On the road in the Deep South
Replies: 27 - Last Post: Jul 7, 2012 9:57 AM Last Post By: guitarmike74
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15
I second the recommendation for bbq in Lockhart--it is some of the best in the country. You should really view the New Orleans to Austin drive as an opportunity for eating really good food. A group of us foodies are going on a short road trip on Friday for chicken fried steak and bbq midway between Houston and Austin in Giddings.16
If you wind up in the East Tennessee/North Carolina corner the chopped pork BBQ is a different style than you will find in S. Carolina, Memphis, Alabama, Mississippi. I like the N. Carolina/E. Tennessee style the best since they use a vinegar based sauce. So sample the differences. Chopped pork in E. Tennessee/N. Carolina, ribs in Memphis & Mississippi, beef brisket in Texas. Don't waste your time with bbq in Louisiana.17
There is a great new gourmet low country BBQ here in Chicago next door to my house, its called Q, and they serve all meats with all four variations of BBQ sauce, vinegar, mayo/tomato, mustard and tangy St Louis/KB style. The quality is excellent, as is the smoker items.http://chicagoqrestaurant.com/menus/dinner.php
Another place around the corner is also low country, here in Chicago, Table 52, Obama's new favorite when in town.
http://www.tablefifty-two.com/menu/dinner.html
18
I like the N. Carolina/E. Tennessee style
There are two "North Carolina" styles. I kind of noted this in #9 already.
19
Stop in Brenham, Texas for Bluebell Ice Cream20
The best bbq is at The Pit restaurant in Raleigh, NC, which I see you're avoiding completely. If you choose not to, Asveville would be a great base for hiking. A small town outside of Asheville, Brevard, is surrounded by waterfalls and trails that connect them.21
I think you need to re-work the order of your destinations. You seem to be jumping around the states in an order that is going to eat up your time, not to mention the cost of gas for the car. If you are starting from Charleston, SC I would try this order instead:Charleston, SC
Savannah, GA
Macon, GA skip this stop entirely and shoot straight up to Atlanta, GA instead
Nashville, TN
Memphis, TN
This order is much more logical for the driving time involved, and cheaper on the gas by going more in a straight line than jumping back and forth.
23
If you want some good BBQ on the outskirts of Austin, go to Salt Lick. It's cash only, BYOB and out in the sticks, but it's well worth it.For BBQ in Memphis I recommend Rendezvous (stop rolling your eyes, locals). They do very good pork ribs. Corky's is too greasy, IMHO. I used to live in Memphis; we still frequent Rendezvous when we roll through town.
In Nashville, I'm partial to Puckett's. The one in Leiper's Fork is my personal fave, but the others are good too. The meat is delicious and the pies are to die for. Stay for some live music. Hey, it's Nashville.
24
Agree with Usher73. Get some Blue Bell in Texas. If they still have blackberry cobbler flavor (it's seasonal), consider yourself kissed by the culinary angels of ice cream.Edited by: kobrien91
26
Agree with #21 about the rework - also, Tennessee has GREAT mountains.This would also leave you going down Highway 61 "The Blues Highway" to get to NOLA, which is great. You can stop in Clarksdale, which has amazing blues and good BBQ. We also really liked Natchez in Mississippi.
If you do decide to go to Alabama, I have to say I hated Montgomery. I felt like the zombie apocalypse had come and gone. IT was just so, so quiet. But I loved Birmingham and Mobile, so take that for what its worth - and take it with a pinch of salt, since I admittedly don't know the area super well.
27
I agree with 26. Other that it's civil rights heritage and Old Alabama Town, there is nada in Montgomery. Mobile has much more to see and do. On another note, I would reccomend Chattanooga TN as it is my adopted home. A beautiful setting along the Tennessee River and surrounded by mountains with scads of outdoor activities; it is a great place to spend some time.
