I don’t normally visit a place the second day it’s open, but my old friend Phil is running the kitchen and posted on Facebook that they nailed the first day so that raised my confidence and my expectations. Plus they already have a place in Prairieville and if you can open a second bbq shop you’ve got to know low and slow. Very glad I didn’t wait. Inside is brand new, but the meal was totally old school. The chicken made me want to cry. It really was that good. Tender enough to pull the bones loose but the meat was still firm and smoky sweet and juicy as all get out. Reminded me of cooking chicken over pecan wood at my friend Snake’s place out on Pointe Coupee Road. We’d mix Jack Miller’s with muscat wine for a mop sauce. Really, really good. All the Budweiser we drank while we were cooking didn’t hurt any either.
I got the three meat platter with brisket, pork ribs, and a quarter chicken with bread and smoked gouda mac and sweet potato casserole. I tried a bite of both sides and was really happy and encouraged by the bold flavors of both. The brisket had an excellent smoke ring and a really nice finish. The ribs, like the chicken, were pull-the-bones-loose tender but still firm enough to bite into. I didn’t try any of the sauces except the peppery one that came with the ribs, but they had plenty on offer. Some of the apps and sandwiches looked worthy of a trip of their own. Brisket quesadilla. Boudin and pepperjack eggrolls. Smoked wings. And they have a lot more sides. And they fry chicken and catfish. I haven’t been this impressed first time out at a bbq joint since I delivered my friend Steve’s new wife to him at the Presidio in Monterrey and he took us to a place owned and run by a guy who looked just like Willie Nelson and really knew how to do low and slow. Steve and Amanda had just gotten married the week before in St Francisville (I was best man) but he had to run back out to language school at the Presidio right away and she stayed home because she had another wedding to do. We drove out in her car and I flew back to BR a few days later. Good times. You got to love a place that brings back that many memories. I’ll go back soon, and you should definitely try it out. Here’s more of a foodie/fantasy shot of my order.
