-- Played out BBQ thread

[Simply Red]

My Mother and step father just returned from Methdependence, visiting mom's mother.

Anyhow, they found some super-sized Gates original at the local Costco. They gave me two huge bottles, I just opened it and made a sandwich w/ smoked turkey on an onion bagel. Great coloring and consistency, beautiful herbal additions which are obvious via the naked eye.

Here's the thing:

Why do so many of you (locals) NOT like Gates sauce?

Seriously, It's EASILY the best I have ever had.

Ribs are in the near future plans.

[Pushead2]

what Kraft BBQ sauce isn't the shit anymore?

[Baby Lee]

I do love Gates' extra hot, but it takes on a diminished dimension when you realize how much of its flavor comes from celery salt.

Regular Gates' is a little too straightforwardly tomato based, I trend to the thicker and smokier if the sauce isn't packing heat.

[KCUnited]

The sauce is my favorite part of Gates.

[Simply Red]

what Kraft BBQ sauce isn't the shit anymore?

can you o.n. me some carnegie deli action, namely a pastrami w/ prov..?:D

[gblowfish]

"Methdependence?"

Hey, we haven't had a Meth Lab Explosion around here in at least two or three weeks!

[Simply Red]

I do love Gates' extra hot, but it takes on a diminished dimension when you realize how much of its flavor comes from celery salt.

Regular Gates' is a little too straightforwardly tomato based, I trend to the thicker and smokier if the sauce isn't packing heat.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. For certain, and I taste it, clearly. Zarda too emphasizes the celery seed/salt. It's fine, Beats the hell out of the stuff down here, trust me. Even the joint on Roswell Rd. owned by KC natives is only 'asi, asi' but man, it's missed by me, no doubt.

[Simply Red]

"Methdependence?"

Hey, we haven't had a Meth Lab Explosion around here in at least two or three weeks!

I was playing, but it was getting rough in areas, when I departed in 91 :D

[Simply Red]

The sauce is my favorite part of Gates.

do you do the mild or original, or that hotter one? Actually, how many versions they got? I think i bought version 1.0

[KCUnited]

do you do the mild or original, or that hotter one? Actually, how many versions they got? I think i bought version 1.0

I like the Classic and the Extra Hot. They have 4 total, with Mild and Sweet & Mild added to the other 2.

[DeezNutz]

The sauce makes the BBQ.

[seclark]

i've been using a lot of this lately. pretty darn good, and made in nemo.
sec

[Simply Red]

i've been using a lot of this lately. pretty darn good, and made in nemo.
sec

is there anything you'd compare it to? That's a pretty rad looking label and packaging.

[Phobia]

is there anything you'd compare it to? That's a pretty rad looking label and packaging.

It's amazing. Brown sugar base with just enough savory to tickle. There's really no comparing it to any traditional sauces you've spoken of so far. It's very sweet but not in a bad way.

I used to use it all the time until I discovered Firebug. Firebug is from Lee's Summit and I replaced the Blues Hog almost 2 years ago. I've since become friends with the creator but my enjoyment of his sauce has absolutely nothing to do with our friendship.

http://firebugbbq.com/ Buy it at Hy-Vee & Price Choppers in the area or online. This stuff is a sorghum base and is more natural than most other sauces. It has also shown well at competitions lately.

[Simply Red]

noted, will do, eventually. TY

[Reaper16]

Gates' sauce is one of the best in KC, IMO.

[Saccopoo]

Gates' sauce is one of the best in KC, IMO.

Seconded. I always pick up an assorted case of it when I'm in town.

I've molded my own BBQ Sauce recipe around the general taste of Gates as I like it so much.

[tyton75]

IMO, Gates is great on Beef... Bryants is Best on Pork... and kc Masterpiece is still a great sauce for anything if you don't have either of the top two

[Reaper16]

IMO, Gates is great on Beef... Bryants is Best on Pork... and kc Masterpiece is still a great sauce for anything if you don't have either of the top two
KC Masterpiece is best for letting all of that sugar strip the paint off of one's house.

[Simply Red]

they have a place here in Atlanta, Actually Brookhaven/Buckhead area. I think it's called 'The Brick Pit' or something. I went there and got their pulled-pork, it's how i'd imagine a turd tasting, not that I imagine tasting turds. But, it was not quite as HQ as Alpo..

[Extra Point]

The sauce is the only part of Gates.

FYP

[gblowfish]

Here's my humble opinion on the sauces, most of these can be found in KC grocery stores:

Best on beef like steak, hamburgers or brisket: Gates. No doubt about this. A sauce from Texas called Stubb's is also excellent on beef.

Best on Pork: Bryant's. Their sauce is very unusual. Bright red, lots of paprika and cayenne pepper. Its a hot tart tangy sauce. They also make a sweet sauce that is good on poltry.

Pork Ribs: I like Famous Dave's Texas Pit on ribs.

Chicken: Bryant's sweet sauce or Danny Edwards sauce.

Chicken Tenders for dipping: Rosedale's sauce is wonderful for this.

Turkey: Bryan'ts sweet sauce, Gates, L.C.s sauce.

Smoked Sausage: Gates or Hayward's Pit.

Best in BBQ Beans: Sweet Baby Ray's sauce is great in BBQ beans, add some chopped brisket, chopped pork or turkey. It has lots of molasses in it, so it's a natural with beans. Also very good with BBQ Chicken Pizza as the BBQ component of the pizza sauce.

Worthless sauces, you can do better are:

KC Masterpiece, Zarda, Maull's, Kraft. I'm not too fond of Okla Joe's sauce either, it has too much liquid smoke in it.

[Simply Red]

I literally threw away an entire bottle of Sweet Baby Rays, once I had tried it.
Probably DOES work well on beans though, come to think of it.

I appreciate the Stubbs review, i've been skeptical, but I'll NOW try it.

[Boon]

i've been using a lot of this lately. pretty darn good, and made in nemo.
sec

THIS!!!

[TrickyNicky]

If mustard-based sauce is your thing, you can't go wrong with Bandana's Original sauce. Its just off I-29 in St. Joe at the Frederick BLVD exit. It goes well with everything. I always pick up a bottle of it when I'm there.

[Extra Point]

Had the Italian Sausage dinner at BB's last nite, with beans and wedge fries for sides. The four of us split an order of onion rings. Good eats!

[DaneMcCloud]

FWIW, I've mentioned this before but there's a place called Barbeques Galore in Los Angeles that stocks Gates sauce and at one time, Zarda's sauce and rubs.

I love both, although the last time I ordered Jackstack's sauce and food overnight, I liked their sauces as well.

I think it's hard to go wrong with any BBQ joint in KC.

[BillSelfsTrophycase]

There is a such thing as played out barbecue?

[DaneMcCloud]

There is a such thing as played out barbecue?

I think he was referring to the fact that this topic has been discussed ad nauseam in the past decade.

[Saccopoo]

Here's my humble opinion on the sauces, most of these can be found in KC grocery stores:

Best on beef like steak, hamburgers or brisket: Gates. No doubt about this. A sauce from Texas called Stubb's is also excellent on beef.

Best on Pork: Bryant's. Their sauce is very unusual. Bright red, lots of paprika and cayenne pepper. Its a hot tart tangy sauce. They also make a sweet sauce that is good on poltry.

Pork Ribs: I like Famous Dave's Texas Pit on ribs.

No offense, but I wouldn't use Famous Dave's to clean out my disposal, let alone put it on food. Worst BBQ I've ever had.

Best in BBQ Beans: Sweet Baby Ray's sauce is great in BBQ beans, add some chopped brisket, chopped pork or turkey. It has lots of molasses in it, so it's a natural with beans. Also very good with BBQ Chicken Pizza as the BBQ component of the pizza sauce.

It's a sauce for kids. It's so sickly sweet that only children could possibly have that level of unrefined palate to find such tomato syrup concoction even remotely appetizing.

[Reaper16]

No offense, but I wouldn't use Famous Dave's to clean out my disposal, let alone put it on food. Worst BBQ I've ever had.



It's a sauce for kids. It's so sickly sweet that only children could possibly have that level of unrefined palate to find such tomato syrup concoction even remotely appetizing.
Have you seen gblowfish's personal BBQ rankings? http://www.georgeblowfish.com/BBQ.html He rates Famous Dave's the same as L.C.'s and Oklahoma Joe's. So if the shoe fits... :D

[Phobia]

In a blind taste test 90% of people would choose Heinz catsup over Famous Daves 100% of the time. That stuff is awful.

[WV]

I really like Famous Dave's Devil Spit. Never tried the regular. I'm not really a sauce guy though, the best BBQ I've ever had was from a place called the "Salt Lick" in TX. They make their own Habanero Sauce that is killer, it's called Lauren's Spicy Recipe. http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

[buddha]

I really like Famous Dave's Devil Spit. Never tried the regular. I'm not really a sauce guy though, the best BBQ I've ever had was from a place called the "Salt Lick" in TX. They make their own Habanero Sauce that is killer, it's called Lauren's Spicy Recipe. http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

Mentioning the Salt Lick in the same thread as the great KC BBQ places is like comparing Phyllis Diller to the Swedish Ladies Ski Team. The SL has become a victim of its own success. They have nice grilled meat, but nothing that they do resembles BBQ by the KC or Memphis definition. Their sauce is mustard based (strike one) and they don't know what a smoke ring is (strike two).

For those getting all huffy about Famous Dave's, just move away from KC for a few years and try to find decent (not good) BBQ in 90 percent of the rest of the country. Good freaking luck. It doesn't exist. Unless there just happens to be a KC ex-patriot in town doing their own thing, all you'll find are Tony Roma's or worse. Famous Dave's blows compared to KC BBQ...no debate here. However, when you need a BBQ fix and your at a water polo tournament in Fresno, CA...guess what? It's not that bad.

I love Gates sauce.

[Simply Red]

we have 'BBQ Galores' here, also.

[Phobia]

Mentioning the Salt Lick in the same thread as the great KC BBQ places is like comparing Phyllis Diller to the Swedish Ladies Ski Team. The SL has become a victim of its own success. They have nice grilled meat, but nothing that they do resembles BBQ by the KC or Memphis definition. Their sauce is mustard based (strike one) and they don't know what a smoke ring is (strike two).

For those getting all huffy about Famous Dave's, just move away from KC for a few years and try to find decent (not good) BBQ in 90 percent of the rest of the country. Good freaking luck. It doesn't exist. Unless there just happens to be a KC ex-patriot in town doing their own thing, all you'll find are Tony Roma's or worse. Famous Dave's blows compared to KC BBQ...no debate here. However, when you need a BBQ fix and your at a water polo tournament in Fresno, CA...guess what? It's not that bad.

I love Gates sauce.

If the Q isn't in your town then bring it to your backyard. I don't hate Famous Daves. I just don't like their sauce. I presume their base is catsup. It's not good. I'll bet they know how to smoke some meat though.

[Simply Red]

Mentioning the Salt Lick in the same thread as the great KC BBQ places is like comparing Phyllis Diller to the Swedish Ladies Ski Team. The SL has become a victim of its own success. They have nice grilled meat, but nothing that they do resembles BBQ by the KC or Memphis definition. Their sauce is mustard based (strike one) and they don't know what a smoke ring is (strike two).

For those getting all huffy about Famous Dave's, just move away from KC for a few years and try to find decent (not good) BBQ in 90 percent of the rest of the country. Good freaking luck. It doesn't exist. Unless there just happens to be a KC ex-patriot in town doing their own thing, all you'll find are Tony Roma's or worse. Famous Dave's blows compared to KC BBQ...no debate here. However, when you need a BBQ fix and your at a water polo tournament in Fresno, CA...guess what? It's not that bad.

I love Gates sauce.

Corkys was here in Atlanta for a while, they're outta Memphis. So,so, but acceptable, I guess. Same w/ Sticky Fingers outta Columbia SC, so long as you don't mess around with their nasty Carolina mustard disaster, the sweet is fairly good, they get a fair amount of hickory flavor, again, acceptable.

[jspchief]

Sauce preference is a pretty individualized thing IMO. There has to be thousands of different sauces out there, and not every sauce is going to appeal to every person's taste.

While I certainly take suggestions of things to try, I don't put too much stock into what others try to tell me is "best" or "worst", simply because to me it's like someone else trying to tell me what my favorite flavor of ice cream should be.

[MOhillbilly]

My woman and kids love the Kraft and thats fine with me.

[boogblaster]

hard to find any decent sauce out here in the sticks ... so i usually buy whatever they got and add to it ...

[A1DonkKiller]

Anyone ever had Fat Charlie's Habanaro? It kinda taste like gates with an awesome habanaro flavor. It's got plenty of heat, too. He used to have a bbq trailer next to the Piggily Wiggily by the Truman Complex. I haven't been there lately. I think he moved.

"Yea, I whirlwind through cities. Influential, scientifical power ........" 4 Simply Red

[Fish]

i've been using a lot of this lately. pretty darn good, and made in nemo.
sec

Over the last few years, I've got my old man into smoking meat. He's went from plain hot dogs and hamburgers with seasoning salt, to actually smoking ribs and pork shoulders the right way.

Every few months when I return home, I take him a new bottle of sauce to try out. He's in a small town in KS, so their sauce selection is literally limited to A1, KC Masterpiece, and Kraft. I finally got him a bottle of the Blues Hog, and that was it. No more different sauces needed. Now all he asks for is another bottle of that. Now he's got buddies at work asking to bring me a bottle down too. It must be catching on pretty good, because Smoke n Fire had cases of the shit sitting out last time I was there.

[WV]

Mentioning the Salt Lick in the same thread as the great KC BBQ places is like comparing Phyllis Diller to the Swedish Ladies Ski Team. The SL has become a victim of its own success. They have nice grilled meat, but nothing that they do resembles BBQ by the KC or Memphis definition. Their sauce is mustard based (strike one) and they don't know what a smoke ring is (strike two).

For those getting all huffy about Famous Dave's, just move away from KC for a few years and try to find decent (not good) BBQ in 90 percent of the rest of the country. Good freaking luck. It doesn't exist. Unless there just happens to be a KC ex-patriot in town doing their own thing, all you'll find are Tony Roma's or worse. Famous Dave's blows compared to KC BBQ...no debate here. However, when you need a BBQ fix and your at a water polo tournament in Fresno, CA...guess what? It's not that bad.

I love Gates sauce.

I guess it all depends on your perspective. I for one prefer the Salt Lick style of BBQ to anything else I've found. Not coming from BBQ country I don't have any preconceived notions as to what is the "best" or not, so to me I'd take Salt Lick BBQ over just about anything.

[gblowfish]

Have you seen gblowfish's personal BBQ rankings? http://www.georgeblowfish.com/BBQ.html He rates Famous Dave's the same as L.C.'s and Oklahoma Joe's. So if the shoe fits... :D

BBQ is like politics or religion. Ask a hundred people, you'll get a hundred different answers. Just my opinion, but I've been chewing on KC BBQ for more than 40 years.

Famous Dave makes a variety of sauces. Not all of them are good, but the Texas Pit and the Devil's Spit both have a following.

Baby Ray's is called "Sweet" because it has a lot of sugar in it, mostly from molasses. That's why it's OK when cut down with other ingredients in beans, but too sweet as a stand alone sauce.

Oklahoma Joe's meats and sides are good, but their sauce is not one of my favorites. I don't like liquid smoke as a sauce ingredient, I like real natural smoke on the meat for making "smoke taste."

[Simply Red]

Anyone ever had Fat Charlie's Habanaro? It's kinda taste like gates with an awesome habanaro flavor. It's got plenty of heat, too. He used to have a bbq trailer next to the Piggily Wiggily by the Truman Complex. I haven't been there lately. I think he moved.

"Yea, I whirlwind through cities. Influential, scientifical power ........" 4 Simply Red

http://i35.tinypic.com/2i77r6p.jpg

[PunkinDrublic]

Red you can never post a tired BBQ thread.

[Phobia]

Over the last few years, I've got my old man into smoking meat. He's went from plain hot dogs and hamburgers with seasoning salt, to actually smoking ribs and pork shoulders the right way.

Every few months when I return home, I take him a new bottle of sauce to try out. He's in a small town in KS, so their sauce selection is literally limited to A1, KC Masterpiece, and Kraft. I finally got him a bottle of the Blues Hog, and that was it. No more different sauces needed. Now all he asks for is another bottle of that. Now he's got buddies at work asking to bring me a bottle down too. It must be catching on pretty good, because Smoke n Fire had cases of the shit sitting out last time I was there.
If he likes the Blues Hog take him a bottle of the Firebug.

[Fish]

If he likes the Blues Hog take him a bottle of the Firebug.

I'll do that. Thanks.

[Baby Lee]

The big four, for me.

Kehde's
Gates and Son's Extra Hot
Bandana's Sweet and Smoky
Bandana's Extra Hot

[DaneMcCloud]

The big four, for me.

Kehde's
Gates and Son's Extra Hot
Bandana's Sweet and Smoky
Bandana's Extra Hot

Is Bandana's store bought or an actual BBQ joint?

[ArrowheadHawk]

I just started to get more into BBQ sauce I'm not really that big on BBQ sauce so I mostly used to eat meat with a dry rub and no sauce. Topeka recently opened a Famous Daves and I tried their ribs along with their sauces. I really like the Devil's Spit sauce. The Texas sauce is good also. Since I can buy the sauce at Dillons that is what I have been doing. So my question is if Famous Daves sauce is crap and I like the Devil's Spit sauce what other sauces should I try. I am not a fan of sweet.

[MOhillbilly]

Spfld has a Hy-Vee coming soon.

Fuck ya!

[Fish]

The Hyvees here in KC have a surprisingly good BBQ sauce selection for a grocer. Not sure if that is simply the KC connection or if it's a Hyvee thing.

[Simply Red]

Is Bandana's store bought or an actual BBQ joint?

Saint Louis Joint/restaurant.

[tooge]

I've been using this sauce on my chicken and ribs lately. Tastes nothing like it sounds. The watermelon rind is really a sweetener and thickener, and doesn't impart much real flavor. Won 2 awards at the last 3 bbq events we entered with it. Hard to find around kc. I know some price choppers are carrying it, but not all of them. It is different than most sweet sauces and has a nice finishing bite and a little smoke as well. The family's new favorite. Got most of my buddies diggin it too.

[MOhillbilly]

The Hyvees here in KC have a surprisingly good BBQ sauce selection for a grocer. Not sure if that is simply the KC connection or if it's a Hyvee thing.

I buy the sweetheat out at the one down the street from my grandmothers. My woman will say 'what the fuck do we need 50 dollars in BBQ sauce for?'.
Stoopid bitchez.

[tooge]

If the Q isn't in your town then bring it to your backyard. I don't hate Famous Daves. I just don't like their sauce. I presume their base is catsup. It's not good. I'll bet they know how to smoke some meat though.

Not a big fan of theirs. Only been there one time, and I had the brisket sandwich. It was really pretty good smoked meat, but I agree that I would have killed it if I had put as much sauce on as I usually do.

[KCUnited]

My woman will say 'what the **** do we need 50 dollars in BBQ sauce for?'.
Stoopid bitchez.

Handle that with the ol, "The same reason I need a 120 pounds of your ass sitting around, so I can spread it when I need it."

[MOhillbilly]

Handle that with the ol, "The same reason I need a 120 pounds of your ass sitting around, so I can spread it when I need it."

i just choke her untill she passes out.

[KCUnited]

My brother up in Montana makes his own huckleberry bbq sauce, he'll send me some every now and again, outstanding on pork, chicken, and fish. He says its prevalent up there.

[MOhillbilly]

Sorry, i didnt mean to break up yalls party.
lol

[MOhillbilly]

My brother up in Montana makes his own huckleberry bbq sauce, he'll send me some every now and again, outstanding on pork, chicken, and fish. He says its prevalent up there.

Fish?:eek:

[gblowfish]

Corkys was here in Atlanta for a while, they're outta Memphis. So,so, but acceptable, I guess. Same w/ Sticky Fingers outta Columbia SC, so long as you don't mess around with their nasty Carolina mustard disaster, the sweet is fairly good, they get a fair amount of hickory flavor, again, acceptable.

My parents live in Hot Springs, AR. The local Kroger gets lots of sauces from Memphis and Texas. The big ones from Memphis are Corky's, Neely's, Rendevous and Interstate. All four are pretty good, all sweet sauces.

Stubb's from Texas is the closest thing to Gates sauce I've ever come across. They make excellent rubs and marinades too.

The local BBQ joint in Hot Springs is called McClard's. They sell their sauce in Hot Springs. It was Bill Clinton's favorite growing up there.

[tooge]

My parents live in Hot Springs, AR. The local Kroger gets lots of sauces from Memphis and Texas. The big ones from Memphis are Corky's, Neely's, Rendevous and Interstate. All four are pretty good, all sweet sauces.

Stubb's from Texas is the closest thing to Gates sauce I've ever come across. They make excellent rubs and marinades too.

The local BBQ joint in Hot Springs is called McClard's. They sell their sauce in Hot Springs. It was Bill Clinton's favorite growing up there.

Bill Clintons sauce?

[Omaha]

Baby Ray's is called "Sweet" because it has a lot of sugar in it, mostly from molasses. That's why it's OK when cut down with other ingredients in beans, but too sweet as a stand alone sauce.


I bought this once. The first ingredient listed on the label was High Fructose Corn Syrup. That's a bad sign. I now order from Jackstack.

[gblowfish]

Bill Clintons sauce?

Don't spill it. It's hard to launder out of, say, your favorite dress....

http://www.mcclards.com/

[KCUnited]

Fish?:eek:
Yep, it's good on oily fish, salmon, trout, tuna, really good on shrimp. Not sure how good it would be on a white fish.

[MOhillbilly]

Harter House has a decent selection and the house sauce is OK.

[MOhillbilly]

Yep, it's good on oily fish, salmon, trout, tuna, really good on shrimp. Not sure how good it would be on a white fish.

Crazy yanks. Thats such a weird concept of flavors.

[Omaha]

Crazy yanks. Thats such a weird concept of flavors.

Yeah, it surprised the crap out of me, too. A guy here in town was using Fatboy (from a BBQ guru in western NE) sauces on salmon & it was so freaking good....

[Saccopoo]

Crazy yanks. Thats such a weird concept of flavors.

I really enjoy a nice mustard/vinegar based Carolina BBQ sauce on a grilled piece of mako shark or cobia. I don't know how a tomato based sauce would do with salmon, char or the like. Seems to be a contradiction in flavors.

[Baby Lee]

Is Bandana's store bought or an actual BBQ joint?

Both. Started in St. Louis [Arnold actually] in 1997, and is presently ALL OVER the St. Louis area, like 10-15 locations. Expanded to Columbia and St. Joe in the early 00's and has had a location on Noland right of I-70 for I want to say 2 years now. Recently moved into Iowa as well, around 30 locations in all.

Sell their bottled sauces in store and in grocery stores.

Their meats are universally reliable, I'd liken it to Red Robin, not the most singularly transcendent experience you've ever had [be it burger or BBQ respectively] but very good, and the key here, EVERY TIME.

All their sides are quality too, and their ace in the hole is their garlic bread, the perfect 'sop' for the sauce. People eat that garlic bread like it has crack sprinkled on it. MoF, before them the RFT [local 'progressive' rag] didn't even have a 'best garlic bread' category in their annual 'best of St. Louis' polls.

They've been supplanted by Pappy's as best barbecue in St. Louis on said list, but it's hard to tell how much of that's the merits and how much of it is successful chain vs indy upstart mentality. Must say I've heard glowing things about Pappy's [and it WAS on Man vs Food], but I haven't had occasion to check it out.

http://bandanasbbq.com/Flash/home.htm

http://pappyssmokehouse.com/

[OnTheWarpath15]

I was just getting ready to ask you (BL) if you had been to Pappy's.

It's solid. Miles ahead of Bandana's and SuperSmokers.

It's on par with anything I've had in KC.

[Baby Lee]

I was just getting ready to ask you (BL) if you had been to Pappy's.

It's solid. Miles ahead of Bandana's and SuperSmokers.

It's on par with anything I've had in KC.

With the weight loss effort, eating out has gone way down, and I've never been a big 'go somewhere in the middle of the day' eater-outer anyways. I know some of the mystique is the crowds it draws, but for me it comes off as more of a hassle for a meal I shouldn't be eating anyways. Maybe next time family visits.

Oh, and Bandana's and Supersmokers don't belong in the same conversation. Overpriced overpimped dried out hackery.

[OnTheWarpath15]

With the weight loss effort, eating out has gone way down, and I've never been a big 'go somewhere in the middle of the day' eater-outer anyways. I know some of the mystique is the crowds it draws, but for me it comes off as more of a hassle for a meal I shouldn't be eating anyways. Maybe next time family visits.

Oh, and Bandana's and Supersmokers don't belong in the same conversation. Overpriced overpimped dried out hackery.

Absolutely agree.

[The Franchise]

What is this BBQ that you speak of?

[Baby Lee]

Absolutely agree.

Just realized that was ambiguous. Do you agree with what I INTENDED to say, which is SS doesn't belong in a conversation with Bandana's because of the over/over/dried factor, or what COULD be the interpretation, that neither SS nor Bandana's belong in the conversation with Pappy's because both are over/over/dried? The latter I disagree with.

[Reaper16]

I was just getting ready to ask you (BL) if you had been to Pappy's.

It's solid. Miles ahead of Bandana's and SuperSmokers.

It's on par with anything I've had in KC.
Pappy's was way below the KC standard when I was there. Not that it was bad.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Just realized that was ambiguous. Do you agree with what I INTENDED to say, which is SS doesn't belong in a conversation with Bandana's because of the over/over/dried factor, or what COULD be the interpretation, that neither SS nor Bandana's belong in the conversation with Pappy's because both are over/over/dried? The latter I disagree with.

What you intended to say.

[DJ's left nut]

If it doesn't have burnt ends (every day), it's crap.

Oklahoma Joes can eat my asshole. Burnt ends only on Wednesdays and Saturdays is amateur hour.

And Zardas always seems underrated to me. Most folks tend to put them on par with standard applebees fare and I just don't get it. Zarda's isn't Bryants, but their spicy sauce is pretty good stuff and the meats tend to have a nice little smoke to them.

[Reaper16]

If it doesn't have burnt ends (every day), it's crap.

Oklahoma Joes can eat my asshole. Burnt ends only on Wednesdays and Saturdays is amateur hour.

And Zardas always seems underrated to me. Most folks tend to put them on par with standard applebees fare and I just don't get it. Zarda's isn't Bryants, but their spicy sauce is pretty good stuff and the meats tend to have a nice little smoke to them.
Your a goddamned poopypants.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Gates sauce is totally awesome.

[SLAG]

we are Smoking some meats today

2 Briskets
1 Pork Butt
2 Bologna
1 Turkey
6 HUGE turkey legs

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs185.ash2/44823_587416710865_82405903_34078003_3806743_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs424.snc4/46754_587416770745_82405903_34078004_7444712_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs391.snc4/45381_587416890505_82405903_34078015_5111435_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs377.snc4/46042_587417678925_82405903_34078063_2125089_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs387.snc4/45020_587434190835_82405903_34078537_6910672_n.jpg

[Fish]

If it doesn't have burnt ends (every day), it's crap.

Oklahoma Joes can eat my asshole. Burnt ends only on Wednesdays and Saturdays is amateur hour.

And Zardas always seems underrated to me. Most folks tend to put them on par with standard applebees fare and I just don't get it. Zarda's isn't Bryants, but their spicy sauce is pretty good stuff and the meats tend to have a nice little smoke to them.

There's not enough burnt end meat available for them to make it a standard special and be able to feed the crowds that come and go in that place. Burnt ends make up a very small percentage of the meat from a carcass. If they made it a popular weekly special, then they'd have to resort to throwing brisket meat in with the burnt ends just to have enough meat, and that would make the quality of the burnt ends go down, and defeat the purpose. Which is what some places do.

Burnt ends are the dessert meat. You can't expect them to be readily available all the time.

[SLAG]

some more pix

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http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs203.ash2/46622_587436336535_82405903_34078557_7666806_n.jpg
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[Reaper16]

There's not enough burnt end meat available for them to make it a standard special and be able to feed the crowds that come and go in that place. Burnt ends make up a very small percentage of the meat from a carcass. If they made it a popular weekly special, then they'd have to resort to throwing brisket meat in with the burnt ends just to have enough meat, and that would make the quality of the burnt ends go down, and defeat the purpose. Which is what some places do.

Burnt ends are the dessert meat. You can't expect them to be readily available all the time.
Yup. All the places everywhere that do lots of business have to mix in cubed brisket along with the actual burnt ends. Even L.C.'s will give doe-eyed white people mostly cubed brisket if they order burnt ends at dinner or later. Real burnt ends sell out fast. Joe's doesn't want to compromise quality so they do it once per week. The rest of the time they use the point of the brisket in their Smokey Joe sandwich.

Woodyard and Smokin' Guns are two places that offer real burnt ends all of the time. They do a whole lot less business than a place like Oklahoma Joe's.

[Fish]

If he likes the Blues Hog take him a bottle of the Firebug.

FYI... I wanted to revisit this, and thank you for this suggestion.

Firebug is some damn good sauce. I now prefer it to the Blues Hog, and that's saying something. And I enjoy the fact that I'm supporting someone local too.

Thanks again Phil.

[MOhillbilly]

You got to put your beans at the bottom of those upright smokers. Its criminal not to.

[KCUnited]

FYI... I wanted to revisit this, and thank you for this suggestion.

Firebug is some damn good sauce. I now prefer it to the Blues Hog, and that's saying something. And I enjoy the fact that I'm supporting someone local too.

Thanks again Phil.

+1. I tried Firebug on Phil's recommendation. Pops likes the mild, I think the hot is where it's at.

[RockChalk]

Switched to Firebug per Phil's suggestion and loved it. I still need to try Blues Hog though

[PunkinDrublic]

So last month on the way down to the Chiefs game in Houston, I took a slight detour to Lockhart, TX which was profiled on the Travel channel as being the BBQ capital of Texas. I got food from 2 places Kreuzs meat market and Blacks BBQ. In Kreuzs meat market I had a 1/2 lb of brisket and sausage. It was very good but the thing about the place is that they are such fervent beliefs in no sauce that they don't even serve it in the place. Kreuz market is in a big barn that used to be a butcher shop. They serve the food to you on wax paper and give you a little plastic knife to cut up the food. The meat was cooked well but I don't take the hard line stance of absolutely no sauce under any circumstances. After Kreuz market I went and picked up a shredded pork sandwhich to go at Blacks BBQ. Blacks doesn't employ the no sauce policy so I enjoyed it a little bit more and once again the meat was smoked well enough.

My verdict central Texas has the best BBQ in the state and I put it ahead of Carolina style but KC and Memphis styles are much better.

[Fire Me Boy!]

I make my own. Nothing but garbage down here, as far as I can tell.

[|Zach|]

Yup. All the places everywhere that do lots of business have to mix in cubed brisket along with the actual burnt ends. Even L.C.'s will give doe-eyed white people mostly cubed brisket if they order burnt ends at dinner or later. Real burnt ends sell out fast. Joe's doesn't want to compromise quality so they do it once per week. The rest of the time they use the point of the brisket in their Smokey Joe sandwich.

Woodyard and Smokin' Guns are two places that offer real burnt ends all of the time. They do a whole lot less business than a place like Oklahoma Joe's.

I tried Woodyards the other day. The smoky flavor in their meat was way good.

[Molitoth]

My fav changes a lot, but currently its:

Sweet Baby Rays
or
Smokehouse BBQ

[Simply Red]

My fav changes a lot, but currently its:

Sweet Baby Rays
or
Smokehouse BBQ

grrrr. not fond of the SBR's - it's way too sweet, IMO.

[tooge]

I just got my sauce written up in a food blog out of Illinois. Hope that gets it to take off. Check it out if you get the chance.

[Fire Me Boy!]

I just got my sauce written up in a food blog out of Illinois. Hope that gets it to take off. Check it out if you get the chance.

Quite seriously, can you send me a bottle? I'll pay for it and everything. :)

[Sfeihc]

I like to mix Gates extra hot and sweet and mild together. Yum-Yum

[Simply Red]

I just got my sauce written up in a food blog out of Illinois. Hope that gets it to take off. Check it out if you get the chance.

i would be interested in trying this out, tooge.

[MOhillbilly]

I would like to put my official endorsement behind Firebug BBQ sauce. Did some boneless chicken thighs on the grill last night & TBH kids this is my new favorite, plain and simple.
It has a certain thing about it that reminds me of the old family recipe but the depth and complexity of flavor is much, much, smoother than any BBQ sauce ive ever had.

The texture imo is split between a moppin and a paintin sauce. Just enough to stick but not enough to gob.

Get you some kids, it IS a superior product.

I no longer feel an attachment to AB sweet Heat as i once did.

[DJ's left nut]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hc6I5LJd0jw/THsRRSQadFI/AAAAAAAAAF4/2lQQ-QtP8L8/s1600/bbq-sauce.jpg

Here's their website.

http://www.headcountry.com/

A friend of my dad's pointed this stuff out to me me and said something like "you'll never find it, it's in a little place called Ponca City in Oklahoma". It just so happens that I'm in said backwater every couple of months for work so I grabbed a gallon of the hot; very good stuff. It's a little thinner than I'd like but it's still quite good. You just have to be a little more careful when you put it on or perhaps kick your heat up a bit to ensure that it chars some.

It's a very good sauce, probably my favorite to work with so far.

[KCUnited]

I no longer feel an attachment to AB sweet Heat as i once did.

Jesus on a cross, never thought I'd see that in print.

Taking some Firebug and some chicken out to the K tomorrow afternoon.

[sedated]

I was mixing my chili starter at the same time these guys were mixing some batches of their sauce, so I gave it a try and it was great. I don't think they sell in KC, mostly go to Wichita, Chicago, and Minnesota (IIRC), but I think I saw it at KS sampler.

<img src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1/btpatton/Heffys.jpg">

[MOhillbilly]

Jesus on a cross, never thought I'd see that in print.

Taking some Firebug and some chicken out to the K tomorrow afternoon.

Worlds were shaken fer sure.
I now consider the gap between firebug and sweet heat like i once considered the gap between kraft bands and SH.

So far ahead there is no second place.

[Reaper16]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hc6I5LJd0jw/THsRRSQadFI/AAAAAAAAAF4/2lQQ-QtP8L8/s1600/bbq-sauce.jpg

Here's their website.

http://www.headcountry.com/

A friend of my dad's pointed this stuff out to me me and said something like "you'll never find it, it's in a little place called Ponca City in Oklahoma". It just so happens that I'm in said backwater every couple of months for work so I grabbed a gallon of the hot; very good stuff. It's a little thinner than I'd like but it's still quite good. You just have to be a little more careful when you put it on or perhaps kick your heat up a bit to ensure that it chars some.

It's a very good sauce, probably my favorite to work with so far.
I like that sauce quite a bit. Wabash BBQ in my hometown of Excelsior Springs uses their sauce, only re-labeled with the restaurant's logo. So I was enjoying that sauce for a number of years without ever knowing it. I saw the Head Country at a store, noticed that it had the same bottle and same exact ingredients list. Taste-test confirmed that it was the same sauce.