And the Winner is . . .
Jan and I headed out about 1:15pm to see a movie and finish up our trifecta of famous Memphis BBQ places. Along the way we made a PO stop to drop off some letters right before we got to the theater, the same one where we saw Jurassic World the other day.
We were looking forward to seeing the Minions because we really liked both Despicable Me moves, and the Minions were part of some of the funniest bits. But although we both really liked this movie, it did not live up to the Despicable ones.
It’s like the Minions are great supporting actors, but can’t carry a film by themselves.
Recommended, but not Well Recommended.
But the popcorn was really good and fresh.
Leaving the movie, we made the 20 minute drive further into town to have dinner at The Bar-B-Q Shop, one of Food Network’s Top Five BBQ Restaurants in the US. Each one of the five specializes in a different type of BBQ. In The Bar-B-Q Shop’s case, it’s for the ribs.
So following that, I had the Ribs and Pork, with Beans and Cole Slaw,
while Jan went with the Ribs and Grilled Chicken Breast, also with the Beans and Cole Slaw.
We both got our ribs 1/2 and 1/2, that is, half wet with sauce, and half dry with rub sprinkled on.
So what do we think?
In the last couple of weeks, we’ve eaten at three high-rated BBQ places in the Memphis area.
and of course, today’s
The Bar-B-Q Shop.
And in all three, at least one of us had the same things.
Ribs
Pulled Pork
Beans
Cole Slaw
So I’m going to rate each category.
First up, the ribs.
I’ll have to disagree with Food Network here.
The best ribs were at Rendezvous. The crust on them is delicious, and they just burst with flavor when you bite into them. These don’t need any sauce.
Second was Jim and Nick’s. These large, meaty spare ribs were moist and favorable, with a really good, tangy sauce.
Third was The Bar-B-Q Shop. These baby back ribs were very meaty, but the meat and the sauce and/or the rub, didn’t have a lot of flavor to me. Just bland, with a so-so sauce. We asked for some of their fabled ‘HOT” sauce, and again I was disappointed. Although it was hot, to me it had a chemical or plastic taste. Jan liked it though.
Next up, pulled pork.
Jim and Nick’s is the winner here. Very flavorful meat, firm, not mushy, with a good mix of lean and outside char. And of course, there’s their great sauce.
In second place is Rendezvous. Good flavor, but a little too finely chopped for my taste.
Coming up in last place again is The Bar-B-Q Shop. The chop was OK, but again like the ribs, not a lot of flavor,. I actually sprinkled some salt and pepper on it which helped a little.
Now for the Beans.
Once again, Rendezvous is in first place here. As said last Saturday after our visit, these are probably the best baked beans I’ve every eaten. The subtle taste of burnt caramel in the sauce puts these over the top.
Jim and Nick’s again slides into second place here with beans that are really done well, just a perfect balance of sauce, tanginess, and beans.
And again coming in third is The Bar-B-Q Shop. Again,, no real standout taste, . . . just beans.
And last up, Cole Slaw.
The winner here is Jim and Nick’s, but just by a nose. Very good, tangy flavor with a coarse cut that you can really bite into.
Coming in second here is The Bar-B-Q Shop. If the cole slaw had had the same coarse chop as Jim and Nick’s, it would have been a tie.
This time Rendezvous comes in third. Although very tasty, it was so finely chopped as to be almost mushy, like baby food.
There you have it. My take on Memphis BBQ, at least from the places we ate at. On the whole I was very disappointed with The Bar-B-Q Shop. I remember them being much better than this when we ate here 5 years ago. So I don’t know if they were having a bad night, or I was. Or as happens sometimes after a place gets a little fame, the quality starts to suffer.
I think Jan disagrees with me on some of these, so I’ll post her ratings tomorrow.
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Thought for the Day:
“Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading.”
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