Posts tagged bbq

Chicago q – BBQ in Chicago

I had taken a long nice nap after the Chicago Food Film Festival award ceremony. So hungover from the previous night’s oyster party, but I recovered. I think I kinda forgot that I won such a prestigious award that very day …only because of I’m so used to the fast pace fleeting statuses on Facebook and Twitter. Now that I think about it, I’m very grateful and it was fitting that I went out to celebrate with Rusty and Ronnie Z that night.

I was looking on the Yelp app and decided on Chicago q, which happened to be right below Ronnie Z’s apartment …although I secretly wanted to try the Cheesecake Factory. Chicago q was so unassuming on the outside. I didn’t realize it was a restaurant or opened. Inside there were people and it looked kinda like a Dixie Steamboat.

Chicago BBQ …not too bad. The highlights were definitely the complimentary homemade pickles and potato chips. Also the food came out super fast. My platter of Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork and Cole Slaw came out literally two minutes after I ordered. The meat was okay. I do like the variety of sauces. A ton of food. The pulled pork sandwich I saw on another table looked monstrous.

Chicago q – 1160 N Dearborn St (btwn Elm St & Division) Chicago, IL 60610

Sticky Fingers (Charleston, South Carolina)

I’ve posted snippets from the road, but now I’m ready to share our full-on adventures and photos from our Shonali Bhowmik 100 Oak’s Revival tour down South…

Day 4: Shonali’s good old friend Jeff (and coincidentally Jill’s cousin) hosted us in Charleston at his big house. I slept on the window ledge …that’s how big it was. The next morning he pulled out some simple ingredients (bread, turkey slices, cheese and a bean salad) so we can make sandwiches. I really forgot how good a simple sandwich could be.

Later we walked around in downtown Charleston. It’s beautiful there. I’m glad the hurricane didn’t hit. A lot of cute Carolina girls. Shonali told me I should talk to the gelato cart girl. I think Shonali was trying to get me arrested because she was probably 15.

We then hit up Sticky Fingers BBQ (which Jeff used to own). I’ve always heard about this place. I got two shots of Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon and one of the Blue Plate Specials (under $10 all day) …that’s a good deal. As recommended by our waiter, I went with the dry rub on my ribs. Probably for the best since all the sauces are on the table.

I love the idea of the Habanero and Tennessee Whiskey sauces, but I think my favorite was the Carolina Classic mustard.

Sticky Fingers – 235 Meeting Street. Charleston, SC 29401

They had this painting of Stephen Colbert.
Stephen%20Colbert%20painting Sticky Fingers (Charleston, South Carolina)

Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ (Charleston, South Carolina)

I’ve posted snippets from the road, but now I’m ready to share our full-on adventures and photos from our Shonali Bhowmik 100 Oak’s Revival tour down South…

Day 3: We made our way to Charleston and loaded into the Tin Roof. I heard there was a BBQ place next door from Jeff’s local friends –Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ. I knew we were going to soundcheck real soon, so I got a small Brunswick Stew real quick. Pretty solid. Coincidentally when I got back to the Tin Roof bar, they were having a screening party for the Heat Seekers Food Network show that showcased Home Team BBQ’s Death Relish Salsa over Nachos. I shoulda got that. Dang.

Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ - 1205 Ashley River Road. Charleston, SC 29407

Ember Room Opening Night Party

Here are photos from the grand opening party at Ember Room, a new American-Asian Barbecue restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. The oven with the spinning grill was awesome. Glad they put that out in front where people can see it. I’m not sure how the menu will be, but whatever they gave me to eat was pretty awesome.

The menu at the Ember Room was created by celebrity chefs, Todd English and Ian Chalermkittichai. I remember Todd English way back when he was the Iron Chef American on Iron Chef USA, the first American adaptation of Iron Chef on the UPNstarring William Shatner as the chairman. This version didn’t last long though. Only two episodes were produced according to Wikipedia. I wish they moved Shatner over to the Food Network’s version. He was a badass chairman. FYI, the current chairman is not the real nephew of original Japanese chairman, Takeshi Kaga. It’s all a terrible lie.

Anyway, I remember Todd English being the alpha male all-American Iron Chef. I think he flipped a spatula or something and the audience went nuts. There’s a photo of him on the Ember Room website. I’m not sure, but is that duck face?
ember%20room%20webpage Ember Room Opening Night Party

Ember Room – 647 9th Ave (btwn 45th & 46th St) New York, NY 10036

By Myself, All You Can Rib and Beer @ Hill Country?

01 Hill Country All You Can Eat deal By Myself, All You Can Rib and Beer @ Hill Country?

It was supposed to be a Dudes Night Out, right before Thursday Night Online UNO on the Playstation 3. The Thrillist.com had an all you can eat pork rib, a couple sides and all you can drink beer deal for $29. That’s a great deal, considering Hill Country is kinda pricey. Unfortunately the other dudes were too slow. The day they went to buy their ticket, the deal was sold out. To be fair, the site did say there was 6 days remaining to get the deal with no indication of a cap.

Okay, no problem. My friends still wanted to eat with me since I bought my ticket. Brahs stick together. The only problem was Hill Country wouldn’t let me sit with them. Everyone at the table had to have the deal. Wait, so I’m going to try to stuff my face and drink as much as I can in two hours by myself, staring at a wall? What a shitty deal. I have a closet I can do that in any time I want.

I know a lot of restaurants have this rule for all you can eat specials and tasting menus, but what about exceptions? The deal is sold out. My friends have no option to get it. Even if they did, what about vegetarians or people who don’t drink? What if someone was pork-free Muslim? You’re telling him he has to eat pig ribs if he wants to sit with his friends? The funny thing is I’m bringing a bunch of extra people who are ordering off the regular menu and going to end up spending more than I am. We can’t sit together?

I know. The problem is the potential sharing my all you can ribs and beer. Thanks for making me feel like a criminal before I even come in. I remember when I was a teenager and went to Godfather’s pizza with my friend Bill Brown. He got the pizza buffet. I got just a salad buffet. I finished quickly and Bill Brown wanted to use my plate for his discarded pizza crusts. The next time we came back a month later, I wanted the pizza buffet this time. The cashier lady said, “Okay, but I’m going to charge you twice because you ate pizza last time.” What? They never saw me eat pizza, because I didn’t. They accused me because of leftover crusts on my plate. How about giving your patrons the benefit of the doubt. Treat them like customers, not crooks.

Anyway, I know I am bitching over all you can rib and beer. Stupid. I tried to make the best out of it and go during the Jets/Patriots game this past Sunday, so I didn’t have to stare at a wall for two hours. I sat there for a while before someone realized I was there. Tables after me were getting their order taken. But I understand. It’s hard to notice a single guy at a table alone, because why would anyone go there alone for an all you can eat deal? I’m sure they thought I was waiting for my friends. They started me out with cole slaw, sweet potato mash, corn bread and one and a half ribs. It’s okay, the second time they gave me seven ribs. Although the guy who brought it out didn’t look so happy when he realized it was just me. I felt I got justice there.

So yeah, I guess it was still a good deal. Just get your friends to buy their tickets early. Or wait until they buy before you buy yours. But maybe they’d get stuck going alone. Shit. There’s an interesting deal right now on the Thrillist for a steak, a cocktail and a lap dance at the Scores strip club – $50. That’s a really good deal. Their steak got a good review from the NY Times. I suppose a lap dance isn’t so bad if I had to do it alone.

Hill Country Barbecue – 30 W 26th St (btwn Broadway & 6th Ave) New York, NY 10010

McDonald’s McRib is Back

I did it. I McRibbed. It wasn’t as tasty and tangy as I remembered. Seemed a little bland. I thought it could use some salt. Is that weird to say that McDonald’s food needs more salt? Ooh, hot sauce would be fantastic on it. It was as messy as I remembered. That sauce gets all over my hands and face. It was hard to get the smell off my fingers …even after wiping my butt. Yet still I crave to have another one or two before it’s over. The McRib is back!

NY Kom Tang Soot Bul Kalbi – Korean BBQ

When Jay and Sally were in town, we had a crew going for some Korean BBQ at NY Kom Tang Soot Bul Kalbi. This the oldest of the Korean BBQs in Koreatown and they still use wood charcoal.

Most of us opted in for the Korean BBQ. The lady came around to help cook it. I got stuffed. I wouldn’t say it’s the best of the strip, but this place sure has a cooler grimier scene.

NY Kom Tang Soot Bul Kalbi – 32 W 32nd St (btwn Broadway & 5th Ave) New York 10001

I took some slow motion shots from dinner along with shots from the San Gennaro festival and made this video…

Brother Jimmy’s All You Can Eat Wings, Rib Tips & Beer

Guys night out at Brother Jimmy’s for Monday night’s All-You-Can-Eat Wings, Rib Tips & Beer for $20. People warned me about Brother Jimmy’s, but I didn’t think the food was all that bad. And especially at this price, it’s frickin’ awesome. Matt’s a veteran here and pretty much only likes the wings, but this time he said the rib tips were pretty good. I thought they were tender and tasty with extra Blazin’ sauce on it. The wings were a little too salty and I love salt. You get a two-hour time limit and the beer is Bud or Bud light. We did plenty of damage. We even went to an Irish pub after for more beer and to play bloody knuckles. Come to think of it, Brother Jimmy’s was well-suited for this dude’s night.

Brother Jimmy’s BBQ – 116 E 16th St (btwn E Union Sq & Irving Pl) New York, NY 10003