER sliced; or, if we're talking ribs, wet or dry are acceptable (must be baby back)
3. Sauces are important. If you want a mustard-based sauce, then head for GA or NC. Memphis would never create such a barbaric taste. Mustard belongs on a hotdog, not BAR-BQ. People who would eat a mustard-based barbeque sauce probably put ketchup on steak, eggs and hotdogs. If you're looking for real sauce, then the Rendevous is hard to beat.
I'm heading there in 8 days. Planning on being there for most of a week. That should enable me to hit Topps and Corky's. I don't make it downtown very often when I'm in Memphis, especially if the Redbirds are not playing.
Yeah, every once in a while you'll find some hole-in-the-wall joint that has a crowded parking lot, real pit smoker and good barbecue. But if you get a chance, talk with the proprietor. Odds are, he learned his craft in Memphis!
BONUS tidbit: Any of these spellings are approved by connoisseurs of Memphis pork: BarBQ, Barbecue or Barbeque.
Skylight Inn in Ayden, NC has great Carolina barbecue. (without the mustard sauce)
Wow, you started a saliva inducing blog with this one. Gotta say that while Southern Illinois does have it's fair share of Que joints for it's population size, there's still no place quite like the Rendevous in Memphis for atmosphere, BarBQ and red beans and rice.
Funny how you never hear a Californian brag about their bar-b-que.
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