Southern Souuuuuuuuuuuuul!

I have always said that you can't love BBQ and have a favorite restaurant. There are so many styles and sauces that you might be able to pick one of each, but never one overall. I was lying. I had just never been to Southern Soul BBQ on St. Simon's Island, GA.

It's in a converted service station that you will smell, long before you see. It's on that goofy roundabout that most folks still have not learned to navigate properly. It's everything that you expect a good Southern BBQ joint to look like. They opened in 2006 and, like so many other Q shacks, they resurrected after the fire in 2010.

You never know what the special is going to be at Southern Soul. From pork tacos to fried quail and waffles. They love to get smoky and adventurous. I have never had anything that disappointed.

I would eat there every day that I am visiting St. Simon's, much to the dismay of my wife. She loves BBQ, too, but thinks that I have an addiction problem with this place.

My favorite is the sampler platter. I usually get brisket and pulled pork, along with collards and the most delicious and chunky Brunswick stew that you have ever had. All of the sauces are good, too, but the Hot Georgia Soul is the star of the show. Sweet and hot and downright tasty.

The Southern Sampler

You never know who you might bump into while you are eating there. I have seen Davis Love III picking up his to-go order on several occasions.

This is my favorite BBQ. I know it and I am not afraid to say it. Go out of your way to eat at this place. You will get to see one of the most beautiful areas of Georgia and sample the South's best Q. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Front and Center

                                                                                  

The Spotted Pig - Fair Play, SC

Just over the Georgia line in Fair Play, South Carolina, is the most interesting and delicious sandwich that I have ever encountered. The Spotted Pig has quite the following, but you have to catch them when they are open. Thursday through Sunday (only 5 hours on Sunday!) is the only time that you can get through the doors. The parking lot is big and it is usually full.

When you walk into this restaurant, you know that you are about to get messy. There are sinks and paper towels available in the middle of the dining area for you to try and get the sauce off.

If you have never been here before, there is only one thing to order......The Double D. It is two sandwiches in one, smashed between three pieces of garlic toast. It starts with an awesome brisket sandwich with red sauce and dill pickles on the bottom half. It is finished with a pulled pork sandwich on the top, complete with slaw, bread n' butter pickles, and Carolina mustard sauce. I cannot even begin to tell you how insanely tasty that this sandwich is. All of those flavors at once is just incredible.

If you find yourself near Lake Hartwell or are passing through on your way North to Charlotte, swing by and try this place. It's just off of Exit 1 and it might even be open when you stop by.

The Pig and the Pearl

I had previously posted a blog about The Pig and the Pearl at Atlantic Station. It is smokehouse/raw bar restaurant that was started by Todd Richards, the same chef from The Shed at Glenwood.

Evidently, I hurt somebody's feelings, because my blog was removed. In short, the food was okay and the prices were not. Below is what I ordered (no drink, just water) and how much my lunch cost, including tip. I am not sure how long this will last in Atlanta. There are way too many great BBQ options for lunch that are a 3rd of the price. Maybe some of the more unique items on the menu will spark a dinner following. 

Buffalo Pork Skins, brisket sandwich (briosch bread), srirancha fries, mustard greens.

$38.00

Bourbon............

We had our annual Christmas get-together, last night. It is always nice to see the families and friends that we have gathered with for the last 15 years. The kids have gotten so big and our hair has grown a little more grey, but our friendships have endured the years and differences. We truly look forward to this party, every year.

For the first time ever, Brandi and I decided to make a batch of an old family favorite.....Bourbon slush. It's a concoction of lemonade, orange juice, brewed tea, and, of course, Bourbon. Mix in a little 7-Up and you have an awesome year-round elixer that goes down way too easy.

I opted to use a cheap Bourbon, Evan Williams Green Label. The slush turned out as good as ever. It got me to thinking about this versatility and quality of this Southern whiskey that is always my favorite.

Bourbon is simple. It has to be at least 51% corn and it has to be aged in charred oak barrels. Contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be made in Kentucky. (though any self-respecting Bourbon fan will insist that it SHOULD be made in Kentucky)

I love so many different price levels and brands of Bourbon. Wild Turkey 101, Makers Mark, Beam Black, and the lofty Pappy Van Winkle 20-year-old, are my the whiskeys that I like best.

Currently, Bourbon is becoming more and more expensive. The Asians can't get enough of the stuff and are buying it up in record amounts. It is driving the price through the roof! So, I am now in search of the perfect inexpensive Bourbon. I keep hearing about Old Grandad and Evan Williams 1783, but I know that there has to be more out there that I haven't thought about.

What are some of the suggestions of the masses? My ears and taste buds are open!