Smokin' BBQ places chefs love

Interesting article: Smokin' BBQ places chefs love
Interesting article especially considering a couple of them are in New York City and one of them is even a chain that only has outlets in New York State. I'm originally from New York and I can tell you they don't know anything about making good barbecue up there! Also, great barbecue places don't have nor need a big fancy website to get customers, people will find them no matter what with or without a GPS and website. The smoking smell is all that's required!

Not a bad list...and I'm down with anything Chris Lilly recommends...

Ridgewood: I'm lucky enough to have an aunt that lives 1/2 mile from Ridgewood and have been going here since the 60's. MOF my "paw-paw" used to "trade" with Ms. Proffitt before most of our family left the mountains. Ridgewood has dropped off from a "10" to a "9" since Ms. Proffitt and the old wood smokers were retired in favor of some newfangled oven smokers but it is still one of my benchmark BBQ joints.

Big Bob Gibson: It's been years...going back to my Navy days when a buddy and I were on a road trip hot on the scent of some Doe's from Auburn University...but I recall at least one drunken feast which more or less confirms what was said about Big Bob's.

Lexington BBQ is an icon...been there a few times but not recently. Good ol NC "Piedmont" BBQ

The Shed: After watching the jackass that owns this place on the recent "Best in Smoke" series on The Food (Competition) Network, I have NO desire to give it a try.

17th St BBQ and The Dinosaur (the one in Syracuse...NOT NYC) are both on my BBQ bucket list...17th St because Mike Mills is one of my (Competition) BBQ heros and Dinosaur because their cookbook is one of my favorites (AND it comes highly recommended by folks who's opinions I trust).

Kinda surprised "Blue Smoke" in Manhattan (NYC...not Kansas) wasn't mentioned. Some of the best "Q" I've had anywhere...albeit some of the most unGODly expensive, that and the place is full of people who talk funny. Also surprised Interstate in Memphis didn't make the short list...NOT surprised any of the K.C. "icons" didn't make the cut...everyone of them we've tried has been mediocre at best.

Steve, have you ever been to Dixie BBQ in TN? It's in JC and I liked them better than Ridgewood. My mom always made time to get out to Ridgewood when she was up for a visit, she still uses that as her comparison place for other BBQ. Firehouse could do some great 'que too, but they were very hit and miss...when they had a good day, it was amazing, but the prices made those misses hurt an awful lot!

I'll have to see about taking Tim to Slow's for Father's Day. He's cranking up the smoker and grill on Sunday...doing ribs and a butt

Steve, have you ever been to Dixie BBQ in TN? It's in JC and I liked them better than Ridgewood.
I'll have to see about taking Tim to Slow's for Father's Day. He's cranking up the smoker and grill on Sunday...doing ribs and a butt

The only other BBQ place I've been to in the area is Pardner's in Piney Flats...it was pretty forgettable the day we tried it.

Hope Tim is enjoyinh his new toy.