Authentic Regional BBQ Road Trip [Travel]

2010 Aug 19
Friday we embark on a 2 week, 2837 km road trip, beginning in Austin Texas and ending in Myrtle Beach. The focus will be on regional bbq and local brew. The Great Beer, BBQ and Blues Road Trip 2010 will be featured on our blog, Happymouth.ca. You can follow us on Twitter as well and we will keep you apprised of updates to the blog there. Lots of pics and commentary. Hot spots will include, Austin, Galveston, New Orleans, Jackson, Memphis, Nashville, Ashville, and Myrtle Beach. If you have been to any of these places...feel free to recommend some joints. We are winging it.

Maureen and Rob.

2010 Aug 19
This past Easter weekend we did a BBQ trip from Ottawa down to North Carolina. Gonna access some of my notes but off hanad I'd say Lexington BBQ was our hands down, absolute favorite. I highly suggest ordering one item that is the same everywhere so you have a great basis of comparisson. For us that was a pulled pork sandwich, then we got a specialty of the house or something recommended by someone on staff.

After a while we figured out a good question to ask. It wasn't enough to say what is good or what would you recommend to eat here as it didn't really get to the core of the issue or empasize how important our choice was to us. Saying that you're fans of low and slow BBQ and that you live in grilling country that are on a trip specifically for BBQ. What would they order if you loved BBQ and we not able to get it very often? Sometimes this meant that the cashier/server/cook would actually become your advocate and compile a sampler off menu or alter things that were already on menu to include other things. Fabulous!

Side note: Its a bit of a long shot because they're not as pleantiful and they're a delacasy not usually on the menu but ask for the burnt ends - YUM!!!

2010 Aug 19
I can't wait to try burnt ends! My husband has been talking about them forever. :) I will check out Lexingington BBQ and see if it is on our route or nearby. Thanks for the advice.

2010 Aug 19
It's not bbq, but the small gas stations in Louisiana are known for their boudin noir and they are very competitive on who makes the best. As you are driving through, you may want to try some of them out.

Sounds like a great trip.

2010 Aug 19
I assume you've already found the NC bbq map?
www.ncbbqsociety.com
When we drove down to florida last winter we stopped at bbq places along I95 (slimmer pickings - but found some good ones). It sounds like will not hit Georgia, but just south of the S. Carolina border is the Georgia Pig, which was one of our favorites.

I'll be following and drooling.

2010 Aug 19
@sourdough Thank you for the link. Its awesome!

2010 Aug 19
I'm seething with jealousy as I read this thread. I was hoping to do a NashvilleMemphis road trip this year, but the plan fell apart. Keep on bloggin'

2010 Aug 20
Wow - sounds fantastic - will be following your blog for sure!

In Memphis, try The Pig on Beale (Pork with Attitude) for some great BBQ. Last time we were there, my husband asked for a peek at the pit. Awesome!

Happy trails!

2010 Aug 20
New Posting: Blues and BBQ Tour Day 1: Austin - some righteous BBQ at Green Mesquite! tinyurl.com/AustinDay1

2010 Aug 21
Oh, man. That hot link looks delicious. Looking forward to reading about the rest of your trip!

2010 Aug 21
I have done a similar (more passive) thing while on my journeys in the southern USA... didn't care to document everything along the way, as it wasn't the main goal of my trip. I was in a rush to be best man for a buddy! I can say though that the BBQ I had at the Pig Pit in Arkansas, Arkadelphia to be exact, was pretty fantastic. Austin BBQ just about anywhere is great, you can go to Stubbs for the famous blues BBQ bar experience, or Ruby's for the classic pit flavour, but there are a lot of food carts in town on the south side strip that do BBQ & gourmet lunches. The food carts in Austin rival those in Portland in terms of quality & diversity. Do not pass up eating some primo Mexican food while in Austin as well, and if you get near El Paso, definitely go for Mexican on the upper west side... While in TX, DO NOT PASS UP HOT LINK SAUSAGES. They are AWESOME and pretty much unlike anything, anywhere, anytime, sausage related. If you end up in Lockhart, TX, YOU MUST go to Kreuz Market. Do not fear the hole in the wall, ugly drum BBQ smokers on the side of the road type of establishments. Some of my best BBQ experiences were from places like that, often to cater road crews for lunch service. If you just want to play it safe, I'm sure you'll run into a Famous Dave's eventually, the food is damned good for a chain. I wish I had spent more time in Memphis, I just picked up something to go in the ghetto on my way through... hightailed it out when I realized my car might get jacked. Hit Beale St. for blues & BBQ, you can't go wrong.

2010 Aug 22
New posting at www.happymouth.ca: Austin Day 2.

tinyurl.com/austinday2

Chimi, you'll read about us waxing poetic about Texas Hot Links in our Austin Day 1 entry. We love them! And you're right, the divier shacks are an encouraging sight when it comes to BBQ. Check out our latest posting for a great example of that.

Thanks for tips about Memphis. We're having a blast!

2010 Aug 22
New posting: Austin, Day 3 - A crazy-ass pancake and beef-country ribs!

tinyurl.com/austinday3

2010 Aug 24
Hi all. We are happy to report that the Gulf seafood in Galveston is delicious and unaffected by the oil spill!

New Posting: From Austin to Galveston, for some great gulf seafood! tinyurl.com/togalveston

2010 Aug 25
We visited the Tabasco Factory today and had our first night in New Orleans:
New Posting: From Texas to New Orleans: Truck stops, Tabasco and First night in the Big Easy! tinyurl.com/NOLADay5

2010 Aug 25
If you've read Gumbo Tales, Sara Roahen's terrific book about the food culture of New Orleans and it's survival post-Katrina, you'd know that she considers the best po'boy sandwiches to be from "Guy's" on Magazine Street. We went there today to try them for ourselves...

New Posting: Our first full day in New Orleans: Po'boys, Wicked Snowballs and red beans and rice!

tinyurl.com/hmnoladay2

Rob and Maureen
HappyMouth.ca

2010 Aug 25
HappyMouth - I'm enjoying reading your blog, I'm envious and living vicariously through your posts! Reminds me of all the good food & times I had down south! I miss it! That po boy looks pretty classic - the bread makes the difference, and they are using a good one! Enjoy!

2010 Aug 26
You guys are really making me want to take a road trip this winter.

2010 Aug 26
Had the pleasure of going to NOLA for a milestone birthday and again for a neice's wedding.

Not sure if this fits with the "BBQ Roadtrip" theme, as I found out after the fact that there is nothing BBQ'd about these shrimp. However, if you want to just plain indulge in a quintessential New Orleans meal, go to Mr. B's Bistro (201 Royal Street in New Orleans) and order the BBQ shrimp. They come in a bowl, peel and eat, with a giant piece of baguette to sop up the sauce. You are given a bib to wear, which I recommend. This is a very very messy dish, but unbelievably delicious.

I managed to get the recipe from the kitchen before I left, which I'll post if anyone wants it. You need to be okay with giant amounts of butter in your diet to make this okay, but man oh man....sigh....memories.

2010 Aug 26
We're having a blast. Certainly the cuisine of New Orleans offers a significant detour on any "BBQ" road trip. Between Galveston and NOLA, we've really explored the Gulf coast food culture and New Orleans provides such a deep centre of gravity. We move on tomorrow, so it's been a whirlwind tour of the Crescent City... but we'll be back.

New Posting: Beignets, Jambalaya, Voodoo Queens and Gumbo. Our last day in New Orleans.
tinyurl.com/HMNOLAday3

2010 Aug 27
Jojo...could you please post that recipe?

2010 Aug 27
New Posting: Leaving New Orleans to Jackson Mississippi: Paper-thin fried catfish, BBQ oysters, and the best damn chicken wings ever! tinyurl.com/NOLA2MS

Oh. My. Gosh. The chicken wings!

2010 Aug 28
Ooooh...Sweet Spicy Love.

New Posting: The Road to Memphis - Chicken with Sweet, Spicy Love and the Birthplace of Rock and Roll! tinyurl.com/HMMemphis

2010 Aug 29
New Post: We meet the King of Rock and Roll and the King of BBQ Ribs in Memphis, not to mentioned some BBQ Spaghetti!

tinyurl.com/HPMemphisKing

2010 Aug 30
Awesome! I'm glad you hit Beale st.

2010 Aug 30
Beale St. was fun, but the locals tend to shun it as "less authentic BBQ for the tourists", despite some of the BBQ competition accolades many of the Beale St. places receive. We certainly loved our ribs from Pig on Beale.

Tonight, we're trying "Central BBQ", a relatively new place that the locals seem to love. We now have something to compare them to. Stay tuned...

2010 Aug 30
I love hearing about your trip. The pictures are mouth watering.
We will be going to Charlotte North Carolina in a month. I know you're going as far as S Carolina but if you happen to hear of some places near Charlotte, please post.
We are driving my son and wife home from a wedding, and we all love to eat!

2010 Aug 30
We are going to wrap up our road trip in Myrtle Beach and will continue to post. We are not going near Charlotte but we suggest you consult the following resources as we would.

www.Roadfood.com (search for Charlotte)

www.flavortownusa.com (search for Charlotte) this site features only places covered by FN Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

www.wherethelocalseat.com

2010 Sep 1
New Posting: From Memphis to Nashville: From superfluous marshmallows to an insider's peek at Nashville food and the Nashville hit factory with Trevor Finlay!
tinyurl.com/HMNashville

2010 Sep 2
New post: Country Ham to Truffled Steak in Music City.

tinyurl.com/HMDay13

2010 Sep 2
Pulled back in to BBQ country - Asheville, NC.

Full story at Happy Mouth!

New Posting: From NY Deli to Carolina Pig. tinyurl.com/HMtoAsheville

2010 Sep 4
Pulled into Myrtle Beach, today... Last city, last stop!

New Posting: Asheville NC, to Myrtle beach, SC - Tomato Jam and King Crab!
tinyurl.com/HMtoMyrtle

2010 Sep 4
I just had a mouthgasm looking through this thread. It is food porn for the BBQ lover, that's for sure! I hope to follow in your foot steps one day. What an amazing journey! Thank you for sharing it : )

Amuse

2010 Sep 4
New posting: Myrtle Beach Day 16 - GREAT seafood in culinary wasteland.
tinyurl.com/HMDay16

2010 Sep 12
New Posting: Road Trip Coda - Recreating some great food memories in our own kitchen. Today: Jambalaya!

tinyurl.com/hmjambalaya