grumble grumble

[Grendal_71]

"Let's have the church foyer group over." she says

"Okay" I grumble

"Can you cook something on the grill?" she says.

"Okay" I grumble.

Overheard on the telephone..."Oh yes, Grendal71 (you didn't think I would put my real name here did you), is going to make some pulled pork....."

It's supposed to rain on saturday...buckets.  Grumble.

To be fair, these Eastern VA savages no NOTHING about proper BBQ (that is, proper western NC BBQ), so I guess I'll knock something together.  On the plus side, I've got about 20 pounds of pork shoulder, and these folks CAN'T eat it all.  The rest will go into the freezer to await football season, I guess.  Now, I guess I'll have to make some hushpuppies, coleslaw, baked beans, amongst other mess.  meh.

If some of you dear folks are unclear...check out "the BBQ song" on Youtube.  It's a hoot, and it's educational.

-Gren out

[Raptor]

Heh.  I feel your pain man.  Happens to me daily.

And as a side note, living all my life in Western NC, you are 100% correct about East VA BBQ not holding a candle to our beloved 'cue.  And I'm a huge fan of 'the BBQ song' as well.  I agree, very educational.

[Grendal_71]

I KNEW there was something I liked about you, Raptor!   

Yeah, we NC-ers take our 'cue, and Doc Watson very, very seriously.  I've got a decent Brinkman smoker that I'll at least make the effort on early, early tomorrow morning.  If I have to cheat and finish it in the oven, this crowd won't know the diff.

I can't get Neese's Liver Pudding up here either, dang it.  Having married someone further up the line both geographically, educationally, and socially (her poor family, they had no idea what a redneck Jarhead I really am/was), I'm not getting much sympathy either.  There's some weird substance up this way called "scrapple" invented by the Pennsylvania Dutch, bless them, that made its way south to VA but it doesn't quite measure up in my book.

[thalaw2]

NC has BBQ?

[Grendal_71]

SMH....poor, poor savages.

[Raptor]

Heh.  Do you at least get Cheerwine in your area?  I refused to let my wife talk me into moving to Missouri a few years ago to be nearer to some of her friends 'cause when we went to visit I couldn't find any.  That and they didn't server sweet tea in restaurants.  That was a deal breaker!

[Deaths Jester]

Hey, I thought I was the only one who was allowed to grumble around here...and what do you Carolina people know about BBQ...get youse selfs to Texas...that's BBQ!   

[Raptor]

DJ,

I will admit that Texas is the King of BEEF BBQ.  But "what we gots down here" in NC is PORK BBQ, and nobody does it better than my hometown of Lexington.

[Raptor]

Also, Gren, I just had another thought.  Your slaw, is it red or white?

[Grendal_71]

Red baby, red. 

None of that eastern vinegary mess for me, thank you.  I can get Cheerwine if I cross over into Moyock, NC.....but that's about it.

[Raptor]

Good!  Red is definitely the best. I'm constantly amazed at how many folks even in this area have never even heard of red slaw.  Blasphemous!!

[Grendal_71]

I know, I know.  It's a crying shame isn't it?  Alright, it's getting late but...

Cole slaw (red Lexington style) made and in the fridge
chicken curry dip, made and in the fridge
(2) loaves of cheese bread, on second rise now, will bake tonight
(2) 10 pound shoulder roasts dry rubbed and cooling in the fridge
(2) cup of great northern beans presoaking

that leaves for tomorrow:
early get the pork onto the grill/into the oven (weather dependant)
make the actual sauce for the pork
make the baked beans, and get them going in the crock pot
make the hushpuppy mix and get ready to fry, baby, fry
boil (6) eggs for deviled eggs

fortunately the rolls, deserts, and wine are being brought.  Yes everything is from scratch, no...nothing is pre-boxed or mixed.  Nasty.

[GhostMachine]

I forget: which Carolina is it that actually uses mustard on meat and dares to call that barbecue? Because while I'm from the state that makes the best barbecue (Tennessee!), I do admit I like the pulled barbecue made with vinegar.

[Grendal_71]

South Carolina......savages.  NC pulled pork is vinegar based, but from Lexington going west it is a "red" based vinegar sauce and slighlty sweater.  Eastern NC BBQ is almost purely vinegar based with no "red".

If I ever make my way over to your lovely state, I'll give it a try!

[thalaw2]

Now hold on a second all ov ya!  Everyone knows that if you want some decent BBQ pork or beef you gotta come to California.  Happy cows make good milk...and great BBQ.  Now we may not do the ribs as well but our BBQ burgers are the best on both sides of the Pacos. 

[daglob]

Next weekend here in Mobile is the Hog Wild Barbeque Festival (which my daughter started calling the Pigfest), where lots and lots of people (from various distances away) compete for best barbeque. If you get there early enough EVERYONE is giving away free samples. Sauces from tomato based, mustard based, to vinegar based are used, along with various rubs and marinades. Assorted slaws, salads, breads (for sopping up the sauce), drinks, and live entertainment are also available. They have even had fried green tomatoes, corn, funnel cakes, and "home made" ice cream (made in a huge freezer turned by an ancient John Deere industrial engine).

No pig races this year, though...

So, I know what I'm doing next weekend.

[Grendal_71]

Sounds awesome!

[Raptor]

Now hold on a second all ov ya!  Everyone knows that if you want some decent BBQ pork or beef you gotta come to California.  Happy cows make good milk...and great BBQ.  Now we may not do the ribs as well but our BBQ burgers are the best on both sides of the Pacos. 

I'm sorry, but the words 'BBQ' and 'burgers' right next to each other like that just make my skin crawl.

Next weekend here in Mobile is the Hog Wild Barbeque Festival (which my daughter started calling the Pigfest), where lots and lots of people (from various distances away) compete for best barbeque. If you get there early enough EVERYONE is giving away free samples. Sauces from tomato based, mustard based, to vinegar based are used, along with various rubs and marinades. Assorted slaws, salads, breads (for sopping up the sauce), drinks, and live entertainment are also available. They have even had fried green tomatoes, corn, funnel cakes, and "home made" ice cream (made in a huge freezer turned by an ancient John Deere industrial engine).

No pig races this year, though...

So, I know what I'm doing next weekend.

This sounds very similar to a BBQ Festival that is held in my hometown every year.  Its a great event as well and I've enjoyed it every time I've been.  Unfortunately, I learned to avoid it while I was still living there because the population of the city doubled during the event and I just didn't want to be around that many people at once.

[daglob]

The festival here seems to be frequented by locals mostly. I've been to most (9 out of 11), and enjoyed them all.

If you wrap the hamburger with a slice of bacon, then grill it and baste it with BBQ sauce near the end, you can get a decent barbequed burger. One of the local resaurants (Ossie's, gone for years but back again) used to have a "Chick Loin", basically a chicken breast sandwich. Back when they had an open pit, they would let the chicken sit on the grill for a minute or two if you asked (soaking up smoke), then slather it with sauce. They are good without that (no open pit, nowadays), but...

[BentonGrey]

Man, I'm a little jealous.  I hope my new town has such festivals come summer time....

[GhostMachine]

All we have here as far as food festivals go is a biscuit festival, which started up a few years ago.

[Raptor]

This year will be the 30th anniversary of the BBQ Festival in my hometown (Lexington, NC).  I may just have to go back this year.

http://www.barbecuefestival.com/

[Grendal_71]

I think Suffolk has an annual peanut festival.  (facepalm).