It has been a number of months since my last post, and in that time, I've found a place that I can return to and know that I'll have an enjoyable experience. Because of that, it has led me to have fewer "encounters," as I know I'll have good meat from this place. But the prospect of a trip to Orlando and the potential for a new encounter there spurred me to go ahead and add these next two entries, beginning with my favorite in this area, Champion's.
Champion's is a little place off of I-75 where it crosses 40, right behind a real estate agency. It's a very small operation, which sometimes yields the best smoked meat you can find, and this guy does it pretty well.
Almost every time I've gone, I've had the spare ribs. They have been consistently good, with a flavorful smokiness that is not overpowering, and a very nice seasoning rub. The flavor stays with you, reminding you of how good those ribs were. I have also had Champion's brisket, which is by far the best I've had in this area, but still cannot touch the brisket you get at a good barbeque place in Texas. It had a good smokey flavor to it, though it was still cut very thin. I understand now that this is an east coast thing, but it's an east coast thing that makes me long for the midwest again.
For sides, I have traditionally asked for beans and fried okra. The beans I like, but they are mainly for my kids, who apparently cannot get enough of any type of barbeque beans. The fried okra, though, is incredible. Fried into nice balls of salty-seasoned perfection, I can eat these even after they've been in the fridge for a day and still like them. Needless to say, I've been back a few times, and I guess I talk about it enough that a student of mine gave me a gift certificate at the end of the school year, which I promptly spent.
I seem to have misplaced the pictures I had of my first Champion's visit, so I guess I'll have to go out there and get some food sometime in the near future, just so I can put some pictures up on this blog that no one reads.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Encounter 2: Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q
Okay... so it was late on a Saturday afternoon. We were out and about. I had it set in my mind that I wanted to continue on my search for barbecue today, and I had a few places in mind to try, but the hour necessitated that what we eat be readily available.
Sonny's is THE chain in this area, like Rib Crib in the Tulsa area, where we've lived for the previous decade. It is heavily patronized, as my dad noticed when he was in town. It must be okay, as its parking lot is always full, right? Let's put it to the test!
The chicken was probably the best part of this meal, though there really wasn't much smoke flavor to it. It was juicy, though, and seasoned nicely, even if the seasoning wasn't anything special.
Once again, the sliced beef and pork were so thin that they had little real taste! Barbecue peddlers of Florida, hear this! Thin meat is for deli sandwiches, NOT barbecue!
Most disappointing, though, was the included ribs. They tasted like cooked pork, which I suppose is good considering that's what they were supposed to be. It had little in the way of seasoning, and barely a hint of smoke flavor. They were not fatty like Big Rascal's, but they were tough! Once again, it seemed like the highlight of the meal was the side items. The potato salad and beans were both far from spectacular, but still enjoyable. But I'm not really picky.
Perhaps I come across in my first couple of entries as a person who is almost impossible to please. This is far from the truth. I'm really not picky! Like I said, I'm not a connoisseur. I usually eat whatever is put in front of me. But barbecue beef and pork at these last two places have been so disappointing that I probably sound like a snob. We still ate it. See the kids? They don't look miserable.
So the search continues!
Sonny's is THE chain in this area, like Rib Crib in the Tulsa area, where we've lived for the previous decade. It is heavily patronized, as my dad noticed when he was in town. It must be okay, as its parking lot is always full, right? Let's put it to the test!
We ordered a Super combo, which comes with sliced pork, beef, smoked chicken and ribs. For the sides, we ordered beans and potato salad. The meal came with corn bread.
The chicken was probably the best part of this meal, though there really wasn't much smoke flavor to it. It was juicy, though, and seasoned nicely, even if the seasoning wasn't anything special.Once again, the sliced beef and pork were so thin that they had little real taste! Barbecue peddlers of Florida, hear this! Thin meat is for deli sandwiches, NOT barbecue!
Most disappointing, though, was the included ribs. They tasted like cooked pork, which I suppose is good considering that's what they were supposed to be. It had little in the way of seasoning, and barely a hint of smoke flavor. They were not fatty like Big Rascal's, but they were tough! Once again, it seemed like the highlight of the meal was the side items. The potato salad and beans were both far from spectacular, but still enjoyable. But I'm not really picky.
Perhaps I come across in my first couple of entries as a person who is almost impossible to please. This is far from the truth. I'm really not picky! Like I said, I'm not a connoisseur. I usually eat whatever is put in front of me. But barbecue beef and pork at these last two places have been so disappointing that I probably sound like a snob. We still ate it. See the kids? They don't look miserable.
So the search continues!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Encounter 1: Big Rascal's Bar-B-Q
My first actual encounter with barbecue in Ocala was when my father and I drove a Penske truck into town to transport all my worldly possessions. It was 9:30 at night, we'd been on the road for two days. We were hungry and tired, and in no condition to objectively judge what we were eating. It was food, and we were happy to have it. So this should be the official first encounter... Big Rascal's Bar-B-Q out on Blichton Road off of Highway 75.
I heard about them from the Urban Spoon app on my iPod, and the reviews on that were pretty good, so I decided to give them a try. Needless to say, the search is not over.
The people were nice enough. I ordered my food over the phone at a time that is normally considered past the dinner hour. I knew that I was going to have to put the kids in bed before I left, so when they asked me if it was okay for my food to be ready in 20 minutes, I hesitated a little. Sensing my hesitation, they volunteered to put the order off a little and have it ready in 45 minutes, and asked me if that would be okay. I told them that was perfect, and when the kids were down, I went to pick up my food.
I didn't stay to eat, but the place seemed like a typical barbecue restaurant. Simple with a "western" sort of theme. I was in and out in just a couple of minutes.
I ordered the big combo dinner, which came with sliced beef, sliced pork, and pork ribs. I tried the sauce immediately, and it tasted like ketchup with a little Worcestershire sauce in it. Strike one.
Now, where I'm from, when a place advertises sliced beef and pork, you expect to get some thick slices. I don't claim to be a vast treasure trove of knowledge about meat, but common sense tells you that there must be some substance to it for the flavor and juiciness to reside. Cut it too thin, and you lose much of the taste. The beef and pork from Big Rascal's was cut as thin as paper. Arby's has thicker roast beef. That was disappointing. The ribs tasted okay. They were tender, but a little fattier than I prefer them. I actually liked the beans a lot. They came in a nice, thick sauce, which is how my mom always made them. The potato salad was good but nothing that caused me to notice it. I can get just as good from Publix (that's the grocery store chain in this part of the world).
So my first outing resulted in a meal of which my favorite part was one of the side items. I'm not sure that I SHOULD have expected much more, but I'm an optimist. This search might be longer than I thought, but it's just one place! On to the next!
I heard about them from the Urban Spoon app on my iPod, and the reviews on that were pretty good, so I decided to give them a try. Needless to say, the search is not over.
The people were nice enough. I ordered my food over the phone at a time that is normally considered past the dinner hour. I knew that I was going to have to put the kids in bed before I left, so when they asked me if it was okay for my food to be ready in 20 minutes, I hesitated a little. Sensing my hesitation, they volunteered to put the order off a little and have it ready in 45 minutes, and asked me if that would be okay. I told them that was perfect, and when the kids were down, I went to pick up my food.
I didn't stay to eat, but the place seemed like a typical barbecue restaurant. Simple with a "western" sort of theme. I was in and out in just a couple of minutes.
I ordered the big combo dinner, which came with sliced beef, sliced pork, and pork ribs. I tried the sauce immediately, and it tasted like ketchup with a little Worcestershire sauce in it. Strike one.
Now, where I'm from, when a place advertises sliced beef and pork, you expect to get some thick slices. I don't claim to be a vast treasure trove of knowledge about meat, but common sense tells you that there must be some substance to it for the flavor and juiciness to reside. Cut it too thin, and you lose much of the taste. The beef and pork from Big Rascal's was cut as thin as paper. Arby's has thicker roast beef. That was disappointing. The ribs tasted okay. They were tender, but a little fattier than I prefer them. I actually liked the beans a lot. They came in a nice, thick sauce, which is how my mom always made them. The potato salad was good but nothing that caused me to notice it. I can get just as good from Publix (that's the grocery store chain in this part of the world).
So my first outing resulted in a meal of which my favorite part was one of the side items. I'm not sure that I SHOULD have expected much more, but I'm an optimist. This search might be longer than I thought, but it's just one place! On to the next!
The Goal: Good Barbeque
I grew up in Texas, and I have to say that I took good meat for granted. My brother is a great cook. He'd downplay it, but he smokes great meat, and is constantly looking for better taste and techniques. I'm certainly not an expert, or even a great connoisseur, but I love good barbecue.
Last year, my family moved from the mid-west to Ocala, Florida. I was so busy for a time that I didn't realize how much I had missed good barbecue until, one night, I decided to make my chicken-on-a-beer can recipe. Since then, I have been on a search to find good barbecue in the area of North Central Florida.
Feel free to give me any leads that you might have. I'll post my experience with it here, if I get a chance.
Last year, my family moved from the mid-west to Ocala, Florida. I was so busy for a time that I didn't realize how much I had missed good barbecue until, one night, I decided to make my chicken-on-a-beer can recipe. Since then, I have been on a search to find good barbecue in the area of North Central Florida.
Feel free to give me any leads that you might have. I'll post my experience with it here, if I get a chance.
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