barbecue

Dining Outside the Home: Garden Island Barbecue & Chinese Restaurant in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Garden Island Barbecue & Chinese Restaurant in Lihue, Kauai. A true sign of a popular eatery is a full parking lot before you ever set foot inside the door. In the short time it takes to park the car, pay attention to the steady flow of customers clutching brown bag take-out orders. Proof positive something pretty tasty is going on inside. The wait staff is practiced in efficient service, yet patient enough to answer questions and offer suggestions. Another plus. Casual dining means a table for two as well as larger tables for friends and family-size groups. I’m not gonna lie. An extensive menu offers choices beyond your wildest expectations. Szechuan for a kick of spice, a healthy dose of vegetables, tasty barbecue combos, sizzling beef, mixed seafood platters, and more. Ample servings and portion sizes make sharing delightful. After all, who doesn’t enjoy nibbling a bite or two of something different? Get off the beaten path and mingle with locals.

Dining Outside the Home: Germantown Commissary in Germantown, Tennessee

Dining Outside the Home: Germantown Commissary in Germantown, Tennessee! Housed in once stood for 60 years as an old country store, Germantown Commissary is now a famous joint for serving up Memphis-style barbecue. Known for its slab of mouthwatering ribs and pulled pork, with a side of deviled eggs, the portions are large enough to share or take home. And plenty of people do just that. Carry-out seems to be as popular as dining in. For me, the allure of being closed in at a cozy table amongst authentic memorabilia lends to the experience. After all, people used to come in to buy blue jeans and household items here. Nowadays, celebrities search them out to satisfy the urge for good old southern cooked comfort food.

Dining Outside the Home: Central BBQ in Memphis, Tennessee

Dining Outside the Home: Central BBQ in Memphis, Tennessee! Mention great southern barbecue on the streets of Memphis and you’ll find devoted fans spouting accolades for Central BBQ. Perhaps it’s the secret recipe of premium herbs and spices. It might be the meticulous preparation of slowly smoked marinated meats over seasoned hickory wood. Whether you prefer “wet” chicken, “dry” pork, “jerk” turkey, or “sweet heat” beef, slather on the sauce nice and thick. There’s no such thing as too much barbecue sauce. Pile on the slaw for a traditional topping. Life doesn’t get any better than this.

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Letter S

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Chow Down: Savory Bourbon Barbecue Sauce! Take a deep breath and try not to drool as you look at this tender slab of pork ribs. Focus instead on the incredible homemade bourbon barbecue sauce. It is so good you may want to slurp it with a spoon. Go ahead, permission granted. Swirl the tangy goodness around in your mouth so you can appreciate the savory sweet thick sauce with a surprising kick of red pepper. Underlying all this magnificence are hints of oak, toffee, dark fruit, and anise from bourbon whiskey. Well done. 
SAVORY BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE 
Ingredients:

1 cup ketchup 

1/2 cup Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey*

3 tablespoons brown sugar

3 tablespoons dark molasses

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 

1 1/2 teaspoons liquid smoke

1 teaspoon onion powder 

1 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 

1/2 teaspoon black pepper 
Instructions:

In a mixing bowl, combine ketchup, bourbon, brown sugar, dark molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, liquid smoke, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Stir until thoroughly blended. Transfer bourbon barbecue sauce to a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for two minutes. Reduce heat. Simmer until sauce is reduced to about half and thickened, approximately 10-15 minutes. Stir often. Do not scorch. Remove from heat. Carefully pour sauce into a jar. Refrigerate until ready to use. 
*I receive no recompense from recommending Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 

Dining Outside the Home: 2 G’s Barbecue in Bellefontaine, Ohio

Dining Outside the Home: 2 G’s Barbecue in Bellefontaine, Ohio! Jump in your car for a road trip to the county seat of Logan County, an area rich in history and once the village of Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket. If it’s soul food you’re looking for with home style BBQ slow-cooked to perfection, 2 G’s will not disappoint. The melt-in-your-mouth ribs slide off the bone in a thick tangy sauce that is lip smacking good. The baked chicken selections aim to please the hungry appetite. And there’s more. Seafood lovers drool between tiger shrimp and catfish filets. Don’t forget the southern sides and classic cornbread, included with most menu items. And the name, you wonder? Ask the friendly staff. They’ll smile from ear to ear while sharing the remarkable story. 

Dining Outside the Home: Virgil’s Real Barbecue in Times Square, New York City, New York!

Dining Outside the Home: Virgil’s Real Barbecue in Times Square, New York City, New York! Stacked next to the door is a crib of split logs, ranging from hickory to oak, and fruit trees. But that’s what you do when you own a restaurant that smokes meat at a low temperature for up to 10 hours. Virgil’s Real Barbecue means business. The House Classics include pulled pork, Carolina pulled chicken, Texas beef brisket, Memphis smoked spare ribs, and smoked BBQ chicken. I think you get the idea. Perhaps that’s why no one is embarrassed to order the Pig Out Platter. You’re among friends.