BBQ, BBQ and more BBQ...

So I left my computer at home, which is completely unhelpful when you are trying to keep an up to date blog. Luckily, I found a computer and I'm ready to tell you about my trip so far.

Atlanta, GA
1) The Yacht Dog (a.k.a. "The Georgia Dog") - Euclid Avenue Yacht Club

This was our first stop on our Tour de Q and OH MAN was it a good first stop! The staff was super friendly and very unpretentious, which was a surprise.This place was kinda dark with kinda dingy wooden tables and chairs. Although uncrowded at the time we were there, the pictures on the walls show that it was/is a biker bar. The wall hangings are fun and quirky. Fake fish hang from the walls, accompanied by nets and various nautical equipment. EAYC has a great atmosphere!

Now, for the food! The Yacht Dog is a 1/4 pound all beef hot dog on toasted poppy seed bun! On top of the dog was relish, onions, and BRUNSWICK STEW! It is absolutely impossible to cleanly eat this dog, but it's SO worth it! The stew adds something that can only be understood by eating a Yacht Dog yourself. I can say without any hesitation that this is THE best hot dog I've ever had!

I left the EAYC feeling full and satisfied, but not over-stuffed and miserable, which was a huge plus considering I cleaned my plate. Everything about this place was better than it had to be.

Sides: Tater Tots - golden and delicious!


2) 1/2 Slab of Ribs - Bullpen Ribhouse

Friday night we went to the Bullpen Ribhouse, a sports bar and grill across the street from Turner Field. We were thinking that it was be a convenient spot to get some overpriced ribs and and a few overpriced brews before the game and that would be it - no big deal. Little did we know that these ribs were actual well above average and the sauces were OUTSTANDING! There was a number of sauces to choose from: a couple of different hot BBQ sauces, a very solid/no frills house sauce, and our favorite... the Carolina Mustard Sauce!

 These ribs were the surprise of the trip so far! The ribs were tender and very flavorful! Add to that the choice of delicious sauces and great moist cornbread to sop up the leftover sauce on your plate and you have yourself a very satisfying and succulent feast! One of the best parts of the ribs at the Bullpen was the simplicity: good ribs, good sauce, good stuff! Helpful Hint: 1/2 rack is PLENTY for two people.

Sides: Cornbread!

After dinner we headed across the street to see the Braves play the Nationals. It was a great way to end a great day of delicious food and drink. Maybe a bit overpriced, but the experience is worth it!



3) BBQ Brisket and Spicy Korean BBQ Sandwich

Today we ate at a special place, The Heirloom Market. The Heirloom Market is attached to  convenience store and looks very unassuming. However what's inside is a comfortable twist of downhome country and Korean BBQ. The smiles on the faces of the employees and cooks make this place feel like home. The small town feel in the middle of a very big town made for a very nice change of pace. Oh, and the beverages were also ones you wouldn't normally find at a BBQ joint anywhere else. Daniel and I both had a Mexican Coca Cola!

I had the BBQ Brisket. I got to choose two sides. Naturally, I chose the mac and cheese and brunswick stew. It was also served with a whole bun that was toasted and buttered, pickles, and what I think was the house hot BBQ sauce ("Settler's Sauce").

The brisket was  tender and delicious. It was great flavor, especially with the house table sauce (a mild and tangy BBQ sauce). The brunswick stew, pickles and bun were also very solid. However, the highlight my meal was the mac and cheese. It a not-overly-creamy, but very cheesy sauce on shells. I don't know if it was pamento (sp?) or what but there some small red pieces in it (I'm obviously not a cullinary expert). It was one of the best mac and cheese I've ever had at a restaraunt!

Daniel had the Spicy Korean BBQ Sandwich. His side items were onion rings, spicy homemade pickles, and a sweet/spicy chilli sauce on the side as well. He said that the spicy-ness really struck a good balance with the flavor of the meat. The sandwich was on a delicious toasted bun like the one that came with my meal. Also on the sandwich was a spicy Korean slaw that Daniel said he really enjoyed. He also made a point to say that if you don't like spicy, then you won't like this sandwich. Daniel was, indeed, sweating after taking down this delicous Spicy Korean BBQ sandwich! This sandwich, in particular, was in the Garden and Gun issue that we modeled our trip on.

So that was all for our Atlanta leg of our trip. We're eating tonght in Greenville, South Carolina. I'll try to update everyone tomorrow on this leg of the trip!

Peace,

Worth